The 13 mile (21 km) line ran from Valley Junction, Pennsylvania (5.5 mi (8.9 km) east of Hanover) to Ebbvale, Maryland (slightly north of Manchester).

The railroad was built to transport iron ore to local blast furnaces; it also carried some passengers.

In 1879 the Baltimore and Hanover Railroad connected to Bachman Valley near Lineboro.

This new line ran south to Emory Grove, where it connected with the WM.

The merged main line ran from Valley Junction to Emory Grove.