Delaware Extension
Encyclopedia
The Delaware Extension was a rail line owned and operated by the Pennsylvania Railroad
in the U.S. state
of Pennsylvania
.
The line, located in the city of Philadelphia, ran from Arsenal Interlocking in West Philadelphia southeast, south, east and north to the intersection of Delaware Avenue (now Columbus Boulevard) and Dock Street. It junctioned the West Philadelphia Elevated Branch at Arsenal, crossed the Schuylkill River
on the Arsenal Bridge, intersected with the Washington Avenue Branch, Girard Point Branch, Swanson Street Branch (twice), and Washington Avenue Branch again in South Philadelphia, and became the Delaware Avenue Branch at Dock Street.
The line from Arsenal to Greenwich Yard on the Delaware River
is now part of CSX Transportation
's Harrisburg Subdivision
. From Greenwich Yard north to Dock Street, the line is owned by the Philadelphia Belt Line Railroad
and used by both CSX and the Norfolk Southern Railway
under Conrail trackage rights
.
) over the Arsenal Bridge to Washington Avenue west of 25th Street (then on the Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore Railroad
's main line), in 1860. The PRR acquired trackage rights
over the WC&P from their main line at Market Street
south to Arsenal in exchange for building a second track to handle the increased traffic. The PRR also gained trackage rights over the PW&B and their leased Southwark Rail-Road to the foot of Washington Avenue at the Delaware River
, and the line opened on January 27, 1862; the PW&B was allowed to use the Arsenal Bridge as part of the agreement. The PRR began using the newly-opened Junction Railroad
rather than the WC&P on August 12, 1866.
The first extension, south on 25th Street to Long Lane (Point Breeze Avenue) and then southwest to the Philadelphia Gas Works
at Point Breeze, opened on January 27, 1863. It was extended further south along 25th Street and east along the current Schuylkill Expressway
alignment to the Delaware River
at Greenwich Point in March 1866, giving the PRR its own port. In July or August 1874, it was extended north along Delaware Avenue (Columbus Boulevard) to a new freight station at Dock Street, replacing the PRR's use of the City Railroad along Market Street
.
A new alignment for the east-west part was built later. The line passed to Penn Central Transportation
in 1968, Conrail in 1976, and was assigned to CSX Transportation
in 1999, becoming part of their Harrisburg Subdivision
.
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....
in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
.
The line, located in the city of Philadelphia, ran from Arsenal Interlocking in West Philadelphia southeast, south, east and north to the intersection of Delaware Avenue (now Columbus Boulevard) and Dock Street. It junctioned the West Philadelphia Elevated Branch at Arsenal, crossed the Schuylkill River
Schuylkill River
The Schuylkill River is a river in Pennsylvania. It is a designated Pennsylvania Scenic River.The river is about long. Its watershed of about lies entirely within the state of Pennsylvania. The source of its eastern branch is in the Appalachian Mountains at Tuscarora Springs, near Tamaqua in...
on the Arsenal Bridge, intersected with the Washington Avenue Branch, Girard Point Branch, Swanson Street Branch (twice), and Washington Avenue Branch again in South Philadelphia, and became the Delaware Avenue Branch at Dock Street.
The line from Arsenal to Greenwich Yard on the Delaware River
Delaware River
The Delaware River is a major river on the Atlantic coast of the United States.A Dutch expedition led by Henry Hudson in 1609 first mapped the river. The river was christened the South River in the New Netherland colony that followed, in contrast to the North River, as the Hudson River was then...
is now part of CSX Transportation
CSX Transportation
CSX Transportation operates a Class I railroad in the United States known as the CSX Railroad. It is the main subsidiary of the CSX Corporation. The company is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, and owns approximately 21,000 route miles...
's Harrisburg Subdivision
Harrisburg Subdivision
The Harrisburg Subdivision is a railroad line owned by CSX Transportation in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The line is located in the city of Philadelphia, connecting Greenwich Yard and the Philadelphia Subdivision with the Trenton Subdivision along a former Pennsylvania Railroad line...
. From Greenwich Yard north to Dock Street, the line is owned by the Philadelphia Belt Line Railroad
Philadelphia Belt Line Railroad
The Philadelphia Belt Line Railroad owns a long railroad line running along the Delaware River waterfront in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was created in 1889 to allow any Philadelphia railroad to access the waterfront...
and used by both CSX and the Norfolk Southern Railway
Norfolk Southern Railway
The Norfolk Southern Railway is a Class I railroad in the United States, owned by the Norfolk Southern Corporation. With headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia, the company operates 21,500 route miles in 22 eastern states, the District of Columbia and the province of Ontario, Canada...
under Conrail trackage rights
Trackage rights
Trackage rights , running rights or running powers is an agreement whereby a railway company has the right to run its trains on tracks owned by another railway company....
.
History
Construction began on the first piece of the line, from Arsenal (then on the West Chester and Philadelphia RailroadWest Chester and Philadelphia Railroad
The West Chester and Philadelphia Railroad operated in the greater Philadelphia area in the 19th century. It later became the West Chester Branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad , and is now called the Media/Elwyn Line on the SEPTA system....
) over the Arsenal Bridge to Washington Avenue west of 25th Street (then on the Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore Railroad
Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore Railroad
The Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore Railroad was the Pennsylvania Railroad's main line from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania southwest to Baltimore, Maryland in the 19th and early 20th centuries...
's main line), in 1860. The PRR acquired trackage rights
Trackage rights
Trackage rights , running rights or running powers is an agreement whereby a railway company has the right to run its trains on tracks owned by another railway company....
over the WC&P from their main line at Market Street
Market Street (Philadelphia)
Market Street, originally known as High Street, is a major east–west street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. For the majority of its length, it serves as Pennsylvania Route 3....
south to Arsenal in exchange for building a second track to handle the increased traffic. The PRR also gained trackage rights over the PW&B and their leased Southwark Rail-Road to the foot of Washington Avenue at the Delaware River
Delaware River
The Delaware River is a major river on the Atlantic coast of the United States.A Dutch expedition led by Henry Hudson in 1609 first mapped the river. The river was christened the South River in the New Netherland colony that followed, in contrast to the North River, as the Hudson River was then...
, and the line opened on January 27, 1862; the PW&B was allowed to use the Arsenal Bridge as part of the agreement. The PRR began using the newly-opened Junction Railroad
Junction Railroad (Philadelphia)
The Junction Railroad was a railroad in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, connecting lines west of downtown Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It came under Pennsylvania Railroad control in 1881, and was eliminated by merger in 1908.-History:...
rather than the WC&P on August 12, 1866.
The first extension, south on 25th Street to Long Lane (Point Breeze Avenue) and then southwest to the Philadelphia Gas Works
Philadelphia Gas Works
Philadelphia Gas Works is the nation's largest municipally owned natural gas utility.-History:PGW began providing gas service to the City of Philadelphia on February 10, 1836, when the city's first 46 gas lights were turned on along Second Street, between Vine and South Streets...
at Point Breeze, opened on January 27, 1863. It was extended further south along 25th Street and east along the current Schuylkill Expressway
Schuylkill Expressway
The Schuylkill Expressway , locally known as the Schuylkill, is a freeway through southwestern Montgomery County and the city of Philadelphia, and the easternmost segment of Interstate 76 in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania...
alignment to the Delaware River
Delaware River
The Delaware River is a major river on the Atlantic coast of the United States.A Dutch expedition led by Henry Hudson in 1609 first mapped the river. The river was christened the South River in the New Netherland colony that followed, in contrast to the North River, as the Hudson River was then...
at Greenwich Point in March 1866, giving the PRR its own port. In July or August 1874, it was extended north along Delaware Avenue (Columbus Boulevard) to a new freight station at Dock Street, replacing the PRR's use of the City Railroad along Market Street
Market Street (Philadelphia)
Market Street, originally known as High Street, is a major east–west street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. For the majority of its length, it serves as Pennsylvania Route 3....
.
A new alignment for the east-west part was built later. The line passed to Penn Central Transportation
Penn Central Transportation
The Penn Central Transportation Company, commonly abbreviated to Penn Central, was an American railroad company that operated from 1968 until 1976. It was created by the merger on February 1, 1968, of the Pennsylvania Railroad and the New York Central Railroad...
in 1968, Conrail in 1976, and was assigned to CSX Transportation
CSX Transportation
CSX Transportation operates a Class I railroad in the United States known as the CSX Railroad. It is the main subsidiary of the CSX Corporation. The company is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, and owns approximately 21,000 route miles...
in 1999, becoming part of their Harrisburg Subdivision
Harrisburg Subdivision
The Harrisburg Subdivision is a railroad line owned by CSX Transportation in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The line is located in the city of Philadelphia, connecting Greenwich Yard and the Philadelphia Subdivision with the Trenton Subdivision along a former Pennsylvania Railroad line...
.