I have some to find that museums with few interactive elements are somewhat lacking when it comes to repeat visitations. Baring extenuating circumstances one doesn't need additional photos of the same displays year after year. As a result the last time I visited the preserved PRR interlocking tower in Bowie, Maryland was 2007. 12 years later, with opportunities to photograph classic signaling drying up, I decided to make another visit to BOWIE to take some better photos with a better camera. It was nice to see that the museum had been expanded, but NEC photography was still somewhat limited due to the tower having been moved away from the tracks. In addition to the Bowie rail history museum this set also includes photos from a random trip to DC. You can find the full set of photos here (mirror)
My DC trip was of the after work variety so I went about catching MARC at Halethorpe. As typical a southbound Regional was running ahead of the MARC local out of Baltimore with ACS-86 #645 in the lead.
Peak period express trains out of DC typically sport 9+ bi-level cars
which are best handled by one of MARC's 6 HHP=8 locomotives. #4912 here
was doing the honors this day with bi-level Kab Kar #7846 on the rear.
My reverse peak train to DC was somewhat shorter and led by Kab Kar #7851.
WMATA classic series train at Metro Center with #6109 on the end compared with a new 7k train at the same location.
Amtrak ACS-86 #658 in MARC service at Washington Union Station at night.
K-TOWER interlocking at night with loads of recent construction.
Southbound signals at WINANS interlocking along with the MP 103.1 automatic.
Since my last visit, BOWIE tower had its companion Western Maryland caboose replaced by a Chessie veteran. There was also a new bike path that appears to be the first step in connecting downtown Bowie to the current passenger station.
The tower used to be situated on this square concrete pad at the extreme south end of the interlocking and on the platform of the old downtown Bowie passenger station. The track on the right is part of the Popes Creek that serves industry and coal power plants in southern Maryland. In the 1980's the tower was closed and the interlocking reconfigured as part of one of the NEC Improvement Program phases. The tower and passenger structures were when moved out of the Popes Creek wye to an adjacent park for preservation with a new park n. ride friendly passenger station being constructed next to Bowie State University about a mile to the north.
Amtrak's Bowie substation has seen some replacement components since it was built in 1935, but still retains much of its original charm.
A southbound Regional appeared with ACS-86 #641.
Soon after Train 91, the southbound Silver Starve, appeared with ACS-86 #637.
The restored passenger depot contained a number of exhibits including a small chunk of a Saxby and Farmer pattern lever frame as well as a PRR model train layout.
The tower's operator's floor was still open, complete with the original US&S Model 14 interlocking machine and model board, however there were no plans to restore the machine to handle simulated operations as with HARRIS or AC in Marion.
Of course while I was in the tower three trains passed by on the NEC. A northbound Regional with ACS-86 #643, a southbound weekend MARC local with SC44 #80 and a southbound Acela Express with power car #2013 running on the center express track.
Finally, I drove about a mile south of town to the Chestnut Ave grade crossing to check out the amber PRR PL fixed distant signal and I am pleased to report that it is still there and quite bright and well focused to boot.
That wraps up my trip to the BOWIE tower museum. Next week I'm back to Reading country for more signal work.
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