Queen Anne's Railroad

The Queen Anne’s Railroad was a railroad that ran from Love Point, Maryland to Lewes, Delaware and was connected to Baltimore via ferry. The Queen Anne's Railroad company was formed in Maryland in 1894, and received legislative authorization from Delaware in February 1895 [http://archives.delaware.gov/markers/sc/QUEEN%20ANNES%20RAILROAD%20SC%20116.shtml] . The railroad's original western terminus was in Queenstown, Maryland, and was moved via a 13-mile extension to Love Point in 1902 [http://www.historicqac.org/sites/StTrain.htm] , which shortened the ferry trip to Baltimore.

Towns served

The following towns were served by the Queen Anne's Railroad:
*Love Point, Maryland
*Stevensville, Maryland
*Chester, Maryland
*Queenstown, Maryland
*Centreville, Maryland (via the Centreville Branch)
*Queen Anne, Maryland
*Sudlersville, Maryland
*Milton, Delaware
*Lewes, Delaware

Current status

Much of the original line has been abandoned, but a portion is still used by the Delaware Coast Line Railroad to store rail cars. In Queen Anne's County, Maryland, a project has converted much of the railroad right-of-way into part of the Cross Island Trail, a rail trail which is in turn part of the American Discovery Trail. The path of the railroad is approximated today by the following roads:
*Maryland Route 18
*U.S. Route 50
*Maryland Route 404
*Maryland Route 16
*Delaware Route 16
*Delaware Route 1
*U.S. Route 9.

A Delaware state historical marker in Milton commemorates the railroad. Additionally, the original railroad stations in Stevensville and Sudlersville are both still in existence and serve as museums. [http://www.historicqac.org/sites/StTrain.htm] [http://www.abc2news.com/news/state/story.aspx?content_id=f0b65d66-a0d3-4924-8253-8c7e33d06f59]

External links

* [http://archives.delaware.gov/markers/sc/QUEEN%20ANNES%20RAILROAD%20SC%20116.shtml Delaware Public Archives - Queen Anne’s Railroad]