Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Reaches Ohio River

By the mid-19th century, America's rapid westward expansion demanded reliable transportation links, and the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (B&O) played a pivotal role. On January 11, 1853, the B&O reached the Ohio River at Wheeling, West Virginia, completing a key segment of its ambitious transcontinental vision. This achievement was driven by railroad magnate John W. Garrett and engineers who tackled rugged terrain with innovative bridges and cuts. The line featured early American locomotives like the 'Andrew Jackson' class, which hauled freight and passengers across challenging landscapes. This event accelerated the movement of goods, immigrants, and ideas, directly contributing to the Civil War by aiding Union supply lines and post-war industrialization. For model railroaders, the B&O's use of the 4-4-0 American-type locomotive on this route is iconic, representing the era's engineering prowess. Its lasting impact includes spurring the creation of standardized rail gauges and influencing future mergers, solidifying the U.S. as a rail superpower.