(A competing railroad, the Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore, had the same objective and had completed a bridge over the Susquehanna River in 1866.)
The southern portions of the Baltimore & Delta opened in 1882, but the company needed additional funds for completion.
The remaining un-built route of 17 miles, from Bel Air to Delta, involved some difficult construction work, but the line was completed by December of that year.
The Maryland Central owners were interested in expanding further north into Pennsylvania, and they made plans for a merger with the Y&PB.
The new company announced that it planned to build a branch line from Red Lion to Columbia, Pennsylvania, to connect with the Reading Railroad.