Indian River Railroad
Rehoboth Beach Gateway Route - Rehoboth Beach to Newark, Delaware
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While this route is and will be released as freeware, donations are encouraged!
“This route has been in progress for over a year and a half, and I have dedicated a lot of my time into creating and detailing a route. My goal is to provide a route that is detailed as in real-life and feels as if you were in the State of Delaware. I am a resident of Delaware and I have what it takes to replicate this route that spans over 80-Miles long. Maybe one day someone from the state will notice my route and will consider taking the Indian River Railroad and make it into a real thing.” - Andrew C.: Creator of the Rehoboth Beach Gateway Route, and Owner of the Delmarva Rail Productions YouTube Channel.
Overview
The Indian River Railroad (IRR) operates in the State of Delaware, primarily in the lower southern tier of the state in Sussex County. The IRR owns trackage from Rehoboth Beach starting at Rehoboth Station and runs its way along the former Junction and Breakwater rail-trail (which was also the right-of-way for the Junction and Breakwater to Rehoboth Beach), and works its way north to west passing through the small town of Milton, and running west until it merges with the Delmarva Central Railroad (DCR) in Ellendale. The IRR has trackage rights on DCR’s Indian River Secondary going north from Ellendale to Harrington, then from Harrington, through Delaware’s capital city of Dover, thorough the fast growing town of Middletown and across the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal, all by DCR’s Delmarva Secondary. It’ll then have trackage rights from Norfolk Southern from Porter to Newark via the Reybold Branch. The IRR terminates at the newly built Newark-Chrysler station and is accessed by the Davis Interlocking and via Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor. The station occupies the former Chrysler Yard and is seldomly used by Norfolk Southern.
While freight may be in an abundance both on the Indian River Railroad and the Delmarva Central Railroad, the IRR mainly focuses on passenger operations especially during the summer hours. Delaware beaches are a popular tourist hotspot with thousands of visitors coming every weekend to camp, shop tax-free, or just enjoy a day on the beach. The IRR really has pushed DelDot (Delaware Department of Transportation) to work with the IRR and other railroads; to establish passenger service from Newark to Delaware Beaches. The IRR has found that traffic on Delaware Roadways continue and have continued to increase and not keeping up with road infrastructure improvements. Thus after another alternative was needed, the IRR established passenger service.
Since passenger service was started there has been a decrease in over 5,000 vehicles every weekend day on heavily traveled roadways, more targeted is Delaware State Route 1 and US Route 13/113. Buses provided and operated by DART have helped rail passengers go even farther to their destinations from their stations. With a reduction in traffic and integration with DART service, congestion is relieved, carbon footprint is reduced, and most importantly lives are being saved from tragic accidents.
The IRR owns several Dash 9-44CW’s, four Ex-MBTA (Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority) F40PH’s, dozens of restored pullman coaches, and as well as Amtrak CoachCars, IRR strives to provide a nice and affordable ride without anyone stressing over traffic. Rides are offered to passengers at the cost of nearly a full tank of gas.
Basic map overview of the Indian River Railroad from Ellendale to Rehoboth Beach.
Progress Bar
This route is a Work-in-progress, right now this the estimated percentage completed:
25% complete
Keep an eye on the blog and the Delmarva Rail Productions YouTube channel for more info!
VIDEO SHOWCASE
Music is Million Dollar Baby by Tommy RIchman all credit goes to TikTok and Tommy Richman.
WIP Showcase from November 2023
A Indian River Railroad freight trains blasts though a realigned portion of SR-16 (Milton Ellendale Highway), traveling East to Milton.
The Milton Rail trail occupies the former rail line that would have have continued to Lewes. The IRR follows the original ROW. The ROW here is offset and a brand new bridge over Ingram Branch is built. It allows the resident of Milton to have their own trail.
WIP Cabride From Rehoboth Beach to Ellendale. Progress as of August 2024.
A Rehoboth Beach express trains passes over Delaware State Route 1 outside to the East of Milton, Delaware near Hudson and Steamboat Landing Roads.
Both an empty hopper and passenger train both hit the pavement at Golden Eagle Blvd which becomes Hawks Nest Circle after the crossing in the development of Hawkseye Community. The Junction and Breakwater trail starts its parallel. The IRR has once again offset their Right-of-Way.