17-01-01 PHOTOS: Aberdeen and Charles Towne

Aberdeen, MD, that annoying stop on the NEC that adds 5 minutes Washington bound train's journey time for no appreciable reason. Aberdeen, MD, that low level stop where passengers have to walk forward or back to the cafe car cause that's the only place where the crew opens the doors. Aberdeen, MD, a very interesting 1940's station design that marked the last hurrah before railroads went into full on Amshack mode.

With the B&O Philly sub completely stripped clean of anything interesting, I have started to visit various points of interest along the NEC. On New Year's Day, 2017 I decided to stop by the Amtrak Station at Aberdeen, MD, conveniently located just off US 40, and although the train traffic was a bit sparse, the station itself proved to be quite interesting. Also included in this post will be some additional photos I took on a trip to Charles Towne, WV. You can see both sets of photos here and here.

Here we see a non-stopping Amtrak Regional train pulled by ACS-86 #646 as it passes under the MP 65 automatic signal situated just north of the station.

Rear of the single story brick station building built in 1943 the PRR. Note the architectural elements on the chimney including a fun 40's font. In addition to the waiting room on the north end there is a disused baggage and express facility on the south end. 

Front of the station as seen from across the tracks. The waiting room is open on weekdays for MARC commuter passengers, although a room with a QuikTrak machine is available at all times.

The station is served by both an overpass and a pedestrian tunnel. The tunnel is far more convenient and involves about half the number of steps. 

Here we see Amtrak Train 91, the southbound Silver Starve as hauled by ACS-86 #621.

Up through the early 1980's, Aberdeen hosted the northernmost of four grade crossings on the main line NEC. It was closed during the second NECIP to allow for higher speeds.

I am confident that the terrorist that scrawled this message was soon apprehended by a Redhat patrol for defaming our dear leader. 

The limit of 40 years of improvement projects in evidence on the northbound platform.

Southbound Weekend Acela Express train with power car #2007 in the lead and the MP 65 position light automatics in the background.

Switching gears now, the old Norfolk and Western H-Line crosses the former B&O Shenandoah Branch at Charles Towne, WV. The former is now part of NS's main North-South rail corridor in the Northeast with trains using a combination of Reading and PRR trackage to get to the northern end of the H-Line Hagarstown, MD from Harrisburg and then continuing on to Front Royal, VA where they can turn off at Front Royal, VA to access the Southern RR main line (via the Southern B-Line) or continue on to the coal hub at Roanoke, VA via the H-Line. Once 1/3 owned by the PRR, the N&W exhibits a number of PRR traits like heavy engineering and position light signals.

Here we see NS C44-9W #9779 and SD70M-2 #2754 about to hit the Chatles Towne diamond with a string of what appeared to be empty coal hoppers traveling in the northbound direction. 

Later CSX track patrol hi-rail vehicle appeared on the Shenandoah Branch and after receiving the proper authority, it gingerly crossed the diamond with the operator making sure the high rail flanges navigated the diamond.



The eastbound Shenandoah Branch B&O CPL signal has been popular with a local photographer who sets up nighttime flash blast photos with the sycamore trees and manor house in the background.

About 10 miles to the north is where the H-Line crosses the Potomac river on a high level bridge adjacent to a park dedicated to steam propulsion pioneer James Rumsey.

Run to the border. 

Well that's all folks. See you next time with a long overdue NY Central Hudson Line survey.