23-04-29 PHOTOS: Iron Horse Valley

In 1927 the Baltimore and Ohio railroad organized the Fair of the Iron Horse to celebrate the company's centenary in Halethorpe, MD, on a sizable tract of land adjacent to its original main line just south of Baltimore. This pinch point between the Baltimore harbor coastline and the steep Patapsco River valley was also used by the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad, forerunner of today's Northeast Corridor. Today this often overlooked patch of land is home to surprising around of rail action and in the spring of 2003 I took some detours off my normal driving routes to get a closer look at what it had to offer ( mirror ).

The first stop was the St. Dennis MARC station where I just happend to see a sizable spike of railfans out with their tripods. Popping in to see what was the matter, I was informed about an upcoming heritage unit (presumably CSX). While I was not successful in catching the heritage engine that day, I did catch an eastbound autorack train lead by CM44AC #7025 with AC4400 #789 in the DPU position.

A few days later at Dorsey I caught the usual 6:30pm Camden Line meet staring MARC single level cab car #7760, Bomber cab car #8051, SC44 #80 and MP36PH-3C #?.

HX or HALETHORPE tower is located immediately next to the old 1927 fairgrounds, which have since been converted into an industrial park. Previously controlling a 4-track full crossover, the interlocking was replaced by a new one, ST DENNIS, about half a mile to the west. Since my last visit the tower is not longer being used by maintenance crews and has had new plywood installed over the doors to keep out the homeless and urbexers.

The 4 tracks between HALETHORPE and LANDSOWNE interlockings are often used to park trains through trains needing a re-crew before they enter the largely single track Baltimore Belt Line and Philly sub. That day CSX ES44AC #836 was parked on the siding track at the head of a manifest freight.

The new ST DENNIS crossovers allow for longer trains to be stacked on the 4-track zone. Here we find C40-10W #5212 and SC70MAC #4543 leading a westbound consist sitting just ahead of the westbound signal bridge.

A short distance away at the Halethorpe MARC station, Track A was closed for MoW work with a large hi-rail crane truck and platform bridge gondolas adjacent to the eastbound platform. I had pulled in due to the scheduled passage of a southbound Amtrak Acela Express run and caught the rare trainset with connectively numbered power cars, #2030 and #2031.

23-04-04 PHOTOS: Reading Viaduct

In 2020, with transit on the ropes and outdoor activities all the rage due to the pandemic, I converted my usual SEPTA Mid-Winter transit trip into an all-day rail history walking tour. Part of this tour included abandoned Reading Company rights of way including the City Branch and the famous Reading Viaduct in and around the old Spring Garden St station. While on this excursion I discovered the secret entrance up onto the viaduct itself, but since I was unable to suddenly transition my event to one of urban exploration, I had to retreat from the viaduct with a plan to return at a future time. In September of 2021 I acted on this plan due to the impending demolition of the Reading Spring Garden Station platforms and northbound head house. Not only was I too late in terms of the demolition, but I found the summertime viaduct to be a to be completely overgrown with vegetation, blocking sight lines and hiding homeless persons who might not take kindly to having their living space intruded upon by a long explorer with camera gear. Again I made a plan to return during the winter months when the vegetation would be more see through and I could return with a buddy. A planned attempt to return in early 2022 fell through when an interested urbexer flaked out and once again I had to put off the trip. Finally, in the Spring of 2023 did I find someone with schedule availability and we were able to get up on the viaduct as the leaves were just starting to re-appear. You can find the photos from my exploration of the viaduct and related spring transit photos here ( mirror ).

We begin at the BWI Airport rail station with Amtrak ACS-86 #659 at the head of a southbound Regional.

Two views of SEPTA Silverliner V #829 at both 30th St Station and Market East.

Back down at BWI on a rather foggy March night.

Between NEC trips I managed to sneak down to Garrett Park, MD to catch the westbound Capitol Limited led by P42DC #83.

On the day before my planned Reading Viaduct expedition I was back at BWI to catch an Acela Express lead by power car #2006.

SEPTA Slverliners V #709 and IV #425 at 30th St station.

The Reading Viaduct was largely constructed in the 1890's in conjunction with the Reading Terminal we all know and love, replacing a previous station near Broad and Vine that had been accessed via a right of way along the Schuylkill River. The viaduct ran from the old Philadelphia and Germantown Railroad terminal near today's North Broad to the new Reading Terminal at 12th and Market. Construction is largely of steel, however there is a brief section of fill between Buttonwood and Hamilton Streets. Shown below is the structure as it crosses Noble St at Ridge Ave.

Reading Terminal served as an active railroad station until November 6th, 1984 when all service was rerouted to the new Center City Commuter tunnel and the replacement Market East station. After the closure of Reading Terminal both the train shed, the approaches and most of the related infrastructure south of the cutover point at Fairmount Ave were abandoned in place. This included overhead signaling infrastructure like the southbound home signal for RACE STREET interlocking seen here.

The reason most of the infrastructure was left intact was due to the continued use of the Reading Callowhill rail traction power substation at the southern apex of the old City Branch Wye at Callowhill St. The substation made use of the 12kv overhead catenary and 24kv feeders as well as the rails and also required SEPTA to generally maintain and secure the right of way. In 2010 the substation was retired and most maintenance activities ceased.