Wilmington and Northern Railroad

Possibly the most significant development in transportation in the corridor was the construction of a railroad along the Brandywine Creek in the 1860's. The railroad was conceived of as a freight line extending from Wilmington to Reading. Investors saw this line as an opportunity to capture some of the market dominated since the 1830's by Philadelphia. The route ran along the Brandywine's main stem and then along its west branch. Surveys for the Wilmington and Reading Railroad began in 1865. In 1869 the railroad was opened to Wilmington and extended to the coal fields of Reading in 1872. The new rail link brought coal used for fuel in the mills from the mines of central Pennsylvania and ore from the Wilmington docks to the local iron mills. In the local area the new railroad opened up new markets for farmers and other businesses. Small industry spang up at several rail stops up and down the line. Although the train provided passenger service, overall it did not bring about significant residential development. The passenger service on the line ended in 1947 but the freight service continues on a small scale to this day.