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Culp's Hill
Sykesville , MD, USA
Posts: 466
 | | Western Maryland Railroad | | Posted on: 2/1/2013 10:54:36 PM | On most maps and books, WMRR is shown to terminate at Westminster but after doing some digging, Union Bridge is the actual terminus. Does anyone know why Westminster is given instead?
CH
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"No tongue can tell, no mind conceive, no pen portray the horrible sights I saw today." Capt. John Taggert 9th PA Reserves 9/17/1862
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| Chuck
Gettysburg, PA, USA
Posts: 1744
| | Re: Western Maryland Railroad | | Posted on: 2/1/2013 11:31:57 PM |
I believe it was Dan Butterfield who mentioned in passing that the army came across tracks that were not on any map at the time. My speculation upon reading his comment was that it would have been an extension beyond Westminster, but I never really investigated the matter. What confirmation did you find that the tracks then led to Union Bridge?
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"there has been much published about Gettysburg... endeavored to unravel the tangled skein, and state the true story of the battle. Whether this will ever be accomplished is a doubtful point..." James Beale, 1878
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| bob hall
Gettysburg, PA, USA
Posts: 178
| | Re: Western Maryland Railroad | | Posted on: 2/2/2013 12:14:19 AM | In the early 1850's a charter was originally given for a railroad to build a line from Baltimore through Westminster then towards Hagerstown. Although not called it at that time, the name was eventually changed to the Western Maryland Rail Road. By the end of 1862, the line had reached Union Bridge. The Gettysburg Campaign effectively halted further construction which did not resume until 1868 or 69 or 70. The railroad managed to reach Hagerstown in 1872 and reached the C&O canal a year later.
You can find the info in a few books on the history of the WM. Just some useless knowledge I have retained about the WM in my research on my favorite railroad, the B&0 which effectively took over the WM in 1983 as part of the Chessie System.
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| Rick Schaus
Capon Springs, WV, USA
Posts: 1665
| | Re: Western Maryland Railroad | | Posted on: 2/2/2013 1:42:27 PM | From the book The Western Maryland Railroad and His Honor the Mayor of Baltimore Versus the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, 1862:
” THE Western Maryland Railroad is a branch of the Northern Central Railroad, commencing at the Relay House on the latter road, eight miles from Baltimore, and running thence about forty miles to "Union Bridge," in the valley of Little Pipe Creek.”
The maps used as references may have been drawn prior to the Union Bridge extension’s completion?
I did find one map, circa 185?, which showed the line terminating at Westminster.
I found a reference to the line to Westminster being completed on 15 June, 1861, and the line to Union Bridge being completed in November, 1862.
The maps may not have shown that part of the RR line, but Union officers were aware of it.
Apparently the line/facilities at Union Bridge were limited, as indicated by Haupt:
” Baltimore July 3, 1863.
General D. H. Rucker, Washington:
I am just informed that supplies have been ordered by you to Union Bridge. They have heretofore been manifested to Westminster. The arrangements for running the road have been completed under the impression that Westminster was to be the depot. The amount of supplies that can be forwarded to Union Bridge will be much less than can be handled at Westminster, and will involve an entire change of our arrangements.
The distance of Union Bridge from the headquarters of the army is about the same as from Westminster and the road from Westminster much better. Can you not telegraph orders immediately to have the supplies unloaded at Westminster instead of Union Bridge?
H. HAUPT.”
” HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, July 1, 1863. (Received 7 p. m.)
General M. C. MEIGS,
Quartermaster-General, U. S. Army:
Since my last dispatch, the enemy had appeared in force near Gettysburg, and is driving in our cavalry pickets. It is presumed he will attack us in pitched battle very soon. We have plenty of supplies, I think, to answer until after the battle, and we can then better tell where we want to receive them. Our teams are now all ordered on the railroad between Union Bridge and Westminster. None go to Frederick. Please, therefore, send the forage to Union Bridge, but defer sending anything at present to Frederick. Matters will culminate here very quickly, and, we doubt not, victoriously for us. Do not regard me as undecided at all about supplies. I think we have enough until after a fight, but I make requisitions by orders.
RUFUS INGALLS,
Brigadier General, Chief Quartermaster, Army of the Potomac.”
There is this reference to a RR line to Union Bridge, but identified as being on the Northern Central Railroad:
” HEADQUARTERS DEFENSES OF WASHINGTON,
September 12, 1862.
Brigadier General S. WILLIAMS,
Asst. Adjt. General, Hdqrs. Army of the Potomac:
…There is now a railway from Union Bridge to Relay House, on Northern Central Railroad, passing through Westminster.
N. P. BANKS,
Major-General, Commanding.
” WASHINGTON, D. C., September 12, 1862.
General McCLELLAN:
The following is a copy of Associated Press report, dated Baltimore, 12th:
Last evening, at 7.30 o'clock, the rebels made a cavalry raid into Westminster, about 500, with two pieces of artillery. As they charged through the village, discharged their pistols on unarmed citizens on the street. C. W. Willister, district attorney, seeing rebels coming, made for the railroad, and, after proceeding about 1 mile, met train from Baltimore, which, on his information, returned immediately. There was at Union Bridge a train of the Western Maryland Railroad (locomotive and two cars), which should have arrived at Westminster at 5 o'clock this morning, and in this city at 8 o'clock. This train has probably been captured. Federals occupied New Market, on Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, 10 miles from Frederick, yesterday.
STAGER.
BALTIMORE, MD.,”
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VR, Rick Schaus
“It was a field of blood, on which the demon of Destruction revelled.”
Dr. Jonathan Letterman
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| Culp's Hill
Sykesville , MD, USA
Posts: 466
| | Re: Western Maryland Railroad | | Posted on: 2/3/2013 3:16:57 PM | Those are some neat dispatches Rick. And Chuck, there is a civil war trails marker behind the train station talking about how Reynolds' body came through being sent to Westminster.
CH
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"No tongue can tell, no mind conceive, no pen portray the horrible sights I saw today." Capt. John Taggert 9th PA Reserves 9/17/1862
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| Rick Schaus
Capon Springs, WV, USA
Posts: 1665
| | Re: Western Maryland Railroad | | Posted on: 2/3/2013 4:03:28 PM |
Quote:Those are some neat dispatches Rick. And Chuck, there is a civil war trails marker behind the train station talking about how Reynolds' body came through being sent to Westminster.
CH
--Culp
Thanks, CH.
Civil War Trails, Gettysburg Campaign:
” MD Union Bridge, sign located at the B&O Railroad Museum, Route 75 - Union Gen. John Reynolds' body was brought here after his death on the first day of the battle. He was taken to Baltimore on the busy Western Maryland Railroad.”
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VR, Rick Schaus
“It was a field of blood, on which the demon of Destruction revelled.”
Dr. Jonathan Letterman
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| Culp's Hill
Sykesville , MD, USA
Posts: 466
| | Re: Western Maryland Railroad | | Posted on: 2/5/2013 1:27:27 PM | And for the longest time the tracks near the station that branch off were known as the hospital tracks of 1863. Not sure if there is proof to the statement or just local lore.
CH
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"No tongue can tell, no mind conceive, no pen portray the horrible sights I saw today." Capt. John Taggert 9th PA Reserves 9/17/1862
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| Rick Schaus
Capon Springs, WV, USA
Posts: 1665
| | Re: Western Maryland Railroad | | Posted on: 2/5/2013 5:29:29 PM |
Quote:And for the longest time the tracks near the station that branch off were known as the hospital tracks of 1863. Not sure if there is proof to the statement or just local lore.
CH
--Culp
It appears that the term “hospital tracks” may not be referring to the trains that carried the wounded in 1863, although you said that “of 1863” was included.
Railroad terminology apparently referred to “hospital tracks” as those lengths on which RR equipment in need of maintenance was parked.
” (2) It is admitted by all parties that large additions to the track « in said yard are needed, and also additions to the length of side tracks. And it is recommended that such additional track be laid as soon as may be, and especially that " hospital " tracks be laid for each of the three lines using said road, for the exclusive use of each road for the repair of its own cars.”
(Annual Report of the Board of Railroad Commissioners, By Massachusetts. Board of Railroad Commissioners, 1881)
” In addition to the above projects, many storage yards, hospital tracks, ordnance depot yards, aviation center tracks, and construction tracks were laid out and built. In all 937 miles of single track were laid, thus fulfilling in the equivalent the prediction that to supply an American Army at the front we should have to build a doubletrack railroad from the French coast to the trenches."
(America's munitions 1917-1918:...)
Possibly, during the campaign, those tracks were used to hold engines/cars that were in need of repairs?
Personally, I like the association with the trains carrying wounded from Gettysburg better.
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VR, Rick Schaus
“It was a field of blood, on which the demon of Destruction revelled.”
Dr. Jonathan Letterman
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