Bel Air in Harford County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Maryland and Pennsylvania Railroad
Photographed By Bill Pfingsten, August 4, 2016
1. Maryland and Pennsylvania Railroad Marker
Inscription.
Maryland and Pennsylvania Railroad. . Post card image of the Bel Air station circa 1907., The 77.2 mile route of the Ma and Pa ran from Baltimore to York. While significantly longer than other railroads, the Ma and Pa passed through the center of Harford County. This is the reason why it is often referred to as "Harford County's Railroad." The Ma and Pa had 476 curves and 92 percent of the track was on an up or down grade. One of two level sections was a one mile section from Bel Air to Bynum. The winding, hilly charm of the Ma and Pa along with its numerous bridges, viaducts, and trestles attracted rail buffs and the picture-taking public. Today, the Ma and Pa Heritage Trail runs along a part of the original railbed.
June 21, 1883 - Maryland Central Railroad reaches Bel Air.
1891 - Maryland Central Railway and York and Peach Bottom Railway merge to form the Baltimore and Lehigh Railroad.
The predecessors to the Ma and Pa used narrow gauge track that was common in the late 19th century. The conversion to standard gauge was necessary to allow equipment to be exchanged with other railroads, and it allowed faster and more powerful equipment to be used. Narrow gauge rails were separated by a distance of 3 feet, while standard gauge rails were separated by 4 feet, 8-1/2 inches. During conversion, the line had as many as five rails in some sections.
August 23, 1900 - Baltimore and Lehigh Railway converts the Baltimore-Delta segment from narrow gauge to standard gauge.
February 12, 1901 - Baltimore and Lehigh Railway and York Southern Railroad merged to form the Maryland and Pennsylvania (Ma and Pa) Railroad.
1920s-30s - When the Ma and Pa Railroad reached its peak in the 1920s and early 1930s, it owned as many as sixteen steam-powered locomotives, numerous box cars and several gasoline-electric motor cars for passenger service. The railroad having a route directly through the center of Harford County, allowed many fartms and canneries, such as Spenceola Farms at Forest Hill, easy access to markets in Baltimore and York. Goods such as tomatoes, sweet corn, potatoes, and milk, were part of the daily freight on the Ma and Pa. The Ma and Pa also carried mail until September, 1954.
Unfortunately during the Great Depression, gross revenues were halved in three years. While scenic trips on steam locomotives were popular, the railroad never fully recovered.
The sculpture, "Daybreak", to your right is an artist's rendition of a sunrise over the canneries at Spenceola Farms.
November 1946 - The MA and PA orders first diesel locomotives.
August 31, 1954 - On this date, the very last passenger trail to ever run along the Ma and Pa Railroad left Baltimore for a round trip to York. It consisted of two gas-electric motor coaches, a rented coach, and a baggage car pulled by Diesel engine No. 81. The run ended when the train pulled into the Baltimore Station at 7:30 p.m. that evening. A group of about 100 gathered on the North Avenue Bridge, silently bidding goodbye as the last passenger run passed below.
June 11, 1958 - After five years of financial losses, Diesel engine No. 82 made the last run on the Ma and Pa Railroad to collect loaded and empty cars. After the final run, the Baltimore to Whiteford section was abandoned.
Lower Right Photo , No. 82, a 1,200 horsepower diesel-electric engine built in November 1951, is shown at West York on November 19, 1999., References: Peden, Henry C. and Jack L. Shagena, The Ma and Pa Remembered, 2012. , Hilton, George W., The Ma and Pa, 1999. , Map:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ma_and_Pa_RR_map.png.
Post card image of the Bel Air station circa 1907.
The 77.2 mile route of the Ma & Pa ran from Baltimore to York. While significantly longer than other railroads, the Ma & Pa passed through the center of Harford County. This is the reason why it is often referred to as "Harford County's Railroad." The Ma & Pa had 476 curves and 92 percent of the track was on an up or down grade. One of two level sections was a one mile section from Bel Air to Bynum. The winding, hilly charm of the Ma & Pa along with its numerous bridges, viaducts, and trestles attracted rail buffs and the picture-taking public. Today, the Ma & Pa Heritage Trail runs along a part of the original railbed.
June 21, 1883 - Maryland Central Railroad reaches Bel Air.
1891 - Maryland Central Railway and York & Peach Bottom Railway merge to form the Baltimore & Lehigh Railroad.
The predecessors to the Ma & Pa used narrow gauge track that was common in the late 19th century. The conversion to standard gauge was necessary to allow equipment to be exchanged with other railroads, and it allowed faster and more powerful equipment to be used. Narrow gauge rails were separated by a distance of 3 feet, while standard gauge rails were separated by 4 feet, 8-1/2 inches. During conversion, the line had as many as five rails in some sections.
August
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23, 1900 - Baltimore & Lehigh Railway converts the Baltimore-Delta segment from narrow gauge to standard gauge.
February 12, 1901 - Baltimore & Lehigh Railway and York Southern Railroad merged to form the Maryland & Pennsylvania (Ma & Pa) Railroad.
1920s-30s - When the Ma & Pa Railroad reached its peak in the 1920s and early 1930s, it owned as many as sixteen steam-powered locomotives, numerous box cars and several gasoline-electric motor cars for passenger service. The railroad having a route directly through the center of Harford County, allowed many fartms and canneries, such as Spenceola Farms* at Forest Hill, easy access to markets in Baltimore and York. Goods such as tomatoes, sweet corn, potatoes, and milk, were part of the daily freight on the Ma & Pa. The Ma & Pa also carried mail until September, 1954.
Unfortunately during the Great Depression, gross revenues were halved in three years. While scenic trips on steam locomotives were popular, the railroad never fully recovered.
* The sculpture, "Daybreak", to your right is an artist's rendition of a sunrise over the canneries at Spenceola Farms.
November 1946 - The MA & PA orders first diesel locomotives.
August 31, 1954 - On this date, the very last passenger trail to ever run along the Ma & Pa Railroad left Baltimore for a round trip to York. It consisted of two gas-electric
Photographed By Bill Pfingsten, August 4, 2016
2. Maryland and Pennsylvania Railroad Marker
motor coaches, a rented coach, and a baggage car pulled by Diesel engine No. 81. The run ended when the train pulled into the Baltimore Station at 7:30 p.m. that evening. A group of about 100 gathered on the North Avenue Bridge, silently bidding goodbye as the last passenger run passed below.
June 11, 1958 - After five years of financial losses, Diesel engine No. 82 made the last run on the Ma & Pa Railroad to collect loaded and empty cars. After the final run, the Baltimore to Whiteford section was abandoned.
Lower Right Photo No. 82, a 1,200 horsepower diesel-electric engine built in November 1951, is shown at West York on November 19, 1999.
References: Peden, Henry C. and Jack L. Shagena, The Ma & Pa Remembered, 2012.
Hilton, George W., The Ma & Pa, 1999.
Map:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ma_and_Pa_RR_map.png.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical date for this entry is February 12, 1901.
Location. 39° 31.866′ N, 76° 21.676′ W. Marker is in Bel Air, Maryland, in Harford County. Marker can be reached from Maryland Route 24. Marker is on the Ma & Pa Heritage Trail adjacent to the highway (Maryland 24). It is east of the highway. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Bel Air MD 21014, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Photographed By Carl Gordon Moore Jr., May 25, 2021
3. Advertising on the Maryland and Pennsylvania Railroad Marker
Spenceola Farms Tomatoes
are especially grown and carefully
packed in rich Harford
County, Maryland. This can contains
a generous helping of these
fresh ripe tomatoes in preparation
of which only the most
modern sanitary and scientific
methods were employed right at
the field. We are confident you
will enjoy them.
contents 1 lb. 3 oz.
packed by R. P. Streett [,] Forest Hill, MD.
Credits. This page was last revised on May 28, 2021. It was originally submitted on August 11, 2016, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. This page has been viewed 577 times since then and 26 times this year. Last updated on May 26, 2021, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. Photos:1, 2. submitted on August 11, 2016, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. 3. submitted on May 25, 2021, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland.
