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Delaware Short Line Railroads: A Complete Guide

Published: March 29, 2025

By: Adam Burns

Delaware Coast Line Railroad (reporting mark, DCLR), Defunct:  This short line had been in service since 1982 operating about 25 miles of track in Sussex County (the Milton Branch and Lewes Branch), formerly part of the Pennsylvania's Delmarva Lines (originally part of the Queen Anne's Railroad of 1894). 

The road interchanged with Norfolk Southern in Ellendale and Georgetown.  However, operations were suspended in 2018. 

Delmarva Central Railroad (reporting mark, DCR):  A division of Carload Express, this system began operations in 2016 utilizing 188 miles of former Pennsylvania Railroad/Penn Central/Conrail trackage along the Delmarva Peninsula in Maryland, Virginia, and Delaware. 

It interchanges with NS at Porter, Delaware while trackage rights provide access as far north as New Castle.  Its southerly terminus is Hallwood, Virginia while short branches also radiate away from the main line to interchange with the Maryland & Delaware Railroad.

East Penn Railroad (reporting mark, ESPN):  This privately-owned short line operates over primarily disconnected branches in southeastern Pennsylvania which also reach into northern Delaware. 

The history of the lines trace back to the PRR and Reading, sold by Conrail in the 1990s.  The current road was formed in 2007 through the merger of the East Penn Railway and Penn Eastern Rail Lines.  Currently, it operates 114 miles of track and handles a wide variety of freight.

Maryland & Delaware Railroad (reporting mark, MDDE):  The Maryland & Delaware has been in service since 1977 when it acquired former PRR branches in Maryland and Delaware (more of the Delmarva Lines) soon after Conrail was formed. 

The road currently operates 120 miles of track on four different branches (the Seafood Line, Centreville Line, Chestertown Line, and Snow Hill Line) moving such freight as agriculture, food products, steel, petroleum products, fertilizer, and forest products.

Wilmington & Western Railroad (reporting mark, WWRC):  This operation is well-known for its excursions hauled by steam locomotives, utilizing a former Baltimore & Ohio branch between Wilmington and Hockessin. 

It was formed in 1982 after acquiring the remaining 10.2-mile line from the B&O, renaming it to the original railroad that chartered the route in 1867.  Currently, the W&W handles freight assignments on an as-needed basis.