Between Clayton and Smyrna, this line ran parallel to what is now Delaware Route 6. Some remnants of track are still visible where it crossed driveways and side streets. This line was originally constructed in the late 1800s and became part of the Pennsylvania RR just after 1900. This segment survived the Penn Central years, but was later abandoned in 1976 when Conrail was formed.
Beyond Smyrna, the line continued eastward to Woodland Beach, and was originally built as the Smyrna and Delaware Bay Railroad in effort to find a more direct route to New Jersey across Delaware Bay rather than around it. The line headed east from Smyrna to Woodland Beach, where it accessed a ferry crossing to Bay Side, NJ. This line was abandoned in 1903.