NEC Middle track removed north of Baltimore

[MP57313]

Rode part of the NEC Saturday...BWI to Philadelphia. For some distance north of Baltimore they have removed the middle track. This section still had wood ties and appeared to be in good shape (ties were level and did not appear broken or decayed). In some places the MOW equipment was stored on the center line. The overhead line is still in place, even where the rails are gone.

Track to be replaced, or just a reconfiguration of the track switch locations?

[daveklepper]

I am absolutely certain you are seeing a concrete tie replacement project. The hint is that the overhead wire is still in place. It is a lot easiser to remove overhead before the track is removed than afterward, and if they were permently removing the track the wire would have been taken down first. I hope this answers your question. What you saw, incidentally, is what people saw as single-track operation with one track missing before catenary was erected east-north of New Haven to Boston. I'm pleased Amtrak has the money for the project.

[MP57313]

QUOTE: Originally posted by daveklepper

The hint is that the overhead wire is still in place.

I wondered about that too. In a couple of places closer to Baltimore, there was a short stretch where wire was still in place on the "north edge" of the NEC. This other track was clearly out of service (heavily rusted, with greenery) and was a former siding, not one of the main tracks.

[Junctionfan]

That subdivision seems to the 4 tracks. I was on the Oaks Model Railroad site and watched a video of a couple of Acela trains passing a CSX local. Some of the movies I have seen on that, there is an Acela trains, the Silver Star, than another Acela, and than a CSX mainline all going at the same time. Looked cool but hard to follow the CSX train when an Acela practically blows the camera down at track side.