Nostalgia & History > Why did PRR double track North East-Principio?

Since the 1960's the former PRR Chesapeake Region (now Amtrak NEC) has been most triple track between Wilmington and Baltimore, with double track segments Yard-Ragan (being triple tracked by DELDOT investment), Bacon (formerly North East)-Principio, Perryville-Havre De Grace and Bush-Gunpow.
With the rivers between Perry and Grace and between Bush and Gunpow, I can understand why the Pennsy did not retain a third track there, but am at a loss to undertand why historically there have been only two tracks between North East (now Bacon) and Principio since there are no river crossings between these limits.
Andy

twropr Wrote:
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> Since the 1960's the former PRR Chesapeake Region
> (now Amtrak NEC) has been most triple track
> between Wilmington and Baltimore, with double
> track segments Yard-Ragan (being triple tracked by
> DELDOT investment), Bacon (formerly North
> East)-Principio, Perryville-Havre De Grace and
> Bush-Gunpow.
> With the rivers between Perry and Grace and
> between Bush and Gunpow, I can understand why the
> Pennsy did not retain a third track there, but am
> at a loss to understand why historically there have
> been only two tracks between North East (now
> Bacon) and Principio since there are no river
> crossings between these limits.
> Andy
​I believe that the Pennsylvania Railroad did not need an additional track since so much freight went up and down the "Port Road" which was electrified until Conrail stopped using the electric locomotives.
John

ClubCar Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> twropr Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Since the 1960's the former PRR Chesapeake
> Region
> > (now Amtrak NEC) has been most triple track
> > between Wilmington and Baltimore, with double
> > track segments Yard-Ragan (being triple tracked
> by
> > DELDOT investment), Bacon (formerly North
> > East)-Principio, Perryville-Havre De Grace and
> > Bush-Gunpow.
> > With the rivers between Perry and Grace and
> > between Bush and Gunpow, I can understand why
> the
> > Pennsy did not retain a third track there, but
> am
> > at a loss to understand why historically there
> have
> > been only two tracks between North East (now
> > Bacon) and Principio since there are no river
> > crossings between these limits.
> > Andy
> ​I believe that the Pennsylvania Railroad did
> not need an additional track since so much freight
> went up and down the "Port Road" which was
> electrified until Conrail stopped using the
> electric locomotives.
> John

 the PRR had plenty of freight coming off the Port Rod for the Delmarva and Edgemoore ... and yes i always wondered the same thing ... it was multiple track at one time but was double tracked for some reason ... if there was some forward thinking the one time noew ripped up industrial track that went under the NEC and swung north around to the Perryville MW base and before the base could've been used as a mainline connection without crossing over the NEC and a 3rd track freight only track to Iron would've been contrstructed 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/27/16 14:55 by Out_Of_Service.

The PRR south of philly was built as a double track railroad by the PW&B  and the B&P originally not connected through Baltimore. The PRR got control of them and merged them into the PB&W.  It also created the Union railroad to connect the two through Baltimore via the Northern Central.  At that point it was a double track line all the way.  During the Electrification project the PRR graded the right of way for four tracks and added the third track (and fourth track) at the congestion points north of Baltimore as time and money permitted.  The line south of Baltimore was still mostly double track until WWII.  During the war the PRR triple tracked through from Winans to Landover with a crazy zig zag at Vern since the third tracks were actually long sidings.  They also four tracked from Magnolia to Edgewood.   The material to four track from Edgewood to Bush was laid out, and also was laid out to triple track Principio to Northeast.  Then the war ended and they picked up all the material as they no longer needed the capacity.  As information between Pincipio and Charlestown the right of way was never graded for four tracks and was always going to be an impediment.

> it was multiple track at one time but was
> double tracked for some reason

What was?

MW4man Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The PRR south of philly was built as a double
> track railroad by the PW&B  and the B&P
> originally not connected through Baltimore. The
> PRR got control of them and merged them into the
> PB&W.  It also created the Union railroad to
> connect the two through Baltimore via the Northern
> Central.  At that point it was a double track
> line all the way.  During the Electrification
> project the PRR graded the right of way for four
> tracks and added the third track (and fourth
> track) at the congestion points north of Baltimore
> as time and money permitted.  The line south of
> Baltimore was still mostly double track until
> WWII.  During the war the PRR triple tracked
> through from Winans to Landover with a crazy zig
> zag at Vern since the third tracks were actually
> long sidings.  They also four tracked from
> Magnolia to Edgewood.   The material to four
> track from Edgewood to Bush was laid out, and
> also was laid out to triple track Principio to
> Northeast.  Then the war ended and they picked up
> all the material as they no longer needed the
> capacity.  As information between Pincipio and
> Charlestown the right of way was never graded for
> four tracks and was always going to be an
> impediment.

Very interesting, thanks for mentioning that.

I know that the Northern Central line saw both freight and passenger service, but was it ever at the level of the Port Road?  I always thought of the NC as a secondary, light use line

The Northern Central was the primary passenger route between Baltimore and Harrisburg until Amtrak.  It also carried its fair share of freight trains, but was not as direct as the Port Road.  It also faced the wrong way at B&P junction for access south and required operation through the Union Tunnels to get to Bay View and the port of Baltimore.  So yes it had fallen off and became a secondary main line by the time Agnes came along and put a stake through its heart in 1972.