Baltimore and Ohio Railroad – B&O

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B&O Railroad

  • First Railroad in the United States
  • First Railroad to cross the Appalachian Mountains and reach the Ohio River Valley

The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad was the first railroad to make it across the the Appalachian Mountain region (1852). The initial goal of the founders and investors was to bring goods to Baltimore to keep the city’s ocean port viable and growing. Once it reached the Ohio River, it then set its sights on pushing westward to Cincinnati, St. Louis, and Chicago. In 1963, the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway began to slowly assume control and ownership of the B&O. By 1987, the B&O had been fully merged into the C&O, which itself had become the lead entity in creating a much larger railroad across the eastern United States, CSX Transportation.

Baltimore & Ohio Railroad

Photo by Roger Puta, 1969. The B&O’s Capitol Limited crossing the Potomac River at Harper’s Ferry VA.

B&O Railroad - Baltimore & Ohio

Ohio River to the Atlantic Ocean

The first B&O mainline extended from Baltimore to Moundsville WV, near Wheeling WV, where it reached the Ohio River in 1852

The mainline diverged at Cumberland MD, one leg heading due west through the West Virginia coal fields to eventually reach Cincinnati OH and St. Louis MO. A more northern mainline segment was built from Cumberland, to Pittsburgh, and eventually reaching Chicago.

Connecting lines were also constructed to Washington DC, making it an important eastern terminus in addition to Baltimore. An east coast line was also built northward from Baltimore, reaching Philadelphia and the New York City harbor. The B&O never bridged or tunneled across the Hudson River, so it had to rely on ferry boats to complete the last mile to Manhattan.

Photo: B&O Freight rolling through Martinsburg WV in 1969 by Roger Puta

Baltimore & Ohio Railroad - B&O

Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Stats

  • Reporting Mark: B&O, BO
  • Operated: 1830-1987
  • Mainline Length: 5,552 miles
  • Mainline: Baltimore OH to Cincinnati OH to St. Louis MO, New York City to Baltimore to Pittsburgh PA to Chicago IL,
  • Primary Cities: Baltimore OH, Cumberland MD, Wheeling WV, Pittsburg PA, Cincinnati OH, Louisville KY, St. Louis MO, Chicago IL, Dayton OH, Cleveland OH
  • Headquarters: Baltimore OH
  • Passenger Trains: Capitol Limited, Ambassador, Washingtonian, Royal Blue, Shenandoah, West Virginian
  • Successor: Chessie System
  • B&O Today: Part of CSX Transportation

Point of Rocks MD

One of the more famous railroad junctions in America is Point of Rocks MD. It was the point at which the B&O mainline split, one line heading to Baltimore, and the other to Washington DC. Photos by Roger Puta, 1980.

B&O Railroad - Point of Rocks MD. Roger Puta
B&O Railroad - Point of Rocks MD - Roger Puta

B&O Maps

The Baltimore & Ohio by 1924 stretched from New York to St. Louis. To help you see all the cities, towns and connecting lines, we have included the full map, a close-up eastern segment view, a central view, and a western segment view.

Map: 1924, Gazetteer of American Railroads

Baltimore & Ohio Railroad - B&O
Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Map
Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Map
Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Map - 1924 - Western Segment

For More Information – Sources and Resources

The following are excellent resources for those of you wanting to explore and learn more about the history and operation of the Appalachian Railroads. These sources of information also serve as reference and historical materials for Appalachian-Railroads.org. Much of the content on the website is verified across multiple sources.

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