Bradford grew from little more than a small timbering camp on the Columbus Piqua & Indiana Railroad. The camp was established around 1855 when the railroad ran out of funds to build further west than the Darke-Miami county line of Ohio. After the ine was completed in 1859, this site served as a water and fuel stop for the early wood burning steam engines.

The Richmond & Covington Railroad made a junction with the CP&I in 1862, bringing a new importance to this site where Bradford would later be founded. Its topography and position within the railroad system made it ideal for a yard facility.

Early locomotive & crew

A major reconstruction of the terminal began in 1917 under the direction of the National Railroad Administration. The yards were expanded and new facilities, including a massive roundhouse, were built. Employement by railroad in Bradford reached two thousand.

Yard looking east

Terminal looking west

Restructuring by the railroad led to the closing of the terminal in 1929. Mainline freight traffic continued into the early 1980's. The last employee worked in the interlocking tower, which closed in 1983. Rail service ended when the last spike was pulled in 1985, 130 years after rail service first began.