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I am a firefighter with the Baltimore County Fire Department which is the County that surrounds the city of Baltimore. On March 23, 2001, My engine company was dispached to a woods fire in the Alberton area of the county. Alberton is located about 20 miles west of downtown Baltimore along what I know to be the CSX's "old mainline subdivision" which runs from Relay, Maryland to Point of Rocks, Maryland (original 1828 route of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. Baltimore to Ellicott City, Maryland. Refer to SPV railroad atlas, northeast, page 10-3D). When the Lieutenant asked our dispatcher to call CSX Jacksonville, Fla. to try to make them aware of our presents on or close to the tracks, they had no idea where Alberton was. Jacksonville first asked us if we were on the old Westren Maryland which we were not because that was about 15 miles northwest of our location. (At this time I was unable to assist the Lieutenant who knows nothing about railroads). CSX then asked if we could give them any kind of idenifying markers. Like what? My question is what does the untrained eye look for? Does CSX number their bridges? If so, can we give the bridge number to the dispatcher and they will know where we are? We had a bridge right where we were working. According to my SPV atlas there is a "talking detector and designation- report all trains" close to where we were. Would that work? We did not have the time or the manpower to go looking for a mile post and most of our guys wouldn't know what to look for. Before our location could be established, a coal drag came eastbound which made us all scatter. Thank God it was only going about 25 mph. It was at that time that CSX informed us there would be a train coming through within the hour! Imagine our supprise along with the train crew, I'm sure. We got the number of the lead locomotive but never found out if that helped. Thank You, Fire Apparatus Driver/Operator Paul Wm. Faulkner Baltimore County Fire Department Woodlawn, Maryland
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