By Michael T. Burkhart

Carload Express, which operates former Norfolk Southern trackage in Delaware as the Delmarva Central, plans to take over lines operated by neighboring Maryland & Delaware Railroad (MDDE), according to federal filings.

The plan includes outright acquisition of some track on the Snow Hill line and operating state-owned trackage on the Massey and Federalsburg lines. The Snow Hill portion of the railroad was expected to be acquired on or before October 18. It will be folded into Delmarva Central, while the other two will retain the MDDE name under the new operator. Known for its quirky roster of rebuilt Alco RS3m and EMD CF7 locomotives, as well as a lone switcher still in the short-lived “Conrail Express” marketing paint scheme, those are not expected to go to the new owner.

Parent company Carload Express Inc. operates two railroads in addition to Delmarva Central — Allegheny Valley Railroad and Southwest Pennsylvania Railroad, serving western Pennsylvania. MDDE began operations in 1977 to operate several former Penn Central branch lines that were not included in the formation of Conrail. It is headquartered in Federalsburg, Md.