The New Castle and Frenchtown Railroad

This flyer advertised in 1833 the newly operating New Castle and Frenchtown Railroad passenger cars.

Courtesy of the New Castle Historical Society

Travel Before Railroads

Prior to railroads, the best way to travel around the United States was by boat. Traveling even short distances before railroads connected the United States was difficult. For those traveling from Philadelphia, PA to Baltimore, MD they had to cross the Delmarva Peninsula partway through the journey. This short segment was traveled by land, until the Chesapeake and Delaware (C&D) Canal opened in 1829.

The New Castle–Frenchtown Turnpike Route

To solve this problem, the Union Line Transportation Company regularly operated stagecoaches along the turnpike between New Castle, Delaware, and Frenchtown, Maryland. This route connected steamboats traveling between Philadelphia and New Castle with those operating between Frenchtown and Baltimore. The turnpike crossed the peninsula at roughly its narrowest point and became a major transportation link for the Mid-Atlantic region.

Once the C&D Canal was completed in 1829, water travel between Philadelphia and Baltimore became possible without any land travel. To remain competitive, the turnpike owners turned to a promising new technology known as railroads.

Creation of the New Castle and Frenchtown Railroad

Shortly after the invention of railroads, the New Castle & Frenchtown Turnpike and Railroad Company requested to have a passenger railroad replace the turnpike, utilizing the same route. They received permission from both Delaware and Maryland. In 1832, the New Castle and Frenchtown Railroad began running regular steam-powered passenger trains along its new 16½-mile route.

The railroad’s first steam locomotive arrived from England in pieces and was assembled on site. The New Castle and Frenchtown Railroad became the first steam-powered passenger railroad in Delaware and one of the earliest in the nation.

The New Castle Manufacturing Company was one of several companies to open due to the success of the New Castle and Frenchtown Railroad.

Courtesy of the New Castle Historical Society

Industrial Growth Around the Railroad

The railroad’s success soon attracted industry to the area. A steam locomotive manufacturer, the New Castle Manufacturing Company, opened nearby, followed by other steam-powered manufacturing and milling operations. Several physical reminders of the railroad remain today. The railroad’s ticket office still stands near the entrance to Battery Park, and one nearby home, located at 1 The Strand, originally served as a railroad station.

Bypassed by a Larger Railroad

Only a few years after the New Castle and Frenchtown Railroad opened, a larger railroad constructed a rail line between Philadelphia and Baltimore via Wilmington and Elkton, bypassing New Castle entirely. In 1839, the larger Philadelphia, Wilmington, and Baltimore Railroad purchased the New Castle and Frenchtown Railroad.

Integration into the Pennsylvania Railroad System

In 1854, the Philadelphia, Wilmington, and Baltimore Railroad built a connecting rail line between Wilmington and New Castle, relocating the original tracks. Over time, the Philadelphia, Wilmington, and Baltimore Railroad became part of the Pennsylvania Railroad, which grew into the largest railroad system in the nation.

Historic Benchmarks

This article is part of a series titled Historic Benchmarks: New Castle and the Making of a Nation which was created in partnership with the Delaware250, New Castle Historical Society, Old New Castle Outdoor Recreation Coalition, the City of New Castle, and The Trustees of the New Common.

Did You Know?

The New Castle & Frenchtown Turnpike and Railroad Company constructed a wharf at the end of Delaware Street and built up portions of the Battery using earth moved during the regrading of the rail route. The route was leveled so precisely that the midpoint at Bear Station could be seen with a telescope from either end of the line and was used as a signaling relay point.

Refernces

Benson, B. E., & Hoffecker, C. E. (2021). New Castle, Delaware: A Walk Through Time. New Castle, Delaware: Oak Knoll Press.

Cooper, A. B. (2020). The History of New Castle, Delaware. (J. Meek, Ed., & J. Meek, Trans.) New Castle, Delaware: New Castle Historical Society and Oak Knoll Book.

Cooper, C. J. (2001). A Town Among Cities; New Castle, 1780-1840. In C. J. Cooper (Ed.), 350 Years of New Castle, Delaware: Chapters in a Town's History (pp. 73-107). Wilmington, DE: New Castle Historical Society and Cedar Tree Books.

Higgins, A. (Ed.). (1973). New Castle on the Delaware (Third ed.). New Castle, Delaware: New Castle Historical Society.

Railroads, A. o. (n.d.). Chronology of America's Freight Railroads. Retrieved June 7, 2025 from https://www.aar.org/chronology-of-americas-freight-railroads/