The Ellicott City Streetcar line, known most typically as the #9 line, was initially to be constructed as a standard gauge interurban line connecting Baltimore with the nation's capital.  The line, originally known as the Baltimore and Columbia, would not last long in its standard gauge setup, and many doubt that the standard railroad gauge cars ever ran the streets at all.  In any event, the alleged operation of the first section of the line between Frankin Street and Calverton Road and Downtown Baltimore was certainly a wide gauge operation by 1902, the year when the Ellicott City segment opened up as an extension of the line.

The Ellicott City service was never massively patronized.  In fact, numerous short-turn operations at Rognel Heights, North Bend, and Rolling Road never reached Ellicott City at all.  As early as 1940, the BTC sought to convert the line, or at least operate the outer segment as a shuttle operation.  The shuttle operation would eventually be granted, though through service would still be operated at peak hours on Weekdays and Saturdays.  By 1952, however, this arrangement would stop, and passengers to and from Ellicott City would be forced to transfer to route 8 or 14 at all times.  This inconvenience made it only a matter of time for the #9 line to die, and the three last semiconvertible cars in the system ran their last miles on June 18, 1955.

Click for a slghtly larger view of the map of the #9 line, whose path is shown by the orange line.  Photo locations are seen as numbered blue ticks.  Blue line shows deviation of present path from actual right of way.

Despite rumors that the line had the potential to be the first possible site of the Baltimore Streetcar Museum, the line lay largely forgotten for many years after its abandonment, garnering a reputation as a hangout for teenagers up to no good.  By the 1990's however, it was decided to save the right-of-way for use as a nature trail, and the line would be largely paved for nature lovers and history buffs alike to take a slow jaunt from Catonsville to Ellicott City by way of Oella.

1. Heading West from Chalfonte Drive, the right of way quickly delves into heavy woods.	2. Just East of the Oella crossing lies a few torched span wire poles that now look like planters.
3. Along some points in the trail are these "mystery blobs" of concrete that are of a perplexing origin.	4. For a spell, the trail diverges from the actual right of way.  Here, it rejoins the right of way West of the Oella Crossing.  Path comes in from right while R-O-W heads off in distance.
5. The most famous section of the line is the so-called "Deep Cut," in which one man was killed during its construction.  Here, the trail elevates onto a wooden walkway. Photo by Steve Okonski	6. Above the Deep Cut runs the Westchester Avenue Bridge, whose original pier can also be seen in this view looking overhead.  Photo by Steve Okonski.
7. A closer look reveals that some of the span wire still remains in this area, mostly fastened to loop hooks in the rock of the Deep Cut.  Note the wooden insulator near the bottom of the frame.  Photo by Steve Okonski.	8. Another shot of the snaking wires along the rocks of the Deep Cut.  Photo by Steve Okonski.
9. Thankfully, they make no secret that this was once a streetcar line, but the spelling "Trolly" sure is odd.  Photo by Steve Okonski.	10. Another of the vivid relics of the line are the stone piers that once held the gauntleted bridge over the Patapsco, easily viewed from Frederick Road.  Photo by Steve Okonski.
11. Another view of the piers, as view from the entry bridge into Ellicott City.  Photo by Steve Okonski.