Chesapeake Beach Railway
Encyclopedia
The Chesapeake Beach Railway (CBR), now defunct, was an American
railroad of southern Maryland
and Washington, DC built in the 19th century. The CBR ran 27.629 miles from Washington, D.C.
on tracks formerly owned by the Southern Maryland Railroad and then on its own single track through Maryland farm
country to a resort at Chesapeake Beach. It was built by Otto Mears
, a Colorado
railroad builder, who planned a shoreline resort
with railroad service from Washington and Baltimore. It served Washington and Chesapeake Beach for almost 35 years, but the Great Depression
and the rise of the automobile
marked the end of the CBR. The last train left the station on April 15, 1935. Parts of the right-of-way
are now used for roads and a future rail trail
.
and others organized the Washington & Chesapeake Beach Railway to connect Washington, DC with 3,000 acres (12 km²) of virgin bay front property at Fishing Creek where they would build a resort. Their Chesapeake Beach
, Maryland
, resort was to be a vacation spot for the rich and middle class alike, with two grand hotel
s, a boardwalk
, racetrack, and amusements. A pier would accommodate Chesapeake Bay excursion steamers from Baltimore, Annapolis
, and Eastern Shore
points. In 1894 the W&CBR was granted a charter
to incorporate the Town of Chesapeake Beach. The grand schemes of the W&CBR were never to be implemented, however and the railway was placed in receivership
in 1895.
A new company
, the Chesapeake Beach Railway Company, took up the idea in 1896. In 1897 Otto Mears was placed in control of the company. He started construction in October 1897 and on April 7, 1898 the Chesapeake Beach Railway was given the franchise
of the W&CBR. Mears optimistically anticipated that the railroad would be completed by July 1898. Before it could open, a draw span bridge
over the Patuxent River
would have to be built below Bristol
. The Patuxent River being navigable as far north as Bristol had to be left unencumbered to steamboat
traffic. Plans had to be approved by the US Army Corps of Engineers. A contract to construct the bridge was awarded to the Youngstown Bridge Company and after numerous delays, the bridge was fully operational as of May 1899.
The CBR entered into successful agreements with the B&O Railroad to extend service from their Hyattsville
station to Upper Marlboro
and on December 5, 1898 the line from Hyattsville to Upper Marlboro was officially opened. By 1899 the line was completed all the way to Chesapeake Beach, but the hotel was not ready, so the eastern leg of the railroad did not open until June 9, 1900.
neighborhood, where it met with the Pennsylvania Railroad
. Then it traveled out of the District on the abandoned right-of-way
of the Southern Maryland Railroad. It exited D.C. at Seat Pleasant
, where it met with the Washington, Baltimore and Annapolis Electric Railway
at a stop called District Line. From there, it went through Upper Marlboro
, passing over the PRR (Pope creek branch), and then on to Chesapeake Beach.
In the early years, the fare
for the round trip train ride from District Line station to Chesapeake Beach was 50 cents. Express trains took about 60 minutes to make the trip; “locals” took about 90 minutes.
in 1901 as the Washington, Potomac & Chesapeake Railway and sued the CBR in 1902, claiming they still owned the railbed. The WP&CR won the case serving as another setback for the CBR.
mortgage
. Starting in 1921, with the construction of highways throughout the territory, revenue
s began to decrease. The destruction of the luxurious Belvedere Hotel by a fire
on March 30, 1923 further limited business. In 1929, under new management, an attempt to rehabilitate the line was made and operations continued with the hope that a new ferry
across the Chesapeake Bay
to a point on Trippe's Bay in Dorchester County
would drive new business. The ferry was blocked by the Claiborne-Annapolis Ferry Company, a competing ferry out of Annapolis and in 1935, management
decided to replace the railroad with a bus line
. The last train left the station on April 15, 1935.
A small, 2-mile, portion of the track continued as the East Washington Railway.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
railroad of southern Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
and Washington, DC built in the 19th century. The CBR ran 27.629 miles from Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
on tracks formerly owned by the Southern Maryland Railroad and then on its own single track through Maryland farm
Farm
A farm is an area of land, or, for aquaculture, lake, river or sea, including various structures, devoted primarily to the practice of producing and managing food , fibres and, increasingly, fuel. It is the basic production facility in food production. Farms may be owned and operated by a single...
country to a resort at Chesapeake Beach. It was built by Otto Mears
Otto Mears
Otto Mears was a famous Colorado railroad builder and entrepreneur who played a major role in the early development of southwestern Colorado....
, a Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
railroad builder, who planned a shoreline resort
Resort
A resort is a place used for relaxation or recreation, attracting visitors for holidays or vacations. Resorts are places, towns or sometimes commercial establishment operated by a single company....
with railroad service from Washington and Baltimore. It served Washington and Chesapeake Beach for almost 35 years, but the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
and the rise of the automobile
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
marked the end of the CBR. The last train left the station on April 15, 1935. Parts of the right-of-way
Right-of-way (railroad)
A right-of-way is a strip of land that is granted, through an easement or other mechanism, for transportation purposes, such as for a trail, driveway, rail line or highway. A right-of-way is reserved for the purposes of maintenance or expansion of existing services with the right-of-way...
are now used for roads and a future rail trail
Rail trail
A rail trail is the conversion of a disused railway easement into a multi-use path, typically for walking, cycling and sometimes horse riding. The characteristics of former tracks—flat, long, frequently running through historical areas—are appealing for various development. The term sometimes also...
.
Origins
In 1891, Baltimore lawyer (and later Maryland governor) Edwin WarfieldEdwin Warfield
Edwin Warfield , a member of the United States Democratic Party, was the 45th Governor of Maryland in the United States from 1904 to 1908.-Early life:...
and others organized the Washington & Chesapeake Beach Railway to connect Washington, DC with 3,000 acres (12 km²) of virgin bay front property at Fishing Creek where they would build a resort. Their Chesapeake Beach
Chesapeake Beach, Maryland
Chesapeake Beach is a town in Calvert County, Maryland, United States. Its major attractions include a Railway Museum & Trail, the Chesapeake Beach Water Park, marinas, piers, charter boat fishing, and a Veterans Memorial Park...
, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, resort was to be a vacation spot for the rich and middle class alike, with two grand hotel
Hotel
A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. The provision of basic accommodation, in times past, consisting only of a room with a bed, a cupboard, a small table and a washstand has largely been replaced by rooms with modern facilities, including en-suite bathrooms...
s, a boardwalk
Boardwalk
A boardwalk, in the conventional sense, is a wooden walkway for pedestrians and sometimes vehicles, often found along beaches, but they are also common as paths through wetlands, coastal dunes, and other sensitive environments....
, racetrack, and amusements. A pier would accommodate Chesapeake Bay excursion steamers from Baltimore, Annapolis
Annapolis, Maryland
Annapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Maryland, as well as the county seat of Anne Arundel County. It had a population of 38,394 at the 2010 census and is situated on the Chesapeake Bay at the mouth of the Severn River, south of Baltimore and about east of Washington, D.C. Annapolis is...
, and Eastern Shore
Eastern Shore
Eastern Shore refers to many places, including:* Eastern Shore of Maryland* Eastern Shore of Virginia* Eastern Shore * Eastern Shore , of Mobile BayOther uses, a United States Navy cargo ship in commission from 1918 to 1919...
points. In 1894 the W&CBR was granted a charter
Charter
A charter is the grant of authority or rights, stating that the granter formally recognizes the prerogative of the recipient to exercise the rights specified...
to incorporate the Town of Chesapeake Beach. The grand schemes of the W&CBR were never to be implemented, however and the railway was placed in receivership
Receivership
In law, receivership is the situation in which an institution or enterprise is being held by a receiver, a person "placed in the custodial responsibility for the property of others, including tangible and intangible assets and rights." The receivership remedy is an equitable remedy that emerged in...
in 1895.
A new company
Company
A company is a form of business organization. It is an association or collection of individual real persons and/or other companies, who each provide some form of capital. This group has a common purpose or focus and an aim of gaining profits. This collection, group or association of persons can be...
, the Chesapeake Beach Railway Company, took up the idea in 1896. In 1897 Otto Mears was placed in control of the company. He started construction in October 1897 and on April 7, 1898 the Chesapeake Beach Railway was given the franchise
Government-granted monopoly
In economics, a government-granted monopoly is a form of coercive monopoly by which a government grants exclusive privilege to a private individual or firm to be the sole provider of a good or service; potential competitors are excluded from the market by law, regulation, or other mechanisms of...
of the W&CBR. Mears optimistically anticipated that the railroad would be completed by July 1898. Before it could open, a draw span bridge
Drawbridge
A drawbridge is a type of movable bridge typically associated with the entrance of a castle surrounded by a moat. The term is often used to describe all different types of movable bridges, like bascule bridges and lift bridges.-Castle drawbridges:...
over the Patuxent River
Patuxent River
The Patuxent River is a tributary of the Chesapeake Bay in the state of Maryland. There are three main river drainages for central Maryland: the Potomac River to the west passing through Washington D.C., the Patapsco River to the northeast passing through Baltimore, and the Patuxent River between...
would have to be built below Bristol
Bristol, Maryland
Bristol is an unincorporated community in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, United States. The James Owens Farm was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987....
. The Patuxent River being navigable as far north as Bristol had to be left unencumbered to steamboat
Steamboat
A steamboat or steamship, sometimes called a steamer, is a ship in which the primary method of propulsion is steam power, typically driving propellers or paddlewheels...
traffic. Plans had to be approved by the US Army Corps of Engineers. A contract to construct the bridge was awarded to the Youngstown Bridge Company and after numerous delays, the bridge was fully operational as of May 1899.
The CBR entered into successful agreements with the B&O Railroad to extend service from their Hyattsville
Hyattsville, Maryland
Hyattsville is a city in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. The population was 17,557 at the 2000 census.- History :The city was named for its founder, Christopher Clark Hyatt. He purchased his first parcel of land in the area in March 1845...
station to Upper Marlboro
Upper Marlboro, Maryland
Upper Marlboro is a town in and the county seat of Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. The live-in population of the town core proper was only 648 at the 2000 census, although Greater Upper Marlboro is many times larger....
and on December 5, 1898 the line from Hyattsville to Upper Marlboro was officially opened. By 1899 the line was completed all the way to Chesapeake Beach, but the hotel was not ready, so the eastern leg of the railroad did not open until June 9, 1900.
Operations
The line left the District of Columbia at Chesapeake Junction, where Minnesota Avenue NE and Nannie Helen Burroughs Avenue NE meet in the DeanwoodDeanwood
Deanwood is a neighborhood in Northeast Washington, D.C., bounded by Eastern Avenue to the northeast, Kenilworth Avenue to the northwest, and Nannie Helen Burroughs Avenue to the south....
neighborhood, where it met with the Pennsylvania Railroad
Pennsylvania Railroad
The Pennsylvania Railroad was an American Class I railroad, founded in 1846. Commonly referred to as the "Pennsy", the PRR was headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
. Then it traveled out of the District on the abandoned right-of-way
Right-of-way (railroad)
A right-of-way is a strip of land that is granted, through an easement or other mechanism, for transportation purposes, such as for a trail, driveway, rail line or highway. A right-of-way is reserved for the purposes of maintenance or expansion of existing services with the right-of-way...
of the Southern Maryland Railroad. It exited D.C. at Seat Pleasant
Seat Pleasant, Maryland
Seat Pleasant is an incorporated city in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States immediately east of Washington D.C. The population was 4,885 at the 2000 census. Two state highways run through it — Maryland Route 704 and Maryland Route 214...
, where it met with the Washington, Baltimore and Annapolis Electric Railway
Washington, Baltimore and Annapolis Electric Railway
The Washington, Baltimore and Annapolis Electric Railway , now defunct, was an American railroad of central Maryland and Washington, DC built in the 19th and 20th century. The WB&A absorbed two older railroads, the Annapolis and Elk Ridge Railroad and the Baltimore & Annapolis Short Line, and...
at a stop called District Line. From there, it went through Upper Marlboro
Upper Marlboro, Maryland
Upper Marlboro is a town in and the county seat of Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. The live-in population of the town core proper was only 648 at the 2000 census, although Greater Upper Marlboro is many times larger....
, passing over the PRR (Pope creek branch), and then on to Chesapeake Beach.
In the early years, the fare
Fare
A fare is the fee paid by a passenger allowing him or her to make use of a public transport system: rail, bus, taxi, etc. In the case of air transport, the term airfare is often used.-Uses:...
for the round trip train ride from District Line station to Chesapeake Beach was 50 cents. Express trains took about 60 minutes to make the trip; “locals” took about 90 minutes.
Southern Maryland Railroad
The CBR had taken possession of the Southern Maryland Railroad's railbed in Washington, DC in 1898. The SMR emerged from bankruptcyBankruptcy
Bankruptcy is a legal status of an insolvent person or an organisation, that is, one that cannot repay the debts owed to creditors. In most jurisdictions bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor....
in 1901 as the Washington, Potomac & Chesapeake Railway and sued the CBR in 1902, claiming they still owned the railbed. The WP&CR won the case serving as another setback for the CBR.
End of the line
The railroad was never financially successful and never paid off any interest on its original one million dollarDollar
The dollar is the name of the official currency of many countries, including Australia, Belize, Canada, Ecuador, El Salvador, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Singapore, Taiwan, and the United States.-Etymology:...
mortgage
Mortgage loan
A mortgage loan is a loan secured by real property through the use of a mortgage note which evidences the existence of the loan and the encumbrance of that realty through the granting of a mortgage which secures the loan...
. Starting in 1921, with the construction of highways throughout the territory, revenue
Revenue
In business, revenue is income that a company receives from its normal business activities, usually from the sale of goods and services to customers. In many countries, such as the United Kingdom, revenue is referred to as turnover....
s began to decrease. The destruction of the luxurious Belvedere Hotel by a fire
Fire
Fire is the rapid oxidation of a material in the chemical process of combustion, releasing heat, light, and various reaction products. Slower oxidative processes like rusting or digestion are not included by this definition....
on March 30, 1923 further limited business. In 1929, under new management, an attempt to rehabilitate the line was made and operations continued with the hope that a new ferry
Ferry
A ferry is a form of transportation, usually a boat, but sometimes a ship, used to carry primarily passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo as well, across a body of water. Most ferries operate on regular, frequent, return services...
across the Chesapeake Bay
Chesapeake Bay
The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States. It lies off the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by Maryland and Virginia. The Chesapeake Bay's drainage basin covers in the District of Columbia and parts of six states: New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and West...
to a point on Trippe's Bay in Dorchester County
Dorchester County, Maryland
Dorchester County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland on its Eastern Shore. It is bordered by the Choptank River to the north, Talbot County to the northwest, Caroline County to the northeast, Wicomico County to the southeast, Sussex County, Delaware, to the east, and the Chesapeake...
would drive new business. The ferry was blocked by the Claiborne-Annapolis Ferry Company, a competing ferry out of Annapolis and in 1935, management
Management
Management in all business and organizational activities is the act of getting people together to accomplish desired goals and objectives using available resources efficiently and effectively...
decided to replace the railroad with a bus line
Bustitution
The word bustitution is a neologism sometimes used to describe the practice of replacing a passenger train service with a bus service either on a temporary or permanent basis. The word is a portmanteau of the words "bus" and "substitution"...
. The last train left the station on April 15, 1935.
A small, 2-mile, portion of the track continued as the East Washington Railway.
Stations on the line
|
Owings, Maryland Owings is a census-designated place in Calvert County, Maryland, United States. The population was 1,325 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Owings is located at .... Chesapeake Beach Railway Station The Chesapeake Beach Railway Station is a historic railway station located at Chesapeake Beach, Calvert County, Maryland, United States. It is composed of two one-story, hip-roofed sections; one part was once an open passenger boarding area that was later enclosed for storage. The station was... |
Surviving landmarks
- The Chesapeake Beach Railway StationChesapeake Beach Railway StationThe Chesapeake Beach Railway Station is a historic railway station located at Chesapeake Beach, Calvert County, Maryland, United States. It is composed of two one-story, hip-roofed sections; one part was once an open passenger boarding area that was later enclosed for storage. The station was...
on Mears Avenue, now the Chesapeake Beach Railway Museum. - East Chesapeake Beach Road (Maryland Route 260Maryland Route 260Maryland Route 260 is a state highway in Calvert County and Anne Arundel County, Maryland. Route 260 starts at the northern border of Calvert and Anne Arundel counties, branching off from Maryland Route 4 by way of an overpass interchange...
) uses the right-of-way - The base of the Lyons Creek trestle is still visible from the Rt 260 exit ramp off of MD Route 4
- The right-of-way follows the Railroad Bed and Upper Railroad Bed hiking trails and River Farm entrance road, all at Jug Bay Wetlands SanctuaryJug Bay Wetlands SanctuaryThe Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary is located along the tidal Patuxent River in southern Maryland. It was established in 1985 and is operated by the Anne Arundel County Department of Recreation and Parks. It includes more than of tidal freshwater wetlands, forests, meadows and fields...
, with old culverts, "clinkers" (burned coal), and clear evidence of the old railroad ties. - The base of the swing bridge over the Patuxent RiverPatuxent RiverThe Patuxent River is a tributary of the Chesapeake Bay in the state of Maryland. There are three main river drainages for central Maryland: the Potomac River to the west passing through Washington D.C., the Patapsco River to the northeast passing through Baltimore, and the Patuxent River between...
at Jug Bay Wetlands SanctuaryJug Bay Wetlands SanctuaryThe Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary is located along the tidal Patuxent River in southern Maryland. It was established in 1985 and is operated by the Anne Arundel County Department of Recreation and Parks. It includes more than of tidal freshwater wetlands, forests, meadows and fields...
as well as the fill for the railroad bed on the both sides of the river - The right-of-way can be hiked at Mt. Calvert to Charles Branch
- The right-of-way is used for a few sections of the Chesapeake Beach Rail TrailChesapeake Beach Rail TrailThe Chesapeake Beach Rail Trail is a set of short trails along the original Chesapeake Beach Railway route from Washington, D.C. to Chesapeake Beach, Maryland. The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission acquired portions of the corridor through the subdivision process...
and other sections are still extant such as a large section in the Randolph Village area and the median of Hayes Street NE in Washington, DC. - The western section of Nannie Helen Burroughs Avenue NE in Washington, DC is on the right-of-way.
- A passenger car at the Chesapeake Beach Railway Museum.
Destroyed landmarks
- In the 1990s, the Pindell station collapsed and only ruins remain; the old caretaker's house nearby remains standing and was acquired as part of Jug Bay Wetlands SanctuaryJug Bay Wetlands SanctuaryThe Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary is located along the tidal Patuxent River in southern Maryland. It was established in 1985 and is operated by the Anne Arundel County Department of Recreation and Parks. It includes more than of tidal freshwater wetlands, forests, meadows and fields...
in 2004. - In the 1980s, the old Chesapeake Beach Railway roundhouseRoundhouseA roundhouse is a building used by railroads for servicing locomotives. Roundhouses are large, circular or semicircular structures that were traditionally located surrounding or adjacent to turntables...
and turntableTurntable (railroad)A railway turntable is a device for turning railroad rolling stock. When steam locomotives were still in wide use, many railroads needed a way to turn the locomotives around for return trips as their controls were often not configured for extended periods of running in reverse and in many...
in Seat Pleasant were demolished to make room for the Addison Plaza Shopping Center on Central Avenue.