18-04-23 PHOTOS: St Denis

I can get rather desperate for content in the spring. It's cold and wet and grey so I jut don't get out as much as I should. In 2018 I made an effort to squeeze sufficient content out of some local railfan sites and the St. Denis MARC station seemed to fit the bill. not only was it a commuter rail station with commuter rail service, it was at the junction of the CSX Capitol Sub, Baltimore Terminal Sub and Old Main Line Sub.

With daylight time back in effect I could catch about three passenger movements within a single one hour window. Also included in this set was a trip to the old HX tower about a mile east of St. Denis, some photos around DC Union Station and some photos and video from the Baltimore Belt Line. You can find the full set of photos here.

The MARC Camden Line doesn't have a lot of service and the St. Denis station in particular has even less. Of the six peak direction trains, only 3 stop at St Denis with all of the reverse peak bypassing the stop as well. Arriving before the first train of the day returned from DC I only saw one car in the lot when typically most MARC stations are overflowing into the adjacent residential areas. One big reason is the close proximity of the faster Penn Line Halethorpe station that likely siphons off anyone with a vehicle.

The eastbound shelter dates back a ways to the B&O / MD Dot days of the 70's and 80's, while the westbound platform features a newer bus style shelter. Before the adjacent ST DENIS interlocking was placed in service in 2006, the westbound platform was a low island located between the Old Main Line track and Capitol Sub track 1. Now the train simply platforms at the duckboards to conduct the limited passenger operations.

ST DENIS interlocking was constructed in 2006 as a replacement for the older HALETHOPRE interlocking about a mile to the east. This lengthened the storage area for inbound trains to the southern Baltimore Terminal yard complex that branches off at WEST BALTIMORE interlocking. Here we see an Approach Medium indication displayed for an eastbound train on Track #2.

A non-stopping westbound train then arrives with MARC multi-level cab car #8049 on point and MP36PH-3C #28 and SC44 #85 providing power. At this point the SC44 Charger locomotives were still undergoing testing and had to be paired with the existing locomotive stock.

View of the train as it rounds the sharp curve west of the station. Just out of sight the OML will split from the Capitol Sub just east of the Thomas Viaduct.

The first train back from DC arrived with a single SC44, #83, on the front. It stopped and discharged a few passengers.

Alighting passengers must wait for the train to depart before crossing the tracks via the duckboards to get to the small parking area on the westbound side.

Here we see single level MARC cab car #7762 passing the subdivision post between the Capitol and Baltimore Terminal subdivisions.

CSX #ES44 #973 and AC4400 #11 ran light through ST DENIS interlocking after detaching from a coal train. The engines will now run back to to some yard for servicing. Note the Restricting signal indication for the light engines and a Medium Approach Medium signal for what turned out to be an approaching freight on Track #2.

Around the curve comes an eastbound manifest train with ES44AC #906 and AC4400 #567.

The freight train diverged onto track #1 to make room for the passenger train coming up behind it on track #1.

HX tower was built around 1927 when the B&O hosted the "Fair of the Iron Horse" on adjacent land to celebrate the 100th anniversary of American railroading. Controlled from a US&S Style S electro-mechanical machine, the interlocking was a 4-track full crossover that served as the junction between OML and DC bound trains. The tower was closed in the early 90's and the interlocking removed completely in 2006 when ST DENIS replaced it. Note the 90's vintage district safety sign still in place on the side.

New MARC split level cab car #8074 and SC44 #82 passing HX tower with a westbound train.

Here we can see ST DENIS interlocking from HX tower, showing their realitive locations.

Since my last visit to HX tower in 2006, the tower has seen quite a bit of vegetation growth. With the interlocking closed the tower is no longer used as a day-to-day base for signal maintainers.  If you are interested in HX tower and the old HALETHORPE interlocking I recorded a two part streaming session that goes into more detail.

 Moving over to the Baltimore Belt Line we find a pait of CSX C44-10W's braking down the grade in the westbound direction in the Charles St cut.

Here a pair of relatively new GE ES44AH's locomotives (#3087 and #3156) are already having turbo problems as they try to ascend the steep grade out of Baltimore Harbor with a heavy coal train.



Amtrak Acela Express power car #2034 at BWI Rail Station.

3k (#3214) and 7k DC Metro trains at the Red Line's Union Station Station.

Amtrak 2GS12B Genset switcher #599 sitting outside of K Tower at the mouth of Washington Union Station along with heritage painted Washington Terminal SW1000R switcher #794.

Well that's it for now.  Next week I take a final run at the Baltimore Belt Line before I decamp to the suburbs full time.