Rehoboth railroad history session set Nov. 7

Rehoboth Beach Museum’s Paul Lovett History Series continues at 7:15 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 7, in the Sussex Room at the Boardwalk Plaza Hotel.

Lovett’s presentation “Rehoboth’s Railroad” will focus on the images and stories of the arrival of the railroad in 1878.

For 65 years the track occupied the middle of Rehoboth Avenue, terminating at a depot located in the center of the street, less than a block from the ocean. Trains provided both passenger and freight service. In the summer there were regularly scheduled trains that ran twice a day. Extra excursion trains brought six or more passenger cars full of day trippers. 

This is one of many stories explored in Lovett’s “Golden Age of Rehoboth” diorama on display at the Rehoboth Beach Museum. It is a miniature model of the city circa 1910, when the railroad still ran down Rehoboth Avenue. A locomotive complete with smoke and whistle chugs down the main thoroughfare of the replica, as the real trains did until upgrades to Delaware roadways led automobiles to eclipse them as the preferred way to get to the beach.

Seating is limited. For more information and to purchase tickets, go to rbmuseum.org.