THE STORY OF THE WILMINGTON AND WESTERN RAILROAD
By Arthur G. Volkman
First published August 1963
Typical of many smaller railroads that sprang up following the Civil War, the Wilmington & Western Railroad hoped to capture the freight and passenger business of the numerous mills and several mining operations located between Wilmington, DE, and Landenberg, PA. Unfortunately, the Long Depression forced the line into receivership a few years after starting operations when it was unable to pay interest on construction bonds. In this monograph, Volkman details how prominent New Castle County, DE, citizens came together to decide a route and construct the 20-mile-long railroad. The first few prosperous years of operation are relived followed by the auction of the line, costing over $700,000 to construct, in a few short minutes for $5,000! This reissue is three-times larger than the original and includes reference materials, photographs, and information uncovered since the original issue.
View/Download (19 MB)
THE STORY OF THE WILMINGTON AND WESTERN RAILROAD
By Arthur G. Volkman
First published August 1963
Typical of many smaller railroads that sprang up following the Civil War, the Wilmington & Western Railroad hoped to capture the freight and passenger business of the numerous mills and several mining operations located between Wilmington, DE, and Landenberg, PA. Unfortunately, the Long Depression forced the line into receivership a few years after starting operations when it was unable to pay interest on construction bonds. In this monograph, Volkman details how prominent New Castle County, DE, citizens came together to decide a route and construct the 20-mile-long railroad. The first few prosperous years of operation are relived followed by the auction of the line, costing over $700,000 to construct, in a few short minutes for $5,000! This reissue is three-times larger than the original and includes reference materials, photographs, and information uncovered since the original issue.
View/Download (19 MB)