Happy Holidays 2019

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Joyous Kwanzaa, Happy Holidays & a fantastic New Year from me to you & yours!

Phillips Packing Company Labels

I really need to get to work on the layout, but it's been busy with work & family right now. I'm also uninspired to do a big write-up for the blog this month.

So, here's two photos of Phillips Packing Company can labels for both their chicken noodle soup & canned tomatoes.

Phillips Delicious Condensed Chicken Noodle Soup label

Phillips Delicious canned tomatoes label

The chicken noodle soup label I found on the internet. I actually own the label for the canned tomatoes & it sitting proudly in a display box on my basement wall.

Loading Boxcars at Phillips Packing Company

Here's 2 photos by Arthur Rothstein in June 1937, for the federal Farm Security Administration Office of War Information. There's a whole set of photos that Mr. Rothstein took, but I'm just focusing on these two photos.

The first photo is a Phillips Packing Company truck parked next to a PRR X29 boxcar (Farm Security Administration Office of War Information fsa 80651-C).

The second photo is inside a boxcar loaded with Phillips canned goods. What's neat is you see how each individual rail car was loaded (Farm Security Administration Office of War Information fsa 80644-C).

Federalsburg, MD Flood of 1935

I'm going to stay in Federalsburg, MD this month & show more photos from Jim Bowden, but this time focus on the flood of September 7, 1935, & its aftermath.

An aerial photo by an unknown photographer looking southwest, in September 1935, Jim Bowden collection.

I'm saying southwest because it appears the station is at the top left center of the photograph.

An aerial photo by an unknown photographer looking north, in September 1935, Jim Bowden collection.

Repairs to the bridge over Marshyhope Creek by an unknown photographer looking northeast, in September 1935, Federalsburg Historical Society collection.

Repairs to the siding (possibly Eagle Mills) by an unknown photographer, possibly looking south, in September 1935, Federalsburg Historical Society collection.

The last photo is the most difficult one to determine its exact location, but I know that it should be near the bridge over the Marshyhope Creek around Eagle Mills. If anyone can narrow-down the exact location, please share it with me.

More on Federalsburg, MD

A friend of mine has been posting more photos of Federalsburg, MD, so I thought I'd share two of them here to follow last month's post on Federalsburg.

Marshyhope Creek bridge in Federalsburg, MD (unknown date & an unknown photographer, Jim Bowden collection).

The first photo is of the bridge that goes over Marshyhope Creek on an unknown date & by an unknown photographer that Jim Bowden found in a book on Federalsburg that dates from 1904. I think the photo was taken from the south side, facing northwest, but don't quote me on this.

Eagle Mills, Federalsburg, MD on an unknown date & by an unknown photographer, Jim Bowden collection.

The second photo is from a postcard of Eagle Mills, which can be seen on the , I love that the postcard identifies "H.B. Messenger proprietor." The photo was taken on an unknown date & by an unknown photographer, from the collection of Jim Bowden. This has to be early in the 1900's because the photo below shows how the building changed & expanded in 1915 from the photo I posted last month from the collection of Chase Andrews (it's the same building, behind the station with the boxcar in the siding).

"At the Station, Federalsburg, MD" from a 1915 postcard, Chase Andrews collection.

You can match the siding, the telephone pole, & smoke stack (on the back of the building) in the bottom photo with the center photo to see how the building was expanded over the years.

Federalsburg, MD

Federalsburg, MD was reached by the Dorchester & Delaware Railroad (D&DRR) sometime between October 12, 1868, and November 8, 1869. I say “sometime” because the D&DRR completed the line (beginning at Cambridge, MD) to East New Market, MD for construction trains by October 12, 1868, & November 8, 1869, because that's when the first service train runs over the entire line between Seaford, DE and Cambridge, MD.

If anyone out there knows the exact date the D&DRR arrived in Federalsburg, please share it with me.

Either way, here's four photos of Federalsburg. An undated photo taken by an unknown photographer, facing towards Cambridge (that's South Main Street crossing the tracks, in front of the station).

Federalsburg, MD, facing towards Cambridge, MD by an unknown photographer on an unknown date.

The second photo is from a 1915 photo by an unknown photographer from Chase Andrew's collection.

Federalsburg, MD, facing northeast (towards Seaford) in 1915 by an unknown photographer, Chase Andrew's collection. 

The third photo is from a 1928 postcard by an unknown photographer from Rudy Wilson's collection.

Federalsburg, MD, facing northwest (towards Cambridge) on a 1928 postcard, Rudy Wilson's collection.

The color photo was taken by Ed Sharp in 2012, facing Seaford (South Main Street can be seen behind the station, crossing the tracks). The station currently serves as headquarters for the Maryland & Delaware Railroad (their engine house is off to the right of Ed's photo).

Federalsburg, MD station in 2012 by Ed Sharpe, facing Seaford, DE.

C. Orem & Company Fertilizer Works 1891

Sometimes you come across stuff on internet searches that makes you say, "Huh, that's neat."

Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Cambridge, 

Dorchester County, Maryland, May 1891, Library of Congress collection

I knew that the Dorchester & Delaware Railroad/Cambridge & Seaford Railroad went directly by the Cambridge Water Works, but this Sandborn Fire Insurance Map from May 1891 (Library of Congress Collection), shows the Cambridge Ice Company & the C. Orem & Company Fertilizer Works (located approximately 360 feet south of the Cambridge train station - located roughly west of Trenton Street, near the Trenton Street boat ramp today).

Notice at the C. Orem & Company Fertilizer Works that it is not only powered by steam coal, it has buildings set aside for shells & a bone mill.

Of course, none of these buildings exist now in Cambridge, but again, I'm going to say, "Huh, that's neat."

Seaford, Delaware Musings

Last month I did a write-up on the history of the Cambridge Secondary Track at its endpoint - Seaford, DE (remember - the actual construction of the railroad started at Cambridge, MD & headed towards Seaford). I want to share some aerial photos of Seaford as they relate to the Cambridge Secondary.

Seaford, DE looking southwest in 1926, Dallin Aerial Survey Company collection.

The above photo is from the Dallin Aerial Survey Company in 1926. We're looking, roughly, southwest. The former "Delaware Road" line (Porter, DE to Delmar, DE) runs from the bottom, center, to the top, left. The Cambridge Secondary starts, just below the Nanticoke River bridge, & runs from left to right in the photo, on its way to Cambridge, MD.

Nanticoke River Bridge, Seaford, DE in March 1970, by Lloyd Teitsworth, Miss Dee Andrews collection.

The second photo is from March 1970, of the Nanticoke River movable bridge by Lloyd Teitsworth, Miss Dee Andrews collection. The Cambridge Secondary begins at the top right, just below the overpass & running behind the freight station (the white building with the wooden platform). You can trace the Secondary from right to left because it's the one track in the photo without any freight cars on it.

Seaford, DE in the late 1960's or early 1970's by Walter Thurston.

The third shot focuses on the Nanticoke River bridge, but from a different angle. You can see the Cambridge Secondary making its way towards the DuPont nylon plant and then it makes a sharp turn from left to right & goes off towards Cambridge, MD towards the top center of the photo.

Seaford, DE from Porter Street to the station in 1954, Jim Bowden collection.

The fourth shot is of Seaford, DE in 1954, with Porter Street (on the bottom left, in front of Perdue's  5 grain silos), from the Jim Bowden collection. The Cambridge Secondary runs from the top left & curves, going straight off the bottom center of the photo. Again, it's the track without any freight cars on it.

Seaford, DE from Porter Street to Hall Street in 1954, Jim Bowden collection.

The fifth & final study of Seaford is a continuation of the railroad from the photo, above, in 1954, except this is now between Porter Street & Hall Street (Hall doesn't cross the railroad today).

Not that much historical write-up, but it does show a lot of aerial photos of the railroad in Seaford, DE.

The Cambridge & Seaford Railroad

Cambridge & Seaford Railroad Stock No. 37 from 1890, Jim Bowden collection

The Delaware Railroad reached Seaford on November 30, 1856. It wasn't until June 24, 1867, that the Delaware Railroad Board authorizes a branch from Seaford to meet the Dorchester & Delaware Railroad (D&DRR) at the Maryland state line and arranging a lease of the D&DRR. The Delaware Railroad loans the D&DRR sufficient capital to complete its 27-mile line to Cambridge, MD. On April 11, 1868, the Delaware Railroad begins laying track at Seaford, DE towards the Maryland state line. On November 1868, the Dorchester Branch of Delaware Railroad opens between Seaford, DE and the Maryland state line near Oakgrove, MD to link with Dorchester & Delaware Railroad. On November 8, 1869, the first service over the entire line between Seaford, DE & Cambridge, MD was operated by the D&DRR. The total cost to build the railroad amounted to $300,000.00 (that's $5,228,310.00 in 2015 dollars). The line was constructed with 50 lbs. rail. Unfortunately, during one of the first trips, a train struck & killed several pigs & a cow owned by a “Mr. Hurley” near Cambridge, MD. The citizens of Cambridge contributed $50.00 (that's $871.39 in 2015 dollars) to make up for Mr. Hurley's loss. There are two Delaware Railroad stations along the line: Flowertown, DE and State Line (Oak Grove, DE).

By 1882, the fortunes of the D&DRR were playing-out. On May 3, 1882, the Cambridge & Seaford Railroad (C&SRR) is incorporated in Maryland for purpose for reorganizing the D&DRR. On November 23, 1882, the D&DRR enters receivership. Samuel M. Felton (1809-1889) and, the railroad's former President, W. (William) Wilson Byrn (1811-1886), are both named Receivers. On November 28, 1882, the D&DRR is attempted to be sold at foreclosure at Cambridge, MD, for $22,000.00 (that's $511,627.91 in 2015 dollars). It ends up being insufficient and the sale is canceled. On December 30, 1882, the Philadelphia, Wilmington & Baltimore Railroad (PW&B) Board authorizes purchasing 532 shares of the D&DRR at $30.00/share (that's $697.67/share in 2015 dollars). On January 3, 1883, the D&DRR is sold at foreclosure at Cambridge, MD for $51,000.00 (that's $1,214,285.71 in 2015 dollars) to Richard D. Barclay on behalf of the PW&B. On April 27, 1883, the PW&B's President Isaac Hinckley (1815-1888) announces the Maryland courts have approved purchase of the D&DRR. On May 16, 1883, the C&SRR is organized at Cambridge, MD. The PW&B's President, Isaac Hinckley (1815-1888), is elected President of the C&SRR. Either on May 16, 1883, or May 25, 1883 (there's a conflict as to the exact date), a certificate is filed for the C&SRR. The PW&B agrees to operate as agent.

On June 1, 1883, the PW&B begins operating C&SRR as agent under agreement of either May 16, 1883 or May 25, 1883. The C&SRR becomes part of PW&B's Delaware Division. By December 1898, the PW&B Board enters an agreement with the Queen Anne's & Kent Railroad, the C&SRR, and the Delaware & Chesapeake Railway to be merged into the Delaware Railroad. On January 23, 1899, the Queen Anne's & Kent Railroad, the C&SRR, and the Delaware & Chesapeake Railway are all merged into Delaware Railroad under agreement of December 31, 1898.

Clear Track Ahead! in Hurlock, MD in 1946

I'm going to “hijack” a post by a friend, Jim Bowden, who posts things time-to-time on the Pennsylvania Railroad Delmarva Division group on Facebook & also on Seaford Delaware, a look back in time group, also on Facebook.

Dateline: it was in 1946 & the PRR's 100^th anniversary. The railroad decided they wanted to produce a promotional film to celebrate the railroad's history & its future. They wanted a short piece of the film to show the history of the railroad & wanted to recreate a scene from “back in the day.” Well, that brought a film crew to the Delmarva Peninsula, specifically to, Hurlock, MD – the junction between the PRR's Cambridge Secondary Track between Seaford, DE & Cambridge, MD (the former Dorchester & Delaware Railroad) & the former disconnected rail line built by the Baltimore & Eastern Shore Railroad (B&ES) between Claiborne, MD & Ocean City, MD.

The B&ES built the line between Claiborne, MD & Salisbury, MD (completed on September 15, 1890 – 57.22 miles) & connected with the Wicomico & Pocomoke Rail Road between Salisbury & Ocean City, MD (31 miles, built between 1868 & 1890) & placed it all into service on December 1, 1890. The BC&A acquired the B&ES on October 20, 1894, under foreclosure. The B&E acquired the BC&A on May 1, 1928 (after the BC&A was sold at foreclosure to Charles H. Carter, the PRR's Baltimore, MD solicitor, on March 29, 1928).  

The line was broken-up by the B&E between 1932 & 1938. The B&E abandoned Vienna, MD to Mardela Springs, MD between 1932-1938. In 1938, the B&E abandoned the line between Claiborne & McDaniel, MD; between Easton, MD to Preston, MD (9.97 miles); & between West Ocean City, MD & Ocean City (which had been out-of-service since the 1933 hurricane). The Preston-Vienna at-grade crossing was removed in 1948 (2 years after the PRR promotional film). The Hurlock to Vienna and Hurlock to Preston lines were taken out-of-service sometime between April 1, 1976, and 1979.

The PRR & the film crew scoured the PRR system & Hurlock fit in perfectly with what they wanted - an “old-timey” branchline protected by a highball signal (there was one other active highball signal still on the Peninsula at that time – in Berlin, MD), where time seemed to stand still. So actors, actresses, the film crew, & props all descended on the tiny town of Hurlock by train. Included in the props were a covered wagon, a stagecoach, wooden passenger cars, & a working replica of the “John Bull” (which didn't operate on either rail line, but fit the bill for an old steam locomotive).

You can take a look at the PRR 1946 promotional film: “Clear Track Ahead! A film story of progress in railroad transportation.” here on YouTube (& I'll try to keep track of this link because videos are uploaded & taken down without any notification & can quickly change locations): Clear Track Ahead!

Specifically look between the 00:00:51 & 00:06:05 marks (by the way, that's hour:minute:second time stamps).

I also want to include photos from Jim's collection of the DuPont Company's (Seaford) "The Threadline" employee magazine from June 1946 that shows the filming of the movie in Hurlock.

Thanks again Jim for sharing this!

February 2019 Update

You know how life gets really busy (between family & work), that your hobby can't be a priority or even in focus? Well, that's how it's been since the beginning of January 2019.

On January 1, 2019, the railroad I work for took over the railroad I used to work for back in the 1980's to the 1990's (the Delaware Coast Line Railroad). This move forced me to work as an Engineer pretty much every day in January because we're shorted handed employees with the increased business. It wasn't until the beginning of February that I settled back down & worked the position my current employer hired me for, but then I had to play catch-up with all of the stuff I didn't do in January while I was running.

My family life, as always, is busy, so add that to work & that equals very little time to devote to the hobby (both doing research, which I LOVE doing, & modeling).

One thing I did notice while I was running on one of the rail lines of my former employer (the remains of the Ellendale, DE to Milton, DE line), I kinda started reminiscing of days gone by when I first started my railroading career (in 1984 to be exact) & everything was out there to be discovered. Not only did I have to learn how to “railroad” as opposed to being a railfan, but I wanted to find out the history of the rail lines I was working on. I mean, I knew they were former Conrail/Penn Central/PRR lines, but that's all I knew. I didn't know who built the railroad originally or what customers it served (except those that were still around in the 1980's & 1990's) or what jobs worked the lines or who worked those jobs & what equipment they used.

Fortunately, in time, I discovered the missing information I was looking for (it's still a work in progress though). I think I can “railroad” OK, but everyone can improve.

One thing I've noticed is that I'm focusing some of my interest on the the former PRR Milton (DE) line. We only run on two-thirds of the line now (the end of the line into Milton saw its last train around 2001 when Draper King Cole closed its doors). I still remember putting in ties & getting this railroad back into FRA Class I condition (it was Excepted Track when my former employer took over the operations). I can still remember finding old sidings, minus their switches, in the weeds in various locations. That got my young mind into thinking what was there at the time to justify putting in a siding (that had no customer there when I was there).

Either way, when you get older, I guess that's what we do – think of days gone by.

I'm hoping to get back focusing on the model railroad as February moves on. Thanks for reading!

Happy New Year 2019!

Happy New Year everyone!