For those unfamiliar, the Maryland and Delaware is a little Class III shortline that operates a disconnected cluster of former Conrail, nee-PRR, Delmarva Secondary lines in its namesake states. The company started operations in 1977, operating two lines on behalf of the state of Maryland, and owns a third line between Snow Hill and Dagsboro, DE. All were slated for abandonment by Conrail, but were purchased and contracted out to maintain service in the more rural areas of Delmarva.
On this particular January day, MDDE was operating their Centreville Line, which currently extends from Townsend, DE, to Roberts, MD, though operations start and end at the junction in Massey. Even with fields largely fallowed for winter, the railroad still has work to do, as the various livestock producers require feed for their chickens and cows. I followed MDDE's Roberts Turn as they headed from Massey to the Perdue mill with a consist of Delmarva Central intra-peninsula grain hoppers.
This was probably the trip that got me obsessed with the railroad. From midsummer to February 2023, MDDE borrowed Black River & Western 1202 for use on the Massey lines after their 1202, an RS3m, was down for maintenance. While BR&W 1202 is not representative of the roster, it was a fun change of pace, and visually looked right at home (though reportedly, it was mechanically terrible). A lot of railfans flock to the mountain regions (which Delmarva is not) because they offer dramatic vertical vistas, but I find a train dwarfed by an open field, or passing the relative spartanness of a rural grade crossing to be dramatic in its own right. And, I can't deny that the train's slow speed (and consequently easy chase) wasn't appealing too. Hopefully, you enjoy this video, and thanks for reading this rambling story!
(0:00) Intro
(0:10) Fueling 1202
(0:20) Departing Massey
(1:22) Walnut Tree Road
(3:16) Millington
(4:41) High Bridge Road
(5:28) Higman Mill Road
(6:32) Sudlersville
(8:18) Dixon Tavern Road
(10:12) Barclay
(11:41) Brierlys Mill Road
