The Chadds Ford Historical Society is seeking any information, memories, artifacts, and/or photos relating to the Octorara and the Wilmington and Northern Railroads. These two railroad lines have run through Chadds Ford and the surrounding area for the past 150 years, and they are to be the subject of a new exhibit opening in May at the Chadds Ford Historical Society’s “Barn” entitled “All Aboard.”
The Octorara Branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad runs between Wawa and Oxford. Built in 1859, trains carried passengers and freight to and from Chadds Ford and Chadds Ford Junction. Passenger service ended in1948.
The Wilmington and Northern railroad which runs from Wilmington to Reading began passenger operation in 1870. It crosses the Octorara Line at the Chadds Ford Junction. The W&N also built an amusement park, Birmingham Park, along the Brandywine near Popcopson in the late 1800s and later provided a connection at Lenape for Lenape Park. The Historical Society is looking for photos and information about Birmingham and Lenape Parks.
If you have any local memorabilia such as railway tools or equipment, accessories, or documents such as tickets and timetables from these railroad lines, and would be willing to share them, please contact the Chadds Ford Historical Society at 610-388-7376 or email us at education@chaddsfordhistory.org. The CFHS is located on route 1 and Creek Road in historic Chadds Ford. Visit us at www.chaddsfordhistory.org/www.chaddsfordhistory.org. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
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