Virginia/Maryland railroads

[Anonymous]

I am a brit going on holiday (sorry, vacation!), next month to the USA. I've been to USA many times on business (LA, Chicago and Indiana/Ohio), but never had time to do my own thing. I'm making my first visit to the East coast - Virginia, Maryland, DC and NYC to be exact, for 3 weeks. I'm not going to specifically see trains/railroads, but I'd like to check out a few while I'm there. Any advice on places for good rail photos, or interesting sights?

[eolafan]

I used to live in the area you refer to and liked stopping by Odenton, Maryland alongside the Amtrak Northeast Corridor and watching the trains blast by at over 100 mph...you might also enjoy this spot.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for that. Although that sounds interesting, I'm really after what the US does best - Big. Some of those massive freight trains. The biggest in the UK is about 4000 tonnes, single loco and about 30-35 wagons. I'd like to see a triple headed - double stacked monster - you just don't get that in Europe.

What you do get in Europe is speed though - 100mph isn't really enough! Most passenger trains on UK mainlines are good for 100 or 125mph, and once you've seen a Eurostar or TGV at 186 or 200mph, 100 just isn't special anymore!

I'll be staying near Roanoke VA for a couple of days - there seems to be a lot of railroads in and around there - is that a good place?

[JoeKoh]

tgv
welcome to the forums! yes roanoke has the O Winston Link museum and the N&W museum near by too.I have family that has moved to virginia and hope to go there on holiday this summer myself.
stay safe
Joe

[dealemeout]

While it's not in any of the jurisdictions you've mentioned, Horseshoe Curve on the former Pennsylvania Railroad main line is located not too far above the Maryland state line near Altoona, Pennsylvania. The line sees a great amount of freight action at all hours of the day and night. If you have a bit of time to spend in the area, I'd recommend stopping at "The Station Inn", a hotel located in the same area in Cresson, Pennsylvania. Its patrons are almost 100% railfans and it has a front porch that is only about 100' from the same main line that traverses Horseshoe Curve.

[locomutt]

If you get a chance to visit the Newport News,Norfolk area,you
might want to take the "Chesapeake Bay Bridge,Tunnel" over to
Cape Charles,Va. You can see some of the "Eastern Shore R.R."
operations,along with their car floats. There is also some very
nice scenery on the Del-Mar-Va peninsula.

[nanaimo73]

Roanoke should be a terrific place to go, you should see lots of Norfolk Southern. The line heading west may be the best.
About 25 miles north of Roanoke is Buchanan, where the NS Shenandoah line runs along the James River with the CSX mainline for about 20 miles heading east.
http://terraserver.microsoft.com/image.aspx?t=1&s=14&x=192&y=1298&z=17&w
http://terraserver.microsoft.com/image.aspx?t=2&s=14&x=192&y=1298&z=17&w

About 150 miles to the west is Natural Tunnel.
http://www.dcr.state.va.us/parks/naturalt.htm

[samfp1943]

Shoot just watching some of the NS trains on the grades around there[Roanoke area] out to be pretty interesting. Sure would see multiple units on good sized freight trains..Not to mention the Museums there, a real bonus.3Sam

[RudyRockvilleMD]

There are many interesting locations for watching or photographing trains in the Washington, DC, MD, VA area. All of the previously mentioned locations are good; however, there is no passenger rail service to Roanoke

Point of Rocks and Brunswick, MD and Harpers Ferry, WV on CSX are good locations. There you will see CSX freights, quite often with locomoives of leasers, Amtrak's Capitol Limited, and MARC's commuter trains. Note: the MARC Commuters trains run eastbound into Washington in the morning and westbound toward Brunswick, MD with a few trains continuing on to Martinsburg, WV, in the mid to late afternoon. You will need a car to visit these places. Harpers Ferry is a National Park so there is no parking in the town. What you have to do is drive about to a sattelite parking lo/visitor center, approximately a mile west of the entrance to the park, and take a bus into the town.

The CSX Shenandoah Subdivision to Winchester, VA runs through the Harpers Ferry National Park on a wooden trestle, and you can photograph trains running over it from the park. Two trains run over the Shenandoah Subdvision one train is a local freight which run out of Winchester to Brunswick in the morning, and goes back to Winchester in the early afternoon. the other train is what they call the "Rock Runner" which run from a quarry near Harpers Ferry to a gravel plant outside of Washington, DC. This train also runs eastbound in the morning and it returns in the late morning or the early afternoon.

The Nofolk Southern's former Shenandoah Division (not to be confused with the CSX Shenandoah Subdivision) runs south from Hagerstown to Roanoke. A good place to phtograph trains is in Shepherdstown, WV which is a few miles from Harpers Ferry. A good location in Shepherdstown is the Rumsey Memorial Park which overlooks a bridge crossing the Potomac River. The Rumsey Memorial Park is west of the norfolk Southern's track to a good time to photograph trains would be in the afternoon, especially southbound trains crossing the Potomac River; however, that NS line is not too busy so be prepared to wait.

[SALfan]

All the above are good advice. I used to live in Odenton, MD, and can attest from personal experience that standing trackside while a train blasts by is very impressive. Too bad Amtrak's E60's are gone - they used to drag trains that seemed endless.

If you are at all interested in railroad station architecture and will be in DC, go to Union Station. Very impressive, both the building itself and the quality of the restoration. It's easy to get to on Metro's Red Line, just go to the Union Station Metro Station.

If you can get to Horseshoe Curve, by all means go. It is an awe-inspiring example of civil engineering at its best.

Enjoy your visit!

[Modelcar]

T-G-V....I would also like to suggest go to Google and check the Gallitzin Tunnel Inn at the entrance to Allegheny tunnel at the summit of the Allegheny Mountain crossing on the Old Pennsylvania Railroad....Now Norfolk Southern....3 track main line across Pennsylvania. That location is Gallitzin, Pa. just up grade from Altoona, Pa. Witness heavy freight traffic there with multiple power consist. Stay overnight right at the side of the rail line in the motel just for railfans....Just a few miles from famous Horseshoe Curve mentioned in a post above. Another thought since you mentioned of being in DC...Visit the renovated Washington Union Station in the heart of Washington....It has been beautifully done. A railroad landmark of the area from many years ago....Enjoy America....I did the same in your country some years ago....on a work trip....

[Anonymous]

That's great information - thanks to all. I've heard of Horseshoe Curve before but had no idea where it was. I'll try and convince the wife that it'll be worth a detour...

I am quite new to US railroads and don't know much about them, or how they are structured in terms of the physical operations or the business details of who runs what, but I am interested to learn. I am an engineer in the UK rail industry and the differences between the two are as interesting as the subject itself.

There is one encouraging thing the US and UK have in common - in both countries, people who work on the rails are proud to do so, it's not just a job - it's a way of life.

[Anonymous]

Try Strasburg RR and the PA RR Museum at Lancaster PA. Steam still lives on a tourist line.

I second the Horseshoe curve for that region. It is in mountain country for that part of the United States.

You want big? Head west. Anyplace beyond Little Rock/Kansas City/Omaha is good for big time railroading.

Be VERY careful near the NEC. Some of our trains are "Silent" and will be on you before you hear em. US Route 40 near the Bush River has some good crossings.

[Modelcar]

Crossing the Alleghenies on a 1.8 % grade and a short bit of steeper is in every way big mountain railroading....Just as it would be out west....Up grade is up grade regardless where it is. These grades require power to drag a heavy freight to the top.

[Anonymous]

TGV While your in Roanoke, go north on US 220 to Clifton Forge about 35 miles and visit the C&O Historical Society it's right across from the CSX division office. There are quite a few trains going thru daily. Empty coal cars heading West and full coal heading East usually being pulled by 3+ dash 9's. Also it's where crews change so there is usually trains waiting for crews too. Clifton Forge was once a very busy place for the C&O as it was where two divisions came together and a large yard along with the steam shops and diesel repair. I think you might enjoy a good look around. As mentioned the O. Winston Link is a must see it's in the N&W Station and you are only 2blocks from the NS shops which you can stand on the side walk and see the turntable and the locos being serviced. And then 4blocks the other direction is the Va Transportation Muesum. A lot to see.

[dwil89]

The Station Inn in Cresson is definitely worth a visit...I am a 'frequent flyer' there as I get out to that area at least several times a year.....After visiting Horseshoe Curve and the Altoona Railroaders Museum, spend some time at the Inn and then check out alot of great spots on the West Slope between Gallitzin and Johnstown....The NS Main passes through many small towns on that side of the Mountain, and many nice trackside vantage points are easily acessable there. The Station Inn Website is http:..www.stationinnpa.com

[poppyl]

Here are a couple of suggestions. If you are in the DC area, swing up to Baltimore (about 35 miles NE of DC) and visit the B&O Museum. It's an old roundhouse that houses a lot of the early railroading equipment (US railroading got it's start at that location and ran west for about 15 miles to Ellicott City, Maryland). There are a lot of outdoor static displays of big steam.

If you want to get out of town for some railfanning, head to Cumberland, Maryland, where there is a large CSX classification yard. There is a Holiday Inn that has one side facing the CSX main. You can literally sit in your room and watch the equipment roll by 24/7. A little noisy for sleeping, however. While in Cumberland (on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday beginning the first week in May) you can take the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad from Cumberland to Frostburg. The train is hauled by an 2-8-0 H-8 Consolidation in the fallen flag colors of the Western Maryland Railway. The loco is put on the table at Frostburg and turned for the return trip to Cumberland. Lots of photo ops.

Be careful in your railfanning as things have gotten quite a bit more restrictive since 9/11.

Poppyl