06-03-11 PHOTOS: Baltimore Streetcars and LRVs

In March 2006 I took a small trip with a Baltimore trolley enthusiast to see the new double tracked northern segment of the Baltimore light rail. Also I got a chance to take some photos down at ye Olde Baltimore Streetcar Museum where they recently bought a fleet of firesale SEPTA PCC's.

Anyway, I don't have much time here. The photos can be found here or here.

The BSM's flagship former BTCo PCC and the "new" SEPTA 2187 MoW pumpkin.

Front of former SEPTA PCC work car #2187 sitting on a patch of Pennsylvania Trolley Gauge (5' 2 1/4") rails as it awaits work to convert it to Baltimore streetcar gauge.

Front of the still working 2728 still in its silver PTC paint scheme.

Rear view of a PCC truck showing the gearbox and longitudinally mounted traction motor.  Unlike other designs, the PCC truck was fabricated, not cast, which allows for easier disassembly and repair.

The Penn Station Shittle pulling out of Mt Royal with MTAM LRV #5001 in the Maryland Flag scheme.

Flag scheme Baltimore light rail LRV #5023 waits at Timonium for the passengers to discharge.  For the previous two years parts of the line had been shut down to complete a double tracking project to increase capacity.  To save on costs the line had been built as a single track with passing sidings.  With the increase in capacity a new short turnback was completed at a location known as "Texas Station" north of Timonium.  Timonium trains will relay there before returning.  A platform was built at Texas in case there is ever need for an infill station in the future.

The second LRV is the train is #5052, still wearing the original blue stripe scheme.  The new LRVs were numbered in the same sequence as the previous Baltimore Transit Company streetcars that finished service in the 1960's and also used the same serif font for the numbers as well.

Same train after having made its relay move now about to depart south over the new double track crossovers en-route to Cromwell.

Open window on HHP-8 #4913 at Penn Sta. Not a good idea to leave the window open in Baltimore...train might not be there on Monday.

HHP-8 #4913 waiting out the weekend on Track #5 in Baltimore Penn Station. 

 MARC GP40WH-2 #60 sitting on track #4 at the head of another commuter trainset.