 |
||
 |
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
In June 1885, while the A&E was in the throes of disaster, a group of businessmen incorporated the Annapolis and Bay Ridge Railroad Company and met to elect officers and discuss the issuing of stock in the new road. The new railroad would run from a point on the A&E (near what is now Taylor Avenue) to the beach resort Bay Ridge, roughly four miles from what was then the Annapolis city line.
In April 1886 the city of Annapolis finally granted the A&BR the right-of-way across city property. On Monday, May 10, 1886 A&BR Vice President Joseph P. Read and Director James H. Vansant broke ground for the railroad. Four days later the railroad was served with a temporary injunction to prevent the road from building through the garden of Virgil Stallings. Mr. Stallings claimed the damage to his crops would amount to $900.00, but the railroad said that was far too much. The railroad put up a bond, filed an appeal, and - as a large number of horses and carts arrived that same day for use in building the railroad - went on with the construction.
Map showing Annapolis, Primrose and Bay Ridge. The box at Annapolis indicates the location of the "A&E; wye"
By the end of May portions of the roadbed were finished and on June 2, 1886 crossties were distributed along the right-of-way. On June 8 rail was landed by boat at Bay Ridge and mules began dragging it up to the roadbed for laying. Two days later a second shipment of rail - 320 tons - arrived at the Annapolis city dock aboard the 3-masted schooner Gay Anne and was taken to the right-of-way near the junction with the Annapolis and Elk Ridge. By Monday, June 14, 1886 rail had been laid from the A&E; wye to the Annapolis banks of Spa Creek.
Baldwin 4-4-0 - used on Annapolis and Baltimore Short Line and probably on A&BR; as well
On Saturday, June 26, 1886 the first train of the Annapolis and Bay Ridge - with Engineer Gable and Fireman A. Musterman - ran from the A&E; wye, through the countryside and across Spa Creek to haul rails to Primrose. The line was lined with lookers-on, who cheered as the small train - an engine and four cars - steamed along.
Things were going well for the Annapolis and Bay Ridge; on July 1 the road put crews on 24-hour work days, and on July 10, 1886 - in spite of a heavy rain on July 2 that washed out the roadbed in several places - the Annapolis and Bay Ridge Railroad was completed and turned over to the Bay Ridge Company - which owned Bay Ridge Resort and which was building the railroad.
Not counting 20 days lost to rain, construction of the A&BR; - including right-of-way preparation and bridge construction - took just 32 days.
 |
Which route? |  |
|
|
|
|
|