Pennsylvania Railroad in Maryland
| Company type | Railroad |
|---|---|
| Industry | Transportation |
| Founded | 1876 |
| Fate | Consolidated into Georges Creek and Cumberland Railroad in 1888 |
| Headquarters | Cumberland , United States |
| Products | Transportation of soft coal |
Pennsylvania Railroad in Maryland
Founded in 1876, the Pennsylvania Railroad in Maryland operated a route extending from Cumberland, Maryland, to the Pennsylvania state boundary, linking with other segments of the Pennsylvania Railroad network. Its chief commercial objective was to offer an alternative transportation channel for Maryland's soft coal destined for major industrial centers. This railroad was supported primarily by coal enterprises located in the Georges Creek Valley, particularly the Maryland Coal Company and the American Coal Company, alongside the municipality of Cumberland, Maryland, all aiming to challenge the then-prevailing dominance of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad.
The Pennsylvania Railroad sought to secure access to coal resources within Georges Creek Valley and serve clients such as the Maryland and American Coal companies by circumventing the Cumberland and Pennsylvania Railroad, which was under the control of the Consolidation Coal Company, recognized as the foremost bituminous coal producer in the eastern United States. In 1873, the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad acquired controlling interest in Consolidation Coal, thereby monopolizing coal shipments from Georges Creek Valley and effectively dominating Maryland’s coal industry.
To counter this monopoly, stakeholders from Cumberland established the Pennsylvania Railroad in Maryland in 1876. John A. Haydon was appointed Chief Engineer in January 1878, with construction commencing in May 1879. Passenger train operations connecting Washington and New York began on December 15, 1879. This development facilitated the transportation of soft coal from producers like Maryland Coal and American Coal companies to export facilities managed by the railroad at South Amboy, New Jersey.
In 1888, the Pennsylvania Railroad in Maryland was consolidated into the Georges Creek and Cumberland Railroad, which subsequently became part of the Western Maryland Railroad in 1917. The line remained functional until it was abandoned in 1982.
References
- Hicks, W. Raymond. Pennsylvania Railroad in Maryland. The Railway and Locomotive Historical Society Bulletin 85 (1952): 9-10.
- Stakem, Patrick H. Cumberland & Pennsylvania Railroad Revisited. Laurel, Md: Pat's Railroad Books, 2002. Accessed at [1].
- Stakem, P. H. Lonaconing residency, iron technology & the railroad. Laurel, Md: Pats Railroad Books. 2008. Accessed at [2]
- Stakem, Patrick H. Tracks Along the Ditch, Relationships between the C & O Canal & the Railroads, 2012. Accessed at [3].