How Alexander Cassatt Developed A Much-Needed Railroad
Railroads were essential to the Eastern Shore’s transformation into modern times. From the small railroads which first ventured into Delmarva’s Peninsula, to Alexander Cassatt’s revolutionary railroad which connected the shores, the history of railroads on the Eastern Shore always has something rich and interesting to find. The Eastern portion of the Eastern Shore had multiple early rail lines pioneering through it during the primitive days of railroad technology. These railroads are not as well-known on a larger scale due to their small size and limited access routes. These railroads were adequate transportation for the time, area, and niche where they were used. However, newer, more effective railroads such as the Eastern Shore Railroad (ESR) would await their conception and construction. Initially, small rail lines ventured into Delaware and Maryland prior to the finishing of Alexander Cassatt’s Eastern Shore Railroad in 1884. The problem though, was their ability to connect the West and South portions of the Eastern Shore to transport coal was less than adequate, a more effective railroad began to …show more content…
The railroad finally made a connection across the Chesapeake Bay in April 1885, something which hadn’t been accomplished before, an engineering feat which was revolutionary for its time (Eastern). This connection would save countless hours of time due to taking a more direct route from East to West and West to East. Alexander Cassatt’s railroad opened under the name “New York, Philadelphia and Norfolk Railroad (NYP&N)” (Transportation). This railroad would play an essential role in helping move people, food, supplies, etc. across a body of water which had never been crossed by rail before. Due to it being one of a kind at the time, the railroad was always up and running around the
Railroads were essential to the Eastern Shore’s transformation into modern times. From the small railroads which first ventured into Delmarva’s Peninsula, to Alexander Cassatt’s revolutionary railroad which connected the shores, the history of railroads on the Eastern Shore always has something rich and interesting to find. The Eastern portion of the Eastern Shore had multiple early rail lines pioneering through it during the primitive days of railroad technology. These railroads are not as well-known on a larger scale due to their small size and limited access routes. These railroads were adequate transportation for the time, area, and niche where they were used. However, newer, more effective railroads such as the Eastern Shore Railroad (ESR) would await their conception and construction. Initially, small rail lines ventured into Delaware and Maryland prior to the finishing of Alexander Cassatt’s Eastern Shore Railroad in 1884. The problem though, was their ability to connect the West and South portions of the Eastern Shore to transport coal was less than adequate, a more effective railroad began to …show more content…
The railroad finally made a connection across the Chesapeake Bay in April 1885, something which hadn’t been accomplished before, an engineering feat which was revolutionary for its time (Eastern). This connection would save countless hours of time due to taking a more direct route from East to West and West to East. Alexander Cassatt’s railroad opened under the name “New York, Philadelphia and Norfolk Railroad (NYP&N)” (Transportation). This railroad would play an essential role in helping move people, food, supplies, etc. across a body of water which had never been crossed by rail before. Due to it being one of a kind at the time, the railroad was always up and running around the