Deer Creek & Susquehanna Railroad
During it’s planned transition to standard gauge, the Maryland Central Railway (later becoming the Maryland & Pennsylvania Railroad) proposed to build a line that would connect the railroad in Bel Air to the Susquehanna River at Stafford (now Susquehanna State Park). This 16-mile long line would follow the gentle desent of Deer Creek. The railroad would primarily serve dairy farms and other local industries throughout central and eastern Harford County. Plans were to also have the DC&S interchange with other larger railroads, such as the Baltimore & Ohio and Pennsylvania, along the river to the north or south. There was even talk of connecting with the Philadelphia & Baltimore Central, which terminated in Port Deposit, almost across the Susquehanna from Stafford. By spring of 1889, seven miles of grading had been completed from both Bel Air and Stafford. But this was as much of the railroad that was ever completed. (source: “A History of the Maryland & Pennsylvania Railroad” by George W. Hinton)
Bond Certificate
Issued in 1889
This N-scale model railroad depicts the Deer Creek & Susquehanna Railroad as it might have appeared if it had been completed and survived into the middle of the 20th century. Several towns are depicted along the rail line, including the terminus at Stafford, Darlington, Glenville, Thomas Run, Hickory and the interchange at Bel Air. Industries served include a furniture factory, a slate and marble manufacturer, a cannery, a dairy coop, as well as other local businesses.
Click the map to see detail maps for each location.
Original DC&S RR
The original Deer Creek & Susquehanna Railroad Model was also in N-scale and occupied a 3 foot by 10 foot corner of the basement of my first residence. The design was a simple loop with a reverse cutoff and a hidden staging reverse loop. Peco code 55 flex track and turnouts were used with a simple single electrical block design. Scenery was quite simple with two small hills and a mainstreet town in the middle. Industries included a furniture factory, coal mine, and several small town businesses. All of the locomotives and rolling stock and most of the structures were salvaged from this layout and now are part of the new Deer Creek & Susquehanna Railroad. Many valuable lessons were learned from this first complete model railroad. You can find pictures of this layout by following the link below.
PHOTOS OF THE ORIGINAL DC&S
Layout Gallery
