Existing comment:
The Race for The Ohio Valley:
Both the B&O Railroad and the C&O Canal raced for the Harpers Ferry watergap -- the easiest passage through the Blue Ridge. The two rivals battled for the narrow right-of-way along the Potomac until they arrived opposite Harpers Ferry in 1834. Here the iron horse crossed the Potomac, eventually providing its superiority by reaching the Ohio River in 1852. The slow-moving, labor-intensive canal never passed beyond Cumberland, Maryland, 100 miles short of the Ohio Valley.
Railroads: The Experimental Challenger:
National Limited Train No. 1 westbound at Millers Bend on Track 1 passing eastbound canal boat on C&O Canal.
Canals: The Proven Method:
Lift Lock 33, opposite Harpers Ferry, c. 1870. |