The Chesapeake pulls into the Elkton Station on April 30, for its inaugural run as a crowd waits.
In this piece, we’ll continue with a little more on the return of rush hour commuter rail service to Cecil County from 1978 to 1980. See our earlier post for more information on this Amtrak passenger train.
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On a Sunday morning in the spring of 1978 (April 30), two normally quiet railroad stations in Cecil County buzzed with activity. At Elkton, more than 150 people gathered, and a larger crowd of over 200 stood trackside in Perryville. They were there to celebrate the return of commuter rail service between Philadelphia and Washington D.C. to Cecil County. After the inaugural run, the train made weekday trips between the two cities. Stopping at Elkton at 7:52 a.m. and Perryville at 8:06. In the evening, it was scheduled to arrive at Perryville at 5:58 p.m. and Elkton at 6:09.
The formerly quiet Perryville Amtrak Station is crowded on the morning of April 30, as the crowd waits for the commuter passenger train, the Chesapeake, to come into site.
At Elkton, Mayor Paul C. Dennis is joined by a large crowd for the return of passenger train service to the county seat. The mayor is holding a ticket for the inaugural run.