The Catonsville Short Line Railroad
The Catonsville Short Line Railroad (CSLR) was a “short line” branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad that ran from November 10, 1884, until April 1972, connecting Catonsville to Baltimore City.
From 1884 to 1898, the railroad offered passenger service between Catonsville and downtown Baltimore. It had six stops between its termini at Calvert Station and Frederick Road: Loudon Station, Kenwood Station, Paradise Station, Spring Grove Station, and Catonsville Casino.
A 1893 time table for the Catonsville branch from Union Station (today’s Penn Station) lists the trip as eight miles, taking 25 minutes. There could be as many as 13 trips from Baltimore to Catonsville, and 15 trips from Catonsville to Baltimore. In 1893 the electric trolley line on Frederick Road was completed and passenger demand declined, leading to the end of passenger service.
Railroad service carried freight during its entire operation, bringing lumber and coal to Wilson & Poelhmann’s Lumber and Coal Yard (now Bills Music), coal to Spring Grove State Hospital and St. Charles Seminary, and general freight to the freight terminal on Mellor Ave (now known as the Shops on Mellor). When Spring Grove converted its power plant from coal to oil in 1970 business on the Catonsville Short Line Railroad dwindled and in 1973 the line was abandoned.
The Proposed Catonsville Short Line Railroad in 1882
In September 1881, a local committee was appointed to develop a plan for a railroad to Catonsville. The new railroad was officially incorporated on February 25, 1882 as the Catonsville Short Line Railroad Company. The proposed railroad would run from St. Agnes Station (later Loudon Station) on the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad (B&P) to Catonsville, a distance just over 3.5 miles. The proposed railroad was included in the Map of the City of Baltimore and Vicinity published in 1882. Ground was broken on December 6, 1883, and operations began November 10, 1884.
Catonsville Short Line Railroad Photo Gallery
Click through this photo gallery to see the sites a passenger would have seen on a trip on the Catonsville Short Line Railroad.
The Morseberger’s Railroad Hotel
The Morseberger’s Railroad Hotel stood on the site now occupied by the #4 Catonsville Firehouse. (ca 1907)
Catonsville Short Line Station
From left to right pictured: Wilson & Poelhmann’s Lumber and Coal Yard; Library Hall; The Catonsville Short Line Railroad passenger and freight terminal station.
Catonsville Depot
Circa 1970s
Catonsville Short Line Railroad Engine
– Photographed by David Earp
Wilson Lumber Siding
June 1966, B&LE car traversing a low trestle on the Wilson Lumber siding. – Photographed by David Earp
Shops on Mellor Northwest
– Photographed by David Earp
Shops on Mellor
These buildings were originally warehouses for freight delivered by the CSLR. – Photographed by David Earp
Spring Grove Steam Plant
– Photographed by David Earp June 1st, 1966
I-695 Bridge Crossing at Shady Nook
– Photographed by David Earp
Paradise Train Station
This train station, at the corner of Paradise and Prospect Aveneus, was photographed by Dr. G. Howard White who lived on Prospect Ave.
Beechfield Ave Snowy Day Southwest
The conductor flags Beechfield Ave. Photo taken from Beechfield Ave facing southwest. – Photographed by David Earp
Beechfield Ave Snowy Day
Camera pointed southeast, the CSLR crossing Beechfield Ave on a snowy day. The Big Value Supermarket is on the left. – Photographed by David Earp 1967
Beechfield Ave Crossing
The CSLR crosses Beechfield Ave. Picture taken from College Rd. facing northeast. – Photographed by David Earp
Beechfield Ave Slow Down
Camera pointed southeast, the CSLR conductor is flagging the road. – Photographed by David Earp 1967
Beechfield Ave Flagging
Camera pointed southeast, the CSLR conductor is flagging the road. – Photographed by David Earp 1967
Calvert Station
The Catonsville Short Line Railroad originally ran from Catonsville to the Calvert Street Station (pictured) in Baltimore.
Sources:
NRHS Baltimore Interchange History: The Catonsville Shortline RR, Martin K. Van Horn, 2016
Abandoned Rails: Catonsville Short Line Railroad
Train Web: Catonsville Short Line
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