Blue Diamond railroad lasts only six months

A Cape Gazette subscriber not too long ago shared this historic merchandise displaying a prepare schedule efficient July 1, 1965.

On that date, the Blue Diamond took its maiden voyage on the Pennsylvania Railroad from Delmar north to Wilmington. The 2-car prepare was pulled by a Baldwin diesel electrical locomotive engineered by Chester L. Nibblett of Laurel. The prepare left Delmar at 5:56 a.m. and arrived in Wilmington by 8:20 a.m. Stops have been made in Laurel, Seaford, Bridgeville, Harrington, Dover, Clayton and Middletown. At 5:20 p.m., the Blue Diamond returned on the identical route, arriving in Delmar at 7:44 p.m.

In line with the July 1, 1965, version of The Night Journal the inaugural run to Wilmington drew solely 16 passengers. That was an unlucky signal of issues to come back, because the southern Delaware run didn’t proceed previous its preliminary six-month trial interval. By July 16, The Morning Information opinion columnist Invoice Frank had already deemed the Blue Diamond a failure. The general public at giant by no means embraced the return of the railroad and it was shut down Dec. 31, 1965. 

The Blue Diamond bought its identify from 11-year-old Thomas W. Murray III of Cheswold, who received a naming contest in an effort to advertise the brand new run. Though Murray didn’t trip the prepare on its inaugural run, he was invited to breakfast in a prepare automobile with Gov. Charles L. Terry Jr. and different dignitaries.