What was a typical train ride like from Newtown/Pocomoke to Philadelphia circa 1875?
In 1875, a train ride from Newtown (later named Pocomoke City) to Philadelphia would have been
a long, bumpy, and dirty journey involving multiple transfers and different railroads. The trip was a significant undertaking, not a simple, direct ride like today, and would have exposed passengers to a mix of discomfort, occasional danger, and the constant buzz of industrial-era technology. The route: A complex journey
Because a direct Newtown-to-Philadelphia rail line did not exist in 1875, passengers would have traveled on several different railroad companies' lines to complete the journey.
- The first leg of the trip would have been on the Wicomico & Pocomoke Railroad, which later merged with other lines, and involved a number of transfers.
- Travelers would have likely ridden north through towns on the Delmarva Peninsula, connecting to different short-line railroads along the way.
- Eventually, they would have reached a hub such as , where they could catch a train from a major railroad like the Pennsylvania Railroad into Philadelphia.Wilmington, Delaware
Life inside the car
The interior of a standard passenger car in 1875 was a far cry from modern trains.
- Seating: Standard cars featured wooden benches placed crosswise, with a narrow passage down the middle.
- Dirt and cinders: A constant annoyance was the dirt and smoke from the locomotive. Soot and sparks flying from the steam engine would enter through the windows, coating passengers and their belongings in black cinders. The air quality could be poor, especially when passing through tunnels.
- Heating: On cold days, a charcoal or anthracite coal stove in the car's center would provide heat, sometimes becoming red-hot.
- Toilets: Unlike earlier train travel, restrooms were available on many trains by the 1870s. However, they were basic—just a bowl with a hole that emptied directly onto the tracks.
The experience of the ride
The journey was defined by a constant, rattling motion and noise.
- Bumpy and noisy: The ride was bumpy due to early track technology and hard-sprung cars, making conversation difficult. The noise from the engine and the clanking of the wheels was constant.
- Jolting and jarring: The trains of 1875 had rudimentary brakes, which meant that starting and stopping were often jerky and sudden.
- An uncertain schedule: Timetables were not always reliable, and delays were common. Weather, mechanical failures, or animals on the tracks could stall a trip for hours.
The constant fear of danger
Passengers during this era faced risks that are largely absent from modern rail travel.
- "Snake heads": A feared danger was the "snake head," where a loose, flat-bar iron rail would come undone and pierce the floor of the train car, impaling unlucky passengers sitting above it.
- "Railway madness": Doctors at the time worried about the psychological effects of the constant motion and noise. They theorized it could lead to "railway madness" or "train psychosis" in some individuals.
Food and facilities
Passengers had to plan ahead for meals, as dining cars were not standard on all routes, especially shorter ones.
- Passengers often had to make do with whatever food was available at infrequent stops.
- Over time, luxurious dining and parlor cars would be introduced, but these would primarily serve first-class, long-distance routes.
A changing landscape
For those traveling during this period, the train ride offered a new perspective on the landscape.
- Unfiltered views: Though obscured by dirty windows and cinders, the changing landscape of the Eastern Shore would have unfolded in a new way.
- Signs of the times: Passengers would have witnessed the growing influence of the railroad, from small hovels and stations popping up along the route to the economic and social changes the new infrastructure brought to each town
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