The opening of service on the Baltimore and Ohio Rail road was covered in the local Niles’ Weekly Register Baltimore: Mar – Sept 1830.
May 22, 1830
BALT. AND OHIO RAIL ROAD. The general business of
transporting passengers and goods will commence on this road, between the city
of Baltimore and Ellicott’s mills, 13 miles, on Monday next.
Office of the Baltimore and Ohio rail road, 20th
May, 1830.
Notice is hereby given, that the rail road between
Baltimore and Ellicott's mills, will be open for the transportation of passengers,
on Monday the 24th instant. A brigade or train of coaches will leave the
company depot, on Pratt street, and return, making three trips each day--starting
at the following hours precisely, viz:
Leave Baltimore at 7 A. M. and Ellicott's at 9 A.M.
at 11 A. M. at 1 P. M,
at 4 P. M. at 6 P.M.
The price for the trip of twenty-six miles, will be
seventy-five cents for each person. Tickets to be had at the depot. Should the
demand be found to exceed the present means of accommodation, passengers will
be under the necessity of going and returning in the same coach, until a
sufficient additional number of carriage can be furnished. As soon as this can
be effected, of which due notice will be given, provision will be made for
travelling a shorter distance than the whole trip.
P. E. THOMAS, president
Baltimore and Ohio railroad company
June 12, 1830
BALTIMORE AND OHIO RAIL ROAD. The accommodations for
excursions on this road will soon be considerably enlarged. At present, and
especially as to the evening trip, the applications for seats far exceed the
capacity of the carriages in use—but another and another will be added, and
speedily, until there will be convenienees furnished by which persons may spend
some time at Ellicott's mills, and return, pretty much when they please, during
the day. No one can rightly estimate this work without seeing it, and
travelling upon it. The best written accounts of the undertaking afford no more
than an idea of it—to be realized only by personal experience.
The number of passengers over the Baltimore and Ohio
rail road to Ellicott’s Mills, increases every day. It is expected that the
receipts may soon amount to 1,500 dollars a week—the second track being
finished. Many distinguished strangers, that they may the better realize the
benefits of this work, are not content with a single trip, out and in, and,
with two or more, yet remain unsatisfied.
July 31, 1830
RAIL ROAD MATTERS. The third division of the
Baltimore and Ohio rail road, extending from the forks of the Patapsco to
Parr's Spring Ridge, has been let out on contract—the bridging, masonry,
excavation and embankment upon this division, will not exceed a cost of 7,000
dollars per mile.
Great efforts are making to give out the two
remaining divisions between the Parr Spring Ridge and the Point of Rocks, and
Frederick city.
It is a condition in the contract last made, that no
ardent spirits shall be used on the line. The last instalment on the stock of
this company that will be called for in the present year, was paid yesterday,
with great punctuality.
The travelling on the road to Ellicott's mills still
keeps up the production of 1,000 dollars a week, notwithstanding the late heat
of the weather; it is a delightful ride.
The editor of the Baltimore Gazette calculates that
the daily expenses of such an engine on our rail road, making four trips to
Ellicott's mills, or travelling 104 miles, and transporting 140 tons to the
mills, and 140 tons from the mills to the city, would not exceed ten dollars
per day—to wit: 7 for fuel, and three dollars for an engineer and assistant—the
legal compensation allowed for the transportation of such a weight is 182
dollars. The same engine might transport 200 passengers, the 104 miles, in less
than eight hours, giving full time to obtain supplies of water, &c. and
without being worked to any thing like the top of its speed—and the fare of so
many passengers so carried, would amount to 600 dollars. It is hard to bring
the mind to an entire acceptance of such wonderful facts—and yet they are
undoubtedly true.
In England –
An engine, with its tender, water, &c. weighing
7 tons, on the Manchester rail way, lately drew two coaches, filled with
passengers, and 7 stone waggons, together weighing 32 tons, in all 39 tons, at
the rate of 17 miles an hour —and returning, with the two coaches only, at the
rate of 22 miles an hour—for a time at 27 miles an hour! The whole distance
between Liverpool and Manchester being accomplished in an hour and thirty six
minutes— 30 miles.
The engine above alluded to, is one of those
contracted for at 1000 pounds each, conditioned to draw 40 tons, (including its
own weight not exceeding 5 tons, with the requisite quantity of water) from
Liverpool to Manchester, 30 miles, in two hours, at the expenditure of only 4
lb. of coke per ton, a mile. It is the first essay of the engine, and was
entirely satisfactory.
©2018 Patricia Bixler Reber
Forgotten history of Ellicott City & Howard County MD
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