Vanishing Ocean City With Bunk Mann

Vanishing Ocean City With Bunk Mann
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A railroad once played an important role in the development of Ocean City. The railroad era began in 1876 and lasted for 57 years. It was the primary form of transportation as well as the major supply line for the resort before the automobile bridge opened in 1919.

During that period everything of substance was shipped into Ocean City by train including the lumber to build the Boardwalk and the hotels and much of the food sold on the Boardwalk. Both passenger and freight trains, pictured circa 1916, served Ocean City and most of the summer visitors who came to town arrived by train prior to the mid-1920s.

The “Railroad Era” ended abruptly on Aug. 23, 1933 when a hurricane destroyed the railroad bridge and much of the tracks. Neither the bridge or the trackers were ever rebuilt.

Photo courtesy Edward H. Nabb Research Center