train watching in Baltimore Md

[dwk054]

 I will be working in  Baltimore during February and March I am trying to find good photo locations for the CSX and the NS can anyone advise me

[Paul_D_North_Jr]

CSX's Thomas Viaduct across the Patapsco River in Patapsco State Park and the junction between the two major lines there, on the SW side of Baltimore near Elkridge and Halethorpe, about in the middle of the triangle formed by I-95, I-895, and I-195, about 1/2 mile NW of Route 1, and 3 miles NW of BWI Airport, at the following Lat./ Long. coordinates per the ACME Mapper 2.0 application:

N 39.22177, W 76.71303

- Paul North.

[RudyRockvilleMD]

NS has very littlde presence in the immediate Baltimore, MD area although you might be lucky to find a local freight on the NEC or a rarity a merchandise on the NEC early in the morning. In any event the grounds of the VA Medical Center in Perryville might be a good vantage point for photographing those NS freight trains.

CSX has the major presence in the Baltimore, MD area. Patapsco Avenue at Mt Winans might be a good location for photographing trains coming from Baltimore or Curtis Bay although the neighborhood looked rather seedy a few years ago. The west bank of the Susquehanna River, a little north of Havre de Grace, is a good location for photographing CSX trains crossing the Susquehanna River. The CSX trains cross two channels of the Susquehanna River on a combination of thru  and deck truss spans, and the crossing is separated by an island (Garrett Island) in the middle of the river.

Jackson, MD, approximately 3 miles east of Perryville< MD, is another good location for photographing or watching CSX trains. Jackson MD now has a park which is the site of the former B&O Christmas Tree which was decorated in light up during the Christmas Season, and in fact the coach attendants on the B&O passenger trains used to douse the lights in the coaches, dining and lounge cars so passengers could get a good look at the decorated tree

[rixflix]

To watch NS action at Perryville I used to take the DC to Perryville MARC train on a Friday (summer) evening and hike up the Port Road to a flat rock outcropping on the Susqy just above the Garret bridge. I'd camp there, go up   beyond Conowingo on Saturday and return to Perryville by Sunday evening.

 Then I'd set  up camp and eat at the tower next to the NEC eastward track a few feet from Amtrak and a thousand from the bridge. NS rolled mostly coal or empties nearly  nonstop off the Port onto the corridor after Amtrak shut down for the night. Coffee in the morning, catch the Monday Perryville-DC MARC and arrive at work a little late (a trifle smelly and unshaven) at the appointed time.

"Baltimore, oh Baltimore" what was that song? Anyway google earth St. Denis MD to find Relay and the viaduct. I've camped there too, but that's another story.If CSX traffic is coming from the south or west. it'll come through there.Up North Howard on the light rail line at Mt. Royal where the Penn Station spur is a good spot for watching the LR, and CSX below, snake through interesting trackage.

Happy Watching!

Rixflix

 

[JoeKoh]

a trip or two to the B&O museum wouldn't be a bad idea.

stay safe

Joe

[rixflix]

OOPS, how could I forget  the B&O? By all means don't miss it. Too bad you won't have a week in charm//hon  city because it aims to please.

Better, in the warmer months come back and I'll take you on a cheap hobo/urban camping or /commuter trip in Baltimore and DC.

B'more can be better than D'world with a light rail ticket and a water taxi stamp on your hand. With lunch about $30 bucks.

[Ishmael]

The B&O Museum, quite properly,  has been suggested,  but the Streetcar Museum on Falls Road shouldn't be missed either

I also enjoyed watching the switching in Hanover, PA and got some photos of the Ma&Pa while I was there, but that's been 20 years ago and I don't know if they're still an active location. That's on Hwy. 30 north of Reisterstown.

That's the Thomas Viaduct to the left, but the B&O doesn't use it anymore.

[Paul_D_North_Jr]

True enough - it's now used by CSX.  From the following webpage of the "Historical Marker DataBase": 

http://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=127 

"This stone bridge over the Patapsco River is still in use today carrying CSX freight trains (Capital Subdivision) and MARC commuter trains (Camden Line) between Baltimore and Washington."

"3. On the Viaduct Looking North

The B&O (now CSX) east-west Old Main Line runs right to left at the base of the hill beyond the marker. The CSX Capital Subdivision to Washington DC is in the foreground."

 

 

 

 

 

The Capital Sub is the 2 tracks across the bridge; I belive the Old Main Line is only 1 track here. 

- Paul North. 

[RudyRockvilleMD]

Paul:

You are correct. The Capitol Subdivision is double track while the old Main Line Subdivision in the vicinity of the Thomas Viaduct is single track; the actual junction between the Old Main Line and the Capitol Subdivisions is at Halethorpe

Photographing trains at track level at the Thomas Viaduct is problematic because CSX owns the property on either side of the track at the north end of the bridge, and there is no access to it. I looked at the Google Satellite Map, and it looks as if the Relay House which used to be between the Old Main Line and Capitol subdivision tracks has been torn down.

[BaltACD]

The control point 'Halethorpe' no longer exists.  The functions of this control point were moved about 1 mile West back in 2007 to a new control point 'Saint Denis'.  The functions of the control point remain the same, to manage the junction of the Capital, Old Main Line and the Baltimore Terminal subs.

RudyRockvilleMD

Paul:

You are correct. The Capitol Subdivision is double track while the old Main Line Subdivision in the vicinity of the Thomas Viaduct is single track; the actual junction between the Old Main Line and the Capitol Subdivisions is at Halethorpe

[Paul_D_North_Jr]

Looks like Saint Denis is a 'universal cross-over' type layout from about underneath I-195/ Metropolitan Blvd. to the east of US Route 1/ Washington Blvd. overpass.  Also, MARC appears to have a small station - a platform and a small shelter on each side, perhaps - known as St. DAenis about 1 block west of  I-195/ Metropolitan Blvd.

RudyRockville is likely right about the access to the bridge itself.  However, about 1/10 mile northeast of the northeastern end (3 tracks) of the bridge, there is a short section of road - about 1 block long - known as Railroad Ave. (to the northwest is Viaduct Ave., and to the east is S. Rolling Rd.).  Railroad Ave. is of course right next to the northerly side of the tracks there - as well as a couple houses that I'd love to have the opportunity to buy  - so that might be a good photo location. 

At the other/ southern end towards Washington, D.C., just north of I-895/ Harbor Tunnel Throughway, above Levering Ave. which intersects into River Rd., where River Rd. heading southeast turns 90 degress to the southwest and becomes Lawyers Hill Rd., that turn appears to be right next to the west side of that 2-track main, though finding a safe and legal place to park around there might be a challenge. 

- Paul North. 

[LNER4472]

A little late to the conversation here, but let me see what I can add.

Bluntly speaking, there's no truly legal and safe place to park around Thomas Viaduct's south end.  You can ditch a car somewhere and hike, but every place one could reasonably ditch a car is a private driveway or subject to ticketing.  There used to be a spot to pull off along the tracks right as that road got to track level, but a guardrail is now in place.  And this is February or March--you'll probably have snow in your way to boot.  Patapsco State Park and CSX are reportedly working on a plan to make the Viaduct more accessible and visible, but it won't be in place in time for your trip.

Three publicly-accessible areas worthy of note:

Bush Street, just off of Russell Street/I-295 south of the stadiums.  At the Bush Street crossing is a parking lot north of Carroll Interlocking with good visibility both ways, and public parking/trainwatching is at least tolerated.

Bailey's Wye, southeast of M&T Bank Stadium (Ravens) and Oriole Park at Camden Yards.  There are places in the neighborhood where one should be able (weather permitting) to park a car and hang out.  You'll see traffic into and out of Riverside Yard and MARC facility, into and out of Howard Street Tunnel, and CSX and MARC trains (the latter Mon-Fri) from Camden and the tunnel SB to DC and points west.  Freight averages 25-35 movements a day, including the occasional transfer or local.  Light Rail also rolls through overhead.

On the east side of town off of US 40, Bayview Yard has a parking lot on the north side of 40/Pulaski Highway, next to the Y with the east end of Monument Street, that used to be a popular railfan hangout, as you catch what's going into and out of Bayview and past on the main. 

As usual, use your head.  A mild bit of trespassing may be tolerated briefly, but don't make a fool of oneself.  Trains around Bayview, especially TOFC/COFC, are monitored by CSX and Baltimore City police for potential burglary or vandalism with theft/robbery in mind.  There was ongoing trackwork around Bailey's Wye/Carroll which may have things tied up a bit.

CSX had assigned a new genset loco to Curtis Bay, southeast of the harbor.  I would not advise heading into the yard proper, but a drive around the vicinity may be fruitful.

A good and public train-watching spot on the Northeast Corridor east of town is the MARC station at Martin State Airport.  Amtrak trains will blast through at 125 mph, and there exists the possibility of seeing NS locals to Aberdeen/Havre de Grace and even coal trains to the power plant near Chase and to Delaware plants.  Don't let the folks tell you that these trains run only in darkness--I rode an Amtrak Acela train to NYC and back on Tuesday and spotted a mainline mixed freight, a coal train, and two locals between Baltimore and Delaware in daylight.

The B&O Museum and the Baltimore Streetcar Museum are must-sees if you've not seen them; allocate at least a half-day to the B&O Museum to see everything.  If you plan properly, your B&O Museum ticket includes the Ellicott City RR Station Museum in nearby Ellicott City.  The BSM now has a Philly snowsweeper, so snow won't stop them--open Sundays year-round.

If you like transit, a $3.50 day pass on the MTA gets you a full day of riding on the Central Light Rail Line (which was patched together from both the former PRR from Baltimore to York/Harrisburg and the former Baltimore & Annapolis interurban route from Baltimore to--duh--Annapolis) and the Baltimore Metro (Owings Mills-Johns Hopkins University).

I would be derelict in my duty if I didn't mention that the Baltimore Chapter NRHS, celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2011, meets the second Monday of every month at the Baltimore Streetcar Museum, and is holding its 75th Anniversary Banquet on March 12, with guest speaker Jim Wrinn of Trains Magazine.  The Chapter runs a joint Library with the BSM, housed at the BSM, and is open for researchers every Wednesday from 10 AM to 4 PM and at least the second Sunday of every month noon to 5.  Check the Chapter's newly-revised website at www.baltimorenrhs.org for updates.

[rixflix]

Now wat a minute. can't you just drop off rte 1 onto the St. Denis road and  park next to the tracks and then walk in to Relay? I've camped on the monument a few times.