RF&P Tower in Washington? (pics)

[Dough]

Can anybody give me any more details on this old tower? I was in Washington D.C. a few months ago and I discovered this tower. It is on the corner of Virginia Av. and 2nd St. SW.

I believe that this is ex RF&P line. It was actually great because my hotel room overlooked this old track. You could even see where it used to have five lines although it is now down to just two.

[Anonymous]

Not RF&P, Dough. That's Virginia Ave. Tower, which controlled the junction between the freight line north through Virginia Ave. Tunnel, the passenger line north to Union Station, and the main line southbound. This was original PRR main track. Just below here is 14th Street and Long Bridge (Potomac River); the RF&P began at the south end of Long Bridge, at RO Tower.

In pre-amtrak days, Dough, this route saw RF&P, ACL, SAL, and Southern passenger trains into Union STation, and PRR and B&O [where I got into the act.] freights bound for RF&P's Potomac Yard just across the Potomac.

[Anonymous]

Nice pictures Dough.

[Dough]

Yeah, I actually road the Cresent up through there going both to and from D.C. Thanks for the correction for this tower. It is quite an interesting piece. The old remains of the electrification days were quite interesting as well. Oh and that's the most Amtrak that I have ever seen in one day!

BTW, do you have any idea why they were installing cameras on the old gantery towers? They were putting a new one in just down from the station next to the Holiday Inn. Are these for security or just traffic control? They were aimed down the raised track.

BTW, I was to chicken to take a picture of them installing a camera over a rail line in Washington D.C. LOL! [:D]

[Anonymous]

Hard to say, Dough. The camera could be security [it is the Capital, after all!], but CSX has trackside cameras used to record passing freights so the clerical-types in Jacksonville can make up a usable consist sheet for places where the train is going.

The City of Washington has installed traffic cameras all through town to record your SPEED! They are raking in millions per year with their tickets! Perhaps they have decided to fine the railroads for speeding as well...

[Anonymous]

BTW, when I listed some of the roads that passed this way, I failed to mention C&O Ry; the Geo. Washington at least was one that came this way to Union Station; probably some sort of Fruedian reason to leave them off, I dunno.

Anyway, what passes here today is, as you mentioned, Amtrak; Virginia Railway Express[commuters]; CSX, and maybe an NEC-bound NS hotshot occasionally.[I don't know how much freight goes from NS up the Corridor...may be none...]