Bel Air in Harford County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

The Famous Ma & Pa

Photographed by Adam Margolis, December 27, 2023

1. The Famous Ma & Pa Marker

Inscription. The original name of the Ma & Pa was the narrow gauge Maryland Central Railroad that reached Bel Air in 1883. After merging with the York and Peach Bottom Railway in 1891, its name became the Baltimore and Leheigh Railroad. This meandering line with high trestles transitioned to standard gauge in 1901 becoming the Maryland and Pennsylvania Railroad fondly remember as the Ma & Pa. Running from Baltimore to York, it had 77.2 miles of track connecting two cities 47 miles apart as the crow flies.

Erected 2023 by Jack and Signe Shagena.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical year for this entry is 1883.

Location. 39° 33.127′ N, 76° 21.718′ W. Marker is in Bel Air, Maryland, in Harford County. It is at the intersection of North Avenue and Running Creek Way, on the right when traveling west on North Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 4 North Ave, Bel Air MD 21014, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Central Maryland.

It is also in the American Mid-Atlantic

and in the Chesapeake

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Bay Region.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies

and also the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: MA & PA Heritage Trail (approx. 0.9 miles away); a different marker also named The Famous Ma & Pa (approx. one mile away); Built 1898 Liriodendron (approx. 1.1 miles away); MA and PA Heritage Trail (approx. 1.2 miles away); In Grateful Recognition (approx. 1.2 miles away); Historic Bel Air (approx. 1.2 miles away); Sacred to the Memory of the Men of Harford County (approx. 1.2 miles away); Frederick Ward Park (approx. 1.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bel Air.

Photographed by Adam Margolis, December 27, 2023

2. The Famous Ma & Pa Marker

Photographed by Bill Pfingsten, July 24, 2024

3. The Famous Ma & Pa Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on August 2, 2024. It was originally submitted on December 27, 2023, by Adam Margolis of Mission Viejo, California. This page has been viewed 363 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 27, 2023, by Adam Margolis of Mission Viejo, California. 3. submitted on August 2, 2024, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.