Canton Railroad

Content sourced from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

The Canton Railroad (CTN) is a small Class III switching and terminal railroad in eastern Baltimore City and Baltimore County. It serves the Helen Delich Bentley Port of Baltimore, moves freight for local shippers, and connects with CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern.

The railroad uses standard gauge tracks (4 ft 8 1/2 in) and operates about 6 miles of mainline and 17 miles of secondary track.

History in brief
- In 1905, laws allowed deeper dredging of the Baltimore harbor, helping plans to develop port land for manufacturers and shippers.
- Because major railroads (B&O and PRR) wouldn’t build into undeveloped areas, the Canton Company of Baltimore created the Canton Railroad Company in 1906 to provide rail access.
- Construction ran from 1905 to 1914, with rail operations beginning in 1907 and an interconnection with the B&O achieved in 1910.

Ownership and fate
- The Canton Company was bought by International Mining Company in 1960 and changed hands several times in the 1970s and 1980s.
- In 1984, financial problems led to receivership, and Maryland bought the railroad at bankruptcy auction in 1987 to secure rail access to the Seagirt Terminal.
- Although owned by the state, the Canton Railroad operates as a for-profit business with no state funding.

Legal note
- Canton Railroad Company v. Rogan, 340 U.S. 511 (1951), went to the Supreme Court over whether a Maryland franchise tax on railroad activity in the Port of Baltimore violated constitutional clauses.

Today
- The Maryland Transportation Authority owns the Canton Railroad, and it continues as a for-profit operation.
- Its engines are painted yellow and black, mirroring colors found in Maryland and Baltimore flags.