Octoraro Railroad
Encyclopedia
The Octoraro Railroad was a shortline railroad
that operated in Pennsylvania
in the 1980s and 1990s.
The company was formed in the 1980s and operated freight train
s took on the Octoraro Branch, a former Pennsylvania Railroad
branch line (subsequently owned by SEPTA) that ran from Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania to the state line near Sylmar, Maryland.
At Chadds Ford, connection was made with a former Reading Company
(Wilmington and Northern Railroad) branch.
The Octoraro Railroad ceased operations on June 30, 1994. The Delaware Valley Railroad acquired the Octoraro Railroad on July 1, 1994.
, operated the line until 1999, followed by the Brandywine Valley Railroad
(BVRY). The Morristown and Erie Railway
provided freight service from July 1, 2003 to November 18, 2004, but operated under the trade name of Octoraro Railroad. East Penn Railway took over operation in 2004 and purchased the right of way from SEPTA. In 2007 the company merged to become East Penn Railroad
and continues to operate the Octoraro line.
Shortline railroad
A shortline railroad is a small or mid-sized railroad company that operates over a relatively short distance relative to larger, national railroad networks. The term is used primarily in the USA and Canada...
that operated in 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...
in the 1980s and 1990s.
The company was formed in the 1980s and operated freight train
Freight train
A freight train or goods train is a group of freight cars or goods wagons hauled by one or more locomotives on a railway, ultimately transporting cargo between two points as part of the logistics chain...
s took on the Octoraro Branch, a former 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....
branch line (subsequently owned by SEPTA) that ran from Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania to the state line near Sylmar, Maryland.
At Chadds Ford, connection was made with a former Reading Company
Reading Company
The Reading Company , usually called the Reading Railroad, officially the Philadelphia and Reading Rail Road and then the Philadelphia and Reading Railway until 1924, operated in southeast Pennsylvania and neighboring states...
(Wilmington and Northern Railroad) branch.
The Octoraro Railroad ceased operations on June 30, 1994. The Delaware Valley Railroad acquired the Octoraro Railroad on July 1, 1994.
Successor operations
Delaware Valley. a subsidiary of RailAmericaRailAmerica
RailAmerica, Inc., based in Jacksonville, Florida, is a holding company of a number of short-line railroads and regional railroads in the United States and Canada....
, operated the line until 1999, followed by the Brandywine Valley Railroad
Brandywine Valley Railroad
The Brandywine Valley Railroad is a class III railroad operating in Pennsylvania.It was established in 1981 by the Lukens Steel Company to operate trackage at Coatesville, Pennsylvania and the neighboring town of Modena...
(BVRY). The Morristown and Erie Railway
Morristown and Erie Railway
The Morristown and Erie Railway is a freight short line railroad based in Morristown, New Jersey. It operates freight rail service five days a week in Morris County, New Jersey and surrounding areas...
provided freight service from July 1, 2003 to November 18, 2004, but operated under the trade name of Octoraro Railroad. East Penn Railway took over operation in 2004 and purchased the right of way from SEPTA. In 2007 the company merged to become East Penn Railroad
East Penn Railroad
The East Penn Railroad is a short-line railroad that operates a number of mostly-unconnected lines in the U.S. states of Pennsylvania and Delaware...
and continues to operate the Octoraro line.