On February 28, 1827, the Baltimore and Ohio (B&O) Railroad, the first commercial railroad in the United States, was chartered in Baltimore, Maryland. The railroad was started by a group of businessmen who were seeking a faster and more efficient way to transport goods and people between Baltimore and the Ohio River.
Before the B&O, there were a handful of railroad companies in the United States. The Granite Railway, which was built in Quincy, Massachusetts in 1826 to transport granite from quarries to the Neponset River. Another was Mauch Chunk Switchback Railway, which was built in 1827 in Pennsylvania to transport coal from a mine to a canal. The B&O was unique in that it was the first railroad to use steam locomotives to transport both people and goods. The B&O also pioneered several innovations, such as the use of iron tracks and the development of a mechanical signaling system.
Construction of the B&O began in 1828, and the first section of the railroad was opened in 1830. The line initially ran from Baltimore to Ellicott City, Maryland, a distance of about 13 miles. By 1835, the line had been extended to Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, a distance of about 80 miles.
The B&O faced many challenges in its early years. The biggest of these was competition from the canal system, which was a popular way of transporting goods in the early 19th century. The B&O also faced financial difficulties, and in 1835, it was forced to suspend operations due to a lack of funds. Despite these challenges, the B&O continued to grow, and by 1853, it had become the longest railroad in the world, with a total length of about 380 miles.
The B&O played a role in the American Civil War, transporting troops and supplies for the Union army. After the war, the B&O continued to expand its network of railroads, acquiring several smaller lines and extending its reach across the Midwest and into the South. The railroad also played a key role in the development of several major cities, including Chicago, St. Louis, and Pittsburgh.
During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the B&O faced significant challenges from new forms of transportation, such as automobiles and airplanes, as well as from labor unrest and government regulation. Despite these challenges, the B&O continued to modernize and expand its operations, investing in new locomotives, rolling stock, and infrastructure. In the early 20th century, the railroad also became a major player in the development of the coal industry, transporting large quantities of coal from mines in West Virginia and Kentucky to markets across the country.
The B&O's engineering achievements included the construction of the 4.75-mile long Howard Street Tunnel in Baltimore, which was the longest tunnel in the world when it was completed in 1895. However, the B&O also had to contend with several major disasters, including the Great Train Wreck of 1907, which killed 59 people and injured over 100 more.
In the years leading up to the 1963 merger with the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway to form the Chessie System, the B&O faced financial difficulties, as well as increased competition from other railroads and new forms of transportation. The merger was an attempt to consolidate resources and improve efficiency, marking a significant turning point in the history of the B&O and the railroad industry as a whole.
Today, CSX Corporation operates the former B&O lines, along with other railroads that have been acquired over the years. The B&O name is still used in various capacities, such as for historical and educational purposes, and the B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore is a popular tourist destination that features exhibits and artifacts related to the railroad's history. In addition, several preserved sections of the B&O's original tracks and structures still exist, and some have been converted into rail trails for recreational use.