Delaware Western Railroad

Wilmington and Western Railroad

Company type	Private
Industry	Rail transport
Predecessor	Delaware and Chester County Railroad
Founded	March 1869 (1869-03)
Headquarters	Wilmington , United States
Area served	Northern Delaware
Key people	Board of Directors
Products	Freight carrier, heritage railway excursions
Number of employees	1 (Roadmaster, as of 2025)
Website	www.wwrr.com

The Wilmington and Western Railroad operates as both a freight carrier and a heritage railway in northern Delaware, utilizing a former Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (B&O) branch line that runs between Wilmington and Hockessin. This route features both steam and diesel locomotives in operation. Recognized for its historic significance, the railroad was designated a national historic district on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. Currently, Wilmington & Western serves a single paying customer and connects with CSX Transportation at Landenberg Junction.

Among its roster is the General Motors Diesel-Electric EMD SW1 locomotive no. 114, constructed in February 1940, which holds the distinction of being the oldest diesel engine still regularly used in scheduled service.

History

Initially incorporated as the Delaware and Chester County Railroad in February 1867 with the intention of constructing a line from Wilmington toward Parkesburg or Atglen, Pennsylvania, the company changed its name to Wilmington and Western Railroad in March 1869. The line reached Landenberg by October 19, 1872. Following a foreclosure in April 1877, it was reorganized as the Delaware Western Railroad before merging into the Baltimore and Philadelphia Railroad—a B&O subsidiary—in February 1883.

During the early 1940s, the B&O truncated service to Southwood, further reducing it to Hockessin by the late 1950s. In 1966, Historic Red Clay Valley, Inc. initiated weekend steam-powered tourist excursions under the Wilmington & Western banner. The organization acquired the branch from Chessie System for $25,000 in August 1982, which included Ex-B&O SW1 #8408. The railroad’s operations are overseen by a Board of Directors alongside paid personnel and volunteers.

Significant damage to trestles and track infrastructure occurred due to flooding caused by Hurricane Floyd in 1999 and Tropical Storm Henri in 2003. The railroad replaced destroyed bridges with steel trestles and resumed service to Hockessin on June 30, 2007.

In 2016, the railroad celebrated fifty years of operating as a tourist attraction.

Operations were indefinitely suspended by the board in February 2025 due to ongoing equipment repairs. By April, volunteers publicly expressed dissatisfaction over poor communication and transparency following dismissals of key management staff. The board declared it retained control with only the Roadmaster remaining as an employee and anticipated restarting service later that year. After negative reactions on social media, related posts were deleted along with the railroad’s Facebook page.

Excursions

Operating out of the Greenbank station, the Wilmington and Western Railroad provides several scenic excursions along the Red Clay Creek valley. Two primary weekend journeys are offered during the operating season: the Hockessin Flyer—a round trip lasting approximately two and a half hours to Hockessin with a half-hour stop—and the Mt. Cuba Meteor—a one-and-a-half-hour round trip to Mount Cuba Picnic Grove featuring a picnic break.

The railroad also presents themed rides tailored to various audiences, including seasonal specials such as the Easter Bunny Express, Independence Day Fireworks Express, Royal Blue Dinner Train, Brews on Board craft beer train, Civil War Skirmish Weekend, Princess Express, Superhero Express, Autumn Leaf Special showcasing fall colors, Halloween Express, Holiday Lights Express highlighting Christmas decorations, and Santa Claus Express during the holiday period. Additionally, group charters are available for cabooses, individual cars, or entire trains for private events and celebrations like birthdays.

Locomotives

Details of Locomotives

Number	Image	Type	Class	Manufacturer	Year Built	Serial Number	Current Status
58		Steam-powered	0-6-0	Baldwin Locomotive Works	1907	31899	In service
92		Steam-powered	2-6-0	Canadian Locomotive Company	1910	930	Stored, pending restoration
98		Steam-powered	4-4-0	American Locomotive Company	1909	45921	Currently under inspection and refurbishment
114		Diesel-electric	SW-1	Electro-Motive Diesel	1940	1021	In service
4662		Railcar (Doodlebug)	Pullman Company	1929	6202-22697	Operational status
8408		Diesel-electric	SW-1	Electro-Motive Diesel	1940	1106	In service

Former units

Details of Former Locomotives

Number	Image	Type	Class	Manufacturer	Year Built	Current Owner or Location
1		Steam-powered	0-4-0	H.K. Porter	1950	Marshallton
37		Steam-powered tank engine	2-8-2 T	American Locomotive Company	1925	Age of Steam Roundhouse
60		Steam-powered	0-6-0	Pennsylvania Railroad	1913	Lewes Junction Railroad & Bridge Association
14		Steam-powered	2-8-0	American Locomotive Company	1918	Gaithersburg, Maryland
425		Steam-powered	4-6-2	Baldwin Locomotive Works	1928	Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad
915		Diesel-electric	SW900	Electro-Motive Diesel	1956	Black River and Western Railroad
S-3		Steam-powered tank engine	0-6-0 T	Vulcan Iron Works	1943	Honey's Farm Fresh Gourmet Kitchen
D-3		Diesel-electric	S2	American Locomotive Company	1949	West Chester Railroad|} Rolling stock 410 Combine car Pullman Company 1914 Operational 571 Coach Pullman Company 1914 Operational 581 Coach Pullman Company 1914 Operational 603 Coach Pullman Company 1915 Operational 6795 Parlor car Pullman Company 1930 Operational 442 Open-air car Altoona Works 1912 Stored but functional 450 Coach Altoona Works 1912 Stored, currently non-operational C149 Caboose Erie Railroad 1941 Operational C2013 Caboose Baltimore and Ohio Railroad 1926 Operational C2042 Caboose Baltimore and Ohio Railroad 1926 Operational Rolling Stock Information Number Type Manufacturer Year Built Status See also List of heritage railways List of Delaware railroads External links Wilmington & Western Railroad official site Wilmington & Western Railroad Photo Gallery