The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (B&O) is the oldest commercial railroad in the United States with its first section opening in 1830. It was founded by merchants from Baltimore to expand the distribution of goods. At first, the B&O was located entirely in the state of Maryland.

Chartered in 1827 as the Baltimore and Ohio Railway Company, the railroad did not reach the Ohio River until 1852, 24 years after the project started. The B&O Metropolitan Line took 20 years to plan and build.

The company began to raise funds and make plans in 1853. It took another 18 years before the line would open. The Civil War had an impact on construction, but the war also demonstrated how useful railways could be for transporting goods and people. The much-anticipated Metropolitan Line finally opened in 1873, offering a new avenue of transportation in the region for both goods and people. The impact of the railroad on the rural communities such as Rockville in Montgomery County was enormous.

The Railroad allowed commuting to work in Washington, DC. It also made it possible for products from farms to be transported quickly and inexpensively to markets along the route.

In the morning students from up county arrived to attend school in Rockville as the dairies loaded milk for shipment to Rockville and commuters boarded for the trip to Washington DC. What had been an arduous multi hour trip now took 45 minutes.

The railroad brought new opportunities for growth. The chance to work for the Federal Government in one of its many new departments while raising a family in the healthy country air was appealing. In Rockville, the population tripled as railroad passengers made their homes here.  

We hope you had the opportunity to explore the profound impact of the arrival of the B&O Railroad during our Explore Rockville: Celebrating the 150th Anniversary of the Metropolitan Branch Self-Guided Tour.