Harper's Ferry is a wonderful place to watch trains, even though our NATIONAL PARK SERVICE has made it harder to do so. Parking is at a premium, and they encourage you (read--demand) to use their shuttle service (after paying your "tribute").
That being said, there are a multitude of photo angles from both the West Virginia and Maryland sides. Be sure to check out the overlook from the Hilltop House Hotel, and the angle from between the CSX EAST END bridge and the SHENANDOAH secondary.
As far as train schedules, there should be something coming through there every hour, and AMTRAK's CAPITOL LIMITED #30 should be there between 12-1, and it's westbound counterpart #29 between 5-6. The schedule should be posted on the window of the newly refinshed station.
Brunswick, a few miles east, is a good place to catch crew changes, and there's usually a lot of equipment parked there. There's a nice stretch between SANDY POINT and Brunswick known as WEVERTON. A few miles east of Brunswick is the classic POINT OF ROCKS station. This is an excellent place to park and watch/photograph trains, and it is the neck of the bottle between the CSX Metropolitan sub (to DC) and the OLD MAIN LINE (to Baltimore).
Hope this helps.
Just a note on the Hilltop House Hotel shot. I was up there a couple months ago and the trees have grown so high they block all but the west portal of the tunnel. It was OK last winter, but the foliage is mighty heavy this time of year. Also, the hotel is closed and supposed to be undergoing extensive renovations under new ownership, to be reopened in a couple of years.
Brunswick is a fair location, but beware of getting off the public areas into CSX territory. The MARC parking lot across from the station is usually pretty good. It puts you between the east and westbound mainlines. MARC trains put in an appearance on weekdays.
Point of Rocks is still a nice spot, too. Just seeing the station is worth a visit, but if you hang around for a short time, you're almost sure to see something moving.
Glenn
Anderphoto
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