WILMINGTON, Del. — Volunteers on the Wilmington & Western Railway say railroad staff have notified them that operations on the long-time heritage railway are paused indefinitely.
Volunteers seeking information about the railway’s March schedule were notified of the decision in an email earlier this month. The railway depends on its all-volunteer crew to staff trains.
The Feb. 12 email from the W&W volunteer programs manager tells volunteers all operations are to be paused for an indefinite period, including the release of train schedules and the marketing of trains, until permitted by the board of directors. No other information was included in the email.
As of today (Feb. 24, 2025) the calendar on the railway’s website currently shows no scheduled trips beyond a series of “Art Festival Express” excursions held Feb. 22-23. The website says it is “still finalizing” its schedule.
Trains News Wire has sent multiple requests for comment to the Wilmington & Western Railway staff, as well as the chairman of the board of Historic Red Clay Valley Inc., the railroad’s non-profit parent organziation. It has not received a response.
The railway was still advertising a full-time locomotive mechanic’s position on its website as of Feb. 24, but it is unclear if the railway intends on filling the role.
The Wilmington & Western operation dates to 1966 weekend excursions on the Baltimore & Ohio’s 10.2-mile Landenberg Branch. HRCV purchased the line in 1982 after the Chessie System filed for abandonment. The railroad oversees a collection of vintage steam and diesel locomotives, a Pennsylvania Railroad doodlebug, and passenger equipment. Its active locomotives include an 0-6-0 No. 58, built in 1907 for the Atlanta, Birmingham & Atlantic Railroad, an EMD SW1 No. 114 built in 1940 for the Lehigh Valley Railroad, and EMD SW1 No. 8408 built in 1940 for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad.
News Wire will update this story as more information is available.
