19-08-31 PHOTOS: Mt Airy

In the summer of 2019 I realized that I wasn't generating sufficient rail content so I used a free weekend to head out to Mt Airy, MD to take some photos along the B&O's Old Main Line. Unfortunately nothing was running to I added a bunch of other Baltimore and Philly area transit photos to the set and here we are. You can see the full set of photos here (mirror).

We kick things off in South Jersey with a northbound New Jersey Transit Atlantic City Line train passing under Mt. Vernon Ave in Haddonfield, GP40PH-2B #4205 leading and Comet V cab car #5073 on the rear.

This was accompanied by a westbound new style PATCO train with #1090 on the rear.

Jumping down to Maryland I found myself at the BWI Business Park light rail station when rebuilt/repainted MTA Maryland LRV #5012 rolled in with someone I was there to pick up.

My first stop on the Old Main Line was the west end of the HOOD siding on the CSX Old Main Line subdivision about 33 miles from the old Mt Claire terminal.

About 10 miles to the west, the east end of the PLANE siding also serves as the western junction with the old Mt Airy Loop track, which was the original B&O alignment through the town of Mt Airy. Mt. Airy sits at the drainage divide between the Patapsco River and Monocacy Creek and the original alignment involved a variety of stiff grades and sharp curves. Today the old loop track serves an industrial park and MoW uses.

In 1901 the Mt Airy loop was bypassed by a half mile long tunnel, the longest on the OML. Here is the east end, hidden behind a mall parking lot.

The Liberty Dam and Reservoir near Marriottsville is an important part of the Baltimore City public water system. The 160 foot tall concrete dam impounds a 3100 acre reservoir.

Jumping to the far side of the Baltimore metro area, here is Amtrak ACS-86 #618 leading a northbound Regional through RIVER interlocking at one of thee points where the NEC passes under the east side of I-695.

And here is a southbound Regional being hauled by ACS-86 #668.

Before I left the northbound Amtrak Silver Starve Train 92 showed up with ACS-86 #662 and two Viewliner sleepers.

19-08-17 PHOTOS: West Chester Railroad

The West Chester Railroad is a tourist line that operates on the former PRR branch line that runs east from the current SEPTA R3 terminus in Elwyn, PA. SEPTA temporarily suspended service to West Chester in 1983. eventually leasing the portion past the quarry in Glen Mills to the WCRR for tourist operations. Today the WCRR operates out of Adam's Yard, a little to the south of the old Main Street station. The full set of photos can be found here (mirror).

The WCRR runs most of its trains out of the West Chester Main Street station, which previously served as the terminus of the electrified branch line until 1983. In addition to a small ticket shack, the WCRR has parked an old Plymouth gasoline mechanical industrial engine at the end of the track as an eye catching static display.

Although West Chester is a major town and county seat, passenger traffic was drawn away to the Exton stop on the surprisingly close by PRR Main Line, which provides a faster ride downtown with frequent express services during the peak. By comparison, trains on the curvy (40mph) West Chester branch would take over 30 minutes longer to get to Center City. This ultimately lead SEPTA to cut service back to Elwyn in 1986, with an expansion to Route 1 at Wawa set to open soon.

 The service suspension was listed as temporary, citing equipment shortages after the MP54s were retired, and a replacement shuttle bus continuing into the 1990s. Funds to rehabilitate the line never materialized and SEPTA pulled down the overhead wire in the late 90's or early 2000's, turning over operation to the WCRR.

Most of the WCRR coaching stock consists of former Reading "Blueliner" MU coaches which were modernized in the 1960's before being operated by SEPTA until 1990. Here we see Blueliner #9114 and #9124 sitting in Adams yard in a pre-rebuild Reading green paint scheme. 

Reliable power on the WCRR consists of former Penn Central GP38 #7006, painted in an Erie Lackawanna scheme.

Backup EMD power is in the form of former B&O GP9 #6499.

WCRR fan service power consists of MLW RS-18 #1803.

And the requisite end cab switcher is Alco S-2 #3.