Wilmington and Western Railroad

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Template:Short description Template:Use American English Script error: No such module "Unsubst". Script error: No such module "Infobox".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Script error: No such module "Check for clobbered parameters". Template:Wilmington and Western Railroad The Wilmington and Western Railroad (reporting mark WWRC) is a freight and heritage railroad in northern Delaware, operating over a former Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (B&O) branch line between Wilmington and Hockessin. The Script error: No such module "convert". railroad operates both steam and diesel locomotives. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places as a national historic district in 1980.[1] Wilmington & Western serves one customer for revenue service, and interchanges with CSX Transportation at Landenberg Junction, Delaware.

Wilmington & Western's General Motors Diesel-Electric SW1 locomotive no. 114 is the oldest diesel locomotive in routine scheduled service, having been built in February 1940.[2]

History

The Delaware and Chester County Railroad was incorporated in February 1867 to build from Wilmington in the direction of Parkesburg or Atglen, Pennsylvania,[3] and was renamed the Wilmington and Western Railroad in March 1869,[4] opening the line to Landenberg on October 19, 1872.[5] A foreclosure sale in April 1877 produced the Delaware Western Railroad, which was incorporated in June 1877 and merged into the Baltimore and Philadelphia Railroad, a B&O subsidiary, in February 1883.[4]

The B&O cut back the line to Southwood in the early 1940s and to Hockessin in the late 1950s. Historic Red Clay Valley, Inc. began operating steam tourist trains on weekends in 1966,[6] reusing the old W&W name, and in August 1982 the W&W bought the branch from the Chessie System for $25,000, which included Ex-B&O SW1 #8408 as a part of the purchase.[5][7] Under the Historic Red Clay Valley Inc. the operations are managed by a Board of Directors, paid staff and a large number of volunteers.[8]

In 1999, the rains of Hurricane Floyd caused considerable damage to the railroad. Two trestles were entirely destroyed by the flooding of Red Clay Creek, which also caused track washouts and damaged several other trestles. The two destroyed bridges were replaced by steel trestles, but the other timber trestles were simply repaired.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

In 2003, Tropical Storm Henri struck the valley and produced an even more catastrophic flood. While the two steel bridges (and an iron trestle at Ashland) survived the flood, the remaining bridges were swept away or irreparably damaged. Despite the damage caused by these storms, the Wilmington and Western continued to operate on the remaining track, and replaced all of the destroyed bridges with steel trestles. The line officially reopened into Hockessin on June 30, 2007.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

The railroad celebrated its 50th anniversary operating as a tourist railroad in 2016.[9]

In February 2025, the board of directors announced that operations were suspended indefinitely due to needed equipment repairs.[10][11] In April 2025, some of the volunteers with the organization protested near the boarding location of the line, citing lack of communication by the board to volunteers, lack of transparency, and the firing of the General Manager, Volunteer Program Manager, and Accounting Manager.[12][13] Shortly after the protest, an announcement was posted to the organizations website stating that the board would have control of the railroad and the Roadmaster serving as the only employee. Via a post to Facebook, the organization stated that there were track, bridge and equipment repairs needed with a tentative return to service of later in the year. After multiple critical comments were posted to social media, the post and the organizations entire Facebook page were deleted.[14]

Excursions

Several different excursions are offered by the Wilmington and Western Railroad, running through the Red Clay Creek valley. Trains operate out of the Greenbank station near the southern end of the railroad. The railroad offers two regular excursions which run on weekends during the operating season. The Hockessin Flyer runs round-trip from Greenbank to the northern end of the line in Hockessin for a 2.5-hour trip with a 30-minute layover in Hockessin. The Mt. Cuba Meteor runs round-trip from Greenbank to the Mount Cuba Picnic Grove for a 1.5-hour trip with a 30-minute layover for a picnic at the Mount Cuba Picnic Grove.

The Wilmington and Western Railroad also offers several special themed excursions. Some of the themed excursions include the Easter Bunny Express, the Fireworks Express on Independence Day, a dinner train called the Royal Blue Dinner Train, the Brews on Board train serving craft brews, the Civil War Skirmish Weekend, the Princess Express, the Superhero Express, the Autumn Leaf Special offering views of fall foliage, the Halloween Express, the Holiday Lights Express offering views of Christmas lights, and the Santa Claus Express around Christmas.[15] Groups may also charter a caboose, car, or entire train for an event.[16] A caboose attached to the end of a regularly scheduled train may be rented for birthday parties.[17]

Equipment

Locomotives

Locomotive details[18][19][20]
Number Images Type Class Builder Built Serial number Status
58 File:Wilmington and Western 58 smokebox.jpg Steam 0-6-0Template:Whyte suffix Baldwin Locomotive Works 1907 31899 Operational
92 File:Wilmington and Western Engine 92, Marshallton DE.png Steam 2-6-0Template:Whyte suffix Canadian Locomotive Company 1910 930 Stored, awaiting restoration
98 File:Wilmington and Western Railroad No. 98 - August 2009 - 02.jpg Steam 4-4-0Template:Whyte suffix American Locomotive Company 1909 45921 Undergoing 1,472-day inspection and overhaul
114 File:WW engine114-1.jpg Diesel SW-1 Electro-Motive Diesel 1940 1021 Operational
4662 File:WW Doodlebug1.jpg Railcar Doodlebug Pullman Company 1929 6202-22697 Operational
8408 File:B&O 8408.jpg Diesel SW-1 Electro-Motive Diesel 1940 1106 Operational

Former units

Locomotive details[21][22][23]
Number Images Type Class Builder Built Current owner
1 Steam 0-4-0Template:Whyte suffix H.K. Porter 1950 Marshallton
37Template:Efn File:Wilmington Western Railroad No.37.jpg Steam 2-8-2Template:Whyte suffix American Locomotive Company 1925 Age of Steam Roundhouse
60 Steam 0-6-0Template:Whyte suffix Pennsylvania Railroad 1913 Lewes Junction Railroad & Bridge Association[24]
14 File:Buffalo Creek and Gauley Railroad No. 14 in Gaithersburg, Maryland - August 2022 - 03.jpg Steam 2-8-0Template:Whyte suffix American Locomotive Company 1918 Gaithersburg, Maryland
425 File:RBM&N 425 Jim Thorpe.png Steam 4-6-2Template:Whyte suffix Baldwin Locomotive Works 1928 Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad
915 Diesel SW900 Electro-Motive Diesel 1956 Black River Western Railroad
S-3 File:W&W 3, 410.jpg Steam 0-6-0Template:Whyte suffix Vulcan Iron Works 1943 Honey's Farm Fresh Gourmet Kitchen
D-3 File:B&O 9115.jpg Diesel S2 American Locomotive Company 1949 West Chester Railroad

Rolling stock

Rolling stock details[25][26][21]
Number Type Builder Built Status
410 Combine 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, operational
450 Coach Altoona Works 1912 Stored, inoperable
C149 Caboose Erie Railroad 1941 Operational
C2013 Caboose Baltimore and Ohio Railroad 1926 Operational
C2042 Caboose Baltimore and Ohio Railroad 1926 Operational

See also

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References

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  1. ↑ Cite error: Script error: No such module "Namespace detect".Script error: No such module "Namespace detect".
  2. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  3. ↑ An Act to incorporate the Delaware and Chester County Railroad Company, passed February 5, 1867
  4. ↑ a b Interstate Commerce Commission, 42 Val. Rep. 1 (1933): Valuation Docket No. 1068, The Baltimore and Ohio Rail Road Company and its Leased Lines
  5. ↑ a b Wilmington & Western Railroad: History, accessed February 2009
  6. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  7. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1". and Template:NRHP url
  8. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  9. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  10. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  11. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  12. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  13. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  14. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  15. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  16. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  17. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  18. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  20. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  21. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  22. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  23. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  24. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  25. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  26. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

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Notes

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External links

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