Wilmington & Western Railroad

The Wilmington and Western Railroad traces its corporate roots to the Delaware and Chester County Railroad, incorporated in February 1867, which was renamed the Wilmington and Western Railroad in March 1869 and opened its line to Landenberg on October 19 1872. After a foreclosure sale in April 1877 created the Delaware Western Railroad, that entity merged into the Baltimore and Philadelphia Railroad—a Baltimore and Ohio subsidiary—in February 1883, and the B&O subsequently trimmed the line back to Southwood in the early 1940s and to Hockessin in the late 1950s. Historic Red Clay Valley, Inc. revived the historic name by launching weekend steam tourist trains in 1966, and in August 1982 the organization purchased the remaining branch from the Chessie System for $25,000, acquiring ex‑B&O SW1 #8408 as part of the deal. Severe flooding from Hurricane Floyd in 1999 destroyed two Red Clay Creek trestles, and Tropical Storm Henri in 2003 swept away or damaged the remaining timber bridges; all lost structures were replaced with steel trestles and the line officially reopened to Hockessin on June 30 2007. After celebrating its 50th anniversary as a tourist railroad in 2016, the board announced an indefinite suspension of operations in February 2025 pending extensive equipment, track, and bridge repairs, a decision that provoked volunteer protests and led to a restructuring that left the Roadmaster as the sole employee.