17-07-08 PHOTOS: Metro Detour

So last summer someone I know from the UK needed to catch a flight out of International Airport Dulles and I suggested that we make a day out of it and visit the Udvay Hazy Center before his late afternoon flight. To somewhat complicate matters another friend who had offered to actually do the driving wanted to spend three additional hours after the Dulles trip to go and see his horse. I made a counter proposal that he just drop me off at the Wiehle-Reston Silver Line stop and I'd make my way home via the Metro and MARC Weekend Service. unfortunately things turned out to be a little more complicated than I had anticipated.

I'll start with a few photos from the Udvar Hazy center.  First a Vought F4U Corsair.

The B-29 Enola Gay.

Me 163 Komet with an HWK 509 rocket engine.

A PBY-5A Catalina sitting next to the Apollo 11 spacecraft in the restoration hanger. 

Upon leaving the museum I got this photo of an Air France A380 #F-HPJD landing at IAD.

Catching a waiting METRO train of the classic style at Wiehle-Reston.

Unfortunately the Blue/Orange trunk line was shut down somewhere between Roslyn and Metro Center so Silver Line trains were having to turn at Ballston Spa. This would force a transfer to an Orange Line train, but that would get me only as far as Roslyn where I would need to transfer to a Blue Line train to take me to Pentagon where I could finally get across the river on a Yellow Line train. The closure basically turned a 2 seat ride into a 5 seat ride!!

I was able to get some rear railfan window video while on the Blue line between Roslyn and Arlington Cemetery.




Crossing the Potomac I got a photo of the drawspan on the adjacent "Long Bridge", which was used by the PRR and B&O to reach points south.

Not only that, but the northbound Carolinian was also crossing the bridge with baggage car #61002 on the rear.

As the lengthy detour had caused me to miss one MARC train I proceeded to New York Ave on the Red Line to take some photos and kill some time. While there I caught the power change operation for the Train 80 that had just arrived on the lower level with Amtrak ACS-86 #652 replacing P42DC #48.

For some bizzare reason MARC GP40-2WH #68 was sitting on a Union Station track behind Amtrak ACS-86 #621.

Amtrak ACS-86 #619 departing with a northbound Regional with the REI store in the background.

Heading back in to Union Station my Metro train passed K-Tower.

Finally, while boarding my MARC train I caught Amtrak ACS-86 #615 side-by-side with #610.

Well we have reached the end of the journey.  Next week I will travel south in pursuit of the great 2017 Eclipse.