When the line was cleared of rolling stock in late 1998, the privately owned PRR N3 was moved to the Walkersville Southern Railroad near Frederick, MD. The "CR Steel" was actually ex-RF&P 923, owned by the Chesapeake Railway Association (no relation to the Chesapeake Railroad), and it too moved to the WSRR, where it has been under renovation for excursion service. During my last visit to the Clayton interchange about five years ago, the derelict RF&P Pullman was gone (presumably scrapped), but the two ex-CHRR 80-ton Whitcombs remained; however, they'd been badly vandalized inside and out. Any talk of a tourist line is years out of date.
In late 2003 the two Whitcombs were reported in Railpace magazine as having been moved via TTX flatcars from Clayton, DE, to Topton, PA, by the Northeast Railroads Historical Society. A recent issue of Railpace reported that one of them had been scrapped, although elsewhere it's said it wasn't scrapped, but was instead disassembled for restoration or perhaps as a parts source for the other Whitcomb.
The old CHRR line has no future. When the previous operator's license was not renewed, the line needed tens of millions of dollars in repairs (there are numerous old trestles on the line, bad track, etc.) and vegetation has reclaimed much of the route. The state of Maryland owns the track, and below is text from an STB document describing the state's intention to dispose of the line, which may become a trail.
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On July 28, 2005, the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA), on behalf of the State of Maryland, filed notice on behalf of CHRR of its intent to terminate service under the modified certificate over the Clayton-Easton line.[2] On that same date, MTA filed a request for issuance of a certificate of interim trail use (CITU) under the National Trails System Act, 16 U.S.C. 1247(d), for the Clayton-Easton line. MTA submitted a statement indicating its willingness to assume financial responsibility for management of the right-of-way (ROW) as required at 49 CFR 1152.29, and acknowledged that the use of the ROW for trail purposes is subject to future reconstruction and reactivation for rail service.
In Maryland and Delaware Railroad Company–Modified Rail Certificate, Finance Docket No. 29830 (ICC served Feb. 9, 1982), Maryland and Delaware Railroad Company (M&D) was issued a modified certificate under then 49 CFR 1120A to provide service in Maryland and Delaware, including service over the Clayton-Easton line. On August 17, 2005, M&D filed notice of its intent to terminate service under a modified certificate over the Clayton-Easton line.
Because MTA’s request complies with the requirements of 49 CFR 1152.29, a CITU will be issued for the above-described line. MTA is free to negotiate an agreement during the 180-day period prescribed below. If an agreement is executed, then no further Board action is necessary. If no agreement is reached within 180 days, the line may be fully abandoned. See 49 CFR 1152.29(c)(1). Use of the ROW for trail purposes is subject to restoration for railroad purposes.
Under 49 CFR 1150.24, an operator must provide 60 days’ notice of its intent to terminate service over a line covered by a modified certificate. However, according to MTA, CHRR, the operator, has ceased operating over the Clayton-Easton line, the operating agreement between CHRR and MTA was terminated on October 31, 1998, and CHRR has subsequently forfeited its status as a corporate entity in Maryland.
