The Hempfield Railroad was chartered May 15, 1850[1] and was a line that originally was to run from Wheeling, West Virginia to Greensburg, Pennsylvania for a distance of 76 miles.

[2] The railroad reached Washington, Pennsylvania in the year 1857.

[1] It opened for business in 1857 under the heading of Wheeling, Pittsburgh and Baltimore Railroad.

Operations to October 31, 1867 were as follows; Gross: $52,198.00 Expenses: $53,357.00 For a loss of $1,159.00[2] Capital stock: $1,809,565 6 per cent bonds: $500,000 floating debt: $100,000 Cost to build the road: $1,657,799 All of the above reference[2] The company was bought by the B&O Railroad on May 1, 1871.

[4] It was originally to connect with the Pittsburg and Connellsville Railroad (another B&O company) at Newton, Pennsylvania after the reorganization.