Passenger Service Discontinued on the Octoraro Line

Regular passenger service for stations on the Maryland part of the Octoraro line became a thing of the past when "Gilligan's Train," which had been an institution for more than half a century, was taken off the road on April 13, 1935. On that Saturday evening, Conductor T. S. Wilson eased the Oxford-Baltimore Express past the quiet lonely Rowlandsville station a little after 5 p.m. for the last time. (The photo of the Rowlandsville Station is from the first decade of the 20th century.)

Sharing Stories of The Octoraro Branch Railroad

Last Saturday about 20 people came to the Rising Sun Library to participate in a discussion about the Pennsylvania Railroad’s Octoraro Branch. Old photographs, timetables, maps and newspaper clippings were used to initiate a discussion of the line through Rising Sun, Liberty Grove, and Rowlandsville. Several audience members shared their knowledge, some of them drawing on the things they had heard from earlier generations of residents, stories of using the train for trips to the city or for moving into the area. Others enthusiastically shared their enjoyment in strolling through this particularly scenic part of Cecil County and discussed the possibility of a rails-to-trails route. Jack Hill, a biologist and railroad enthusiast, came down from Pennsylvania to share some of his knowledge. Jack has been investigating the history of the line for a few years and he is presently writing a book on the old Philadelphia and Baltimore Central Railroad with the tentative title of Out of the Ashes – the Octoraro Branch. We’ll look forward to hosting a book signing for this valuable title and hearing Jack’s talk on his research when it rolls of the press. We’ll blog on this a little more on this later.

Mayor Fisona Wants Passenger Service in Elkton

It’s been a quarter-of-a-century since a conductor has called out at "all aboard" at the old depot in Elkton. But Mayor Joseph Fisona is working to see that the quiet of the station is shattered by more than the swish of fast trains rushing by for he wants a few of those runs to stop for passengers. Some time ago he started a petition drive, collecting signatures urging state and federal officials, as well as Amtrak to bring regular passenger service back to the county seat.

He's continuing with his campaign for on a very pleasant July Sunday he was working for the community again on this initiative and we had the opportunity to accompany him to the Kilby Farm for a Sustainable Energy Fair. At the fair he collected more signature to support this effort. He's shown in the top photo talking to former Cecil County Commissioner Phyllis Kilby about mass tranit. In the photo below, he's sitting next to some of the Society's historic photos of the railroad station, while he pauses to enjoy a delicious cup of Kilby's Ice Cream.

If you’re interested in a little more history of the train in Elkton and an old photo click here. The Society thanks Mayor Fisona for his effort on behalf of the community to return important commuter service to the eastern part of Cecil County.

All Aboard

Mayor Joseph Fisona is working with Delegate Dave Rudolph and others to try to bring passenger train service back to the Elkton Depot and they called to ask us to develop some historical data for a presentation they’re doing this week. The last time a regularly scheduled passenger train stopped at the station on Bow Street was April 25, 1981. The Chesapeake, train 420, scheduled to stop at the station at 6:29 p.m. on its run north from Washington, D.C., completed its final run that spring evening a quarter-of-a-century ago. Passenger service had returned in 1978, when the Chesapeake, a new Amtrak train, started running between Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. When it made its first run across the top of the Chesapeake, 150 people greeted it at Elkton.

Since that time the quiet at the old depot has not been broken by the conductor shouting “All Aboard,” though many Acelas and other fast trains thunder past the old station that once served as an important commuter station in Cecil County. We hope Mayor Fisona, Delegate Rudolph and others are successful and we think them for the working on trying to bring commuter service back to eastern Cecil County. The Mayor has a petition at various places around town so you may want to sign it if you too want to see service return to the brick station.

Meanwhile, over the weekend we pulled together some data for them and we thought you might be interested in seeing the time-line and a sample image they are using in their presentation. The photo shows Elkton's Pennsylvania Station soon after it opened about 1930. the cars of commuters and travelers jamming the parking lot during those days of the Great Depression.

---- Elkton, a railroad town -- Chronology

1837
January 9 -- A train operated by the Wilmington & Susquehanna Railroad makes an experimental run to Elkton, as work continues on building the line to the Susquehanna River. Many townspeople were on hand to greet the first arrival of
a train of cars.

1837
July 31 -- the road opens for regular service. For more than a century, the
railroad plays an ever growing role in Elkton's development.

1858
The Philadelphia Wilmington & Baltimore railroad guide says: "The railroad has proved of great advantage for Elkton . . . The population of this place prior to construction of the road was about 900 although 160 years had elapsed since its settlement, while since that time the number of inhabitants has increased fully 50-percent.

1938
Eighteen passenger trains a day stop at the Elkton station.

1963
Only 3 trains a day stop at the depot and all service would soon stop.

1978
After a period of interruption, passenger service returned to Elkton in 1978 when a the Chesapeake, a new Amtrak train, started running between Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. When it made its first run across the top of the Chesapeake, 150 people greeted it at Elkton.

1981
April 25 -- Train 420, scheduled to stop in Elkton at 6:29 p.m. on its trip north from Washington, D.C. makes its call at the old depot. Since that time the quiet at the old depot has not been broken by a conductor shouting "All Aboard," through Acela and other fast trains thunder past the old station that once served as an important commuter station in Cecil County.