then and now
A History of the H&F Railroad and other railways that connected communities throughout the region.
Early development |
The Hagerstown & Frederick (H&F) Railway began as a suburban trolley system. It was designed by George William Smith and initially called the Frederick & Middlestown (H&M) Railway. Construction began early in 1896 and service between Frederick and Braddock Heights began on August 22, 1896.
Two years later, an extension was built to Myersville and leased to the F&M and operated as an important part of the railway. In 1904, the Hagerstown Railway built a connecting link from Boonsboro to Myersville, making service between Frederick and Hagerstown possible for the first time.
Another extension, the Jefferson Branch, was added in 1906. This ran down the east side of Jefferson Boulevard and opened up more mountaintop resort land for development.
Two years later, an extension was built to Myersville and leased to the F&M and operated as an important part of the railway. In 1904, the Hagerstown Railway built a connecting link from Boonsboro to Myersville, making service between Frederick and Hagerstown possible for the first time.
Another extension, the Jefferson Branch, was added in 1906. This ran down the east side of Jefferson Boulevard and opened up more mountaintop resort land for development.
The Hagerstown railway
Like the H&F, the Hagerstown Railway was formed in 1896 and created an urban loop within Hagerstown crossing Washington Street and Potomac Street. IN 1901, work began to extend the Hagerstown Railway east to Wagner's Crossroads and from there, south to Boonsboro.
Later, in 1905, a new line was started, running from Hagerstown north to Shady Grove, PA. This formed a connection to the Chambersburg, Greencastle and Waynesboro Street Railway (CG&W). From there, patrons could take the CG&W to mountaintop resorts such in Pen Mar and Blue Ridge Summit.
Later, in 1905, a new line was started, running from Hagerstown north to Shady Grove, PA. This formed a connection to the Chambersburg, Greencastle and Waynesboro Street Railway (CG&W). From there, patrons could take the CG&W to mountaintop resorts such in Pen Mar and Blue Ridge Summit.
growth of the railway
In 1908, Emory Coblentz, a Middletown lawyer and stockholder in the F&M, took over the management of the railway. He added the Washington, Frederick, & Gettysburg Railroad and incorporated it into the F&M in 1909, renaming the F&M as the Frederick Railroad. During the next two years, the rail network in Frederick was improved and expanded. By 1911, the Hagerstown Railway and the Frederick Railway were merged, becoming the Hagerstown & Frederick Railway.
Potomac edison
During the entire lifespan of the Hagerstown & Frederick Railway, it had operated a sort of side business, selling electricity to customers who lived nearby its facilities. As time went on, it became apparent to Emory Coblentz that the real business opportunity was in selling electric utilities.
In a push to expand this aspect of the H&F, Coblentz purchased the Martinsburg Electric Light Company in 1916. He also acquired the Northern Virginia Power Company and the aforementioned CG&W railway that came with its own electric utility service.
In 1922, the entire system, including the H&F Railway, became the Potomac Public Service Company. The next year, the PPS purchased the Potomac Edison Company and applied its name to the entire operation.
Potomac Edison then became a subsidiary of the American Water Works & Electric Company. The Potomac Edison name carried on until the 1990s when the Allegheny Power brand took shape.
In a push to expand this aspect of the H&F, Coblentz purchased the Martinsburg Electric Light Company in 1916. He also acquired the Northern Virginia Power Company and the aforementioned CG&W railway that came with its own electric utility service.
In 1922, the entire system, including the H&F Railway, became the Potomac Public Service Company. The next year, the PPS purchased the Potomac Edison Company and applied its name to the entire operation.
Potomac Edison then became a subsidiary of the American Water Works & Electric Company. The Potomac Edison name carried on until the 1990s when the Allegheny Power brand took shape.
Competition and decline
By the 1920s, the H&F faced competition from automobiles and the Blue Ridge Transportation Company, a bus company owned by Potomac Edison. A gradual decline began in 1927 with the closure of the Washington Street line in Hagerstown.
It's no surpirse that the Great Depression worsened the state of the H&F. The CG&W railway was shut down in 1932, followed closely by the Shady Grove line. Emory Coblentz, the father of the H&F, was greatly impacted by the financial woes of his bank and resigned from Potomac Edison.
The reconstruction of US Route 40 gave priority to the automobile. The new US 40 alignment between Myersville and Hagerstown crossed the H&F at multiple points. Rather than build crossings, the line was abandoned in 1938.
It's no surpirse that the Great Depression worsened the state of the H&F. The CG&W railway was shut down in 1932, followed closely by the Shady Grove line. Emory Coblentz, the father of the H&F, was greatly impacted by the financial woes of his bank and resigned from Potomac Edison.
The reconstruction of US Route 40 gave priority to the automobile. The new US 40 alignment between Myersville and Hagerstown crossed the H&F at multiple points. Rather than build crossings, the line was abandoned in 1938.
end of the line
With passenger decline in full force in the 1930s, the H&Fs business became dependent on freight service between Frederick and Thurmont. After a string of line closures throughout the 1940s, the Securities and Exchange Commission eventually ordered utility companies to abandon non-utility-related businesses, such as transportation.
With this order came the last running of the H&F Trolley on February 20, 1954. From there, freight carried on until Potomac Edison stopped all line service on April 25, 1961.
With this order came the last running of the H&F Trolley on February 20, 1954. From there, freight carried on until Potomac Edison stopped all line service on April 25, 1961.