Booth escape route north

[SSlater]

Laurie, et al. I'm posting this for all to use. (Sort of like putting fresh wood on the fire). This information came from The National Historic Railroad Association, back in 2010, covering travel from Washington to Montreal in 1865. Use it as you see fit.

Depart Washington from the Baltimore & Ohio Station at "C" Street and New Jersey Avenue, on the 07:00 train. Arrive Baltimore at the Mount Clare Station at 08:35. At this location the B&O trains turned west. The Cars that were intended to continue north, were towed by horses, along Pratt Street to the President Station of the Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore Railroad. Depart Baltimore 09:30. These trains proceeded to the Susquehanna River, where the trains were loaded onto boats to be ferried across the river from Havre de Grace, MD, to Perryville, MD. After being replaced on the tracks, they proceeded through Wilmington DE, to Philadelphia, to the P.W. & B. Broad Street Station. arriving there at 13:30. From here the passengers were required to make their own way to the Walnut Street Wharf, to cross the Delaware River, on a Ferry Boat, to Camden, NJ. (Aside: this transfer was arranged for Gen. Grant by the US Army, where they provided Ambulances for his use.) At Camden, they boarded the Camden & Amboy Railroad for departure at 15:42. There were only two trains per day from this point to Jersey City, NJ - this one and one that left at 08:00. (There were no same day trains that came from Washington, that would make this connection.)

It is interesting to note, that New Jersey railroads used a different gauge track from all other trains, for the express purpose of making all railroad traffic in NJ be carried on NJ trains. That was not a great deal of difficulty for passengers, but it meant that all freight had to be reloaded onto NJ boxcars - having the right gauge.

The train ended in Jersey City. from there, there was another Ferry Boat ride across the Hudson River - operated by the Pennsylvania RR, to Courtland Street in Manhattan, NY - arriving there at 19:55. There were no more trains going north until noon the next day, so accommodations were available at the European Hotel.

Your next carrier would be the New York & New Haven Line, that left from the 27th Street, at 4th Ave, Station at 12:23, arv. Stamford, CT 13:41, to Norwalk arv. 13:59, to Bridgport arv. 14:32, to New Haven arv. 15:20. Dep. New Haven 15.20, to Springfield arv17:57. At this stop the train was on the tracks of the Connecticut RR and dep at 18:30 for Brattleboro, VT arv. 20:57, now the tracks belong to the Rutlans and Burlington. Dep. 21:10 for Bellows Falls, arv. 21:55. , dep. 22:00. to White River Junction, arv. 23:55, dep. to Essex Junction, arv. 04:35, dep. 04:45 for St. Albans arv. O6:05, dep 06:10, for St. Johns (Quebec), arv 18:05, change to the Montreal & Champlain RR. Dep 08:08. Arv Montreal 09:25.
PS. Maps of this route are available on Google. All the train names are listed here. (and the Towns). k,,,,m
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Back in Washington there were other trains to Baltimore, but only this one connected with a train to NY, in Baltimore.

It won't take much study, to determine that there was no train available that would take Booth "out of the country in 24 hours, -going north. " On the outside chance that Booth made it to Baltimore - after 7AM, on April 15th, he would have to wait for until next day. The next time he has to hide, tell him to dress like Ben Franklin, paint himself Bronze, and stand in the park. No one will even look at him. A little pigeon dropping on the shoulders , would enhance the pose.

I got this info to determine what kind of a trip it was for Sarah Slater to go back and forth to Canada. It is understandable now, why she required an escort. At less than 5'-0" tall, she could not lift a suitcase clear of the pavement.