Trains: The Chase Continues

Okay. It's late. I haven't much to say that's of any value, or even the least bit interesting. Here be some more photographs of trains, taken between 1991 and 1996 on The Met. Above - Ex-Reading Lines GP39-2 - now CSX #4317 - leads empty auto-racks west through Germantown's MARC station in 1993.

Idling power at the head end of Q401 waiting for the call from the dispatcher - Brunswick, MD - 1996.

Sure, I could have cropped out the "S" curves in the foreground, but why? That's the best part of this 1991 shot of eastbound Q216 east of Germantown, MD.

The roundhouse to the right is long gone, but the turntable on which we find CSX #6103 is still in use today. Brunswick, MD - 1994.

EB "pigs" emerging from the old B&O tunnel at Monument Street, Baltimore - 1994.

Eastbound CSX freight crossing the Thomas Viaduct, one of the oldest bridges of any kind in the US - and still solid as a rock - between Relay and Elkridge, MD - 1992.

By 1995, the "Back Shops" area at Cumberland Locomotive Facility was littered with old GP30s awaiting delivery to regional/short-line railroads, museums and . . . . . . scrap yards. This is #4210, wearing rust (and maybe fire damage - upper right) like badges of honor, in the summer of 1995 at Cumberland, MD.

One of my favorite shots of the MARC F-units in action. This is #82 as it scampers past Randolph Road near Rockville, MD in 1991. I was born out of time...

More More More... Soon... I Promise...

Old Stuff On The MARC, Part Three: The E-Units

For a couple of years in the early 1990s, MARC Rail was so desperate for cheap power that they added a few hand-me-down E units to their aging stable of Fs and RDCs. They're about the same age as most of the F units - built in the early 1950s - and they have a similar (but much larger) streamlined profile. The engine in these first two shots is Ex-Illinois Central E8 #4023, which led the last IL-Central "City of New Orleans" from its namesake city to Chicago in April, 1971. After some time in New Jersey, it was painted blue, renumbered as MARC #60 and had a brief run here in Maryland. Above, #60 leads a special Orioles train away from Camden Station in Baltimore in 1992.

MARC #60 (and F-unit #84) rolling into Rockville, MD in 1992.

Ex-Burlington Northern E9 #9911 awaits some minor repainting and a new number at Riverside Shops in Baltimore in 1993.

Ex-BN E9, now MARC #64, completely surrounded by CSX power at Riverside Shops - 1993.

MARC #68 blows by a whistle-stop at Dickerson, MD in 1993. I kept that plain grey little Chevy in frame because that is the first car I ever bought, and she chased many trains with me and took a lot of abuse in stride.

MARC #65 at Germantown, MD in 1994. In a move that showed just how short-term a solution these E-units were for MARC, only the "Burlington Northern" and the numbers and flags were changed. New engines had already been ordered.

MARC #60 (E8) and #84 (F7) lead an eastbound commuter train across the Monacacy River near Dickerson, MD in 1992. This shot provides a good look at the size difference between these two old GM Electro Motive Division relics.

THANKS FOR RIDING WITH ME.
In the interest of keeping you non-railfans from wandering off and getting into trouble, let's head back to the beach, next. Then, maybe some critters and cats and dogs and whatnot. If you're patiently waiting for lighthouses, they're coming. I swear. No, really. We'll get to them. Honest. We will! OK bye...

Old Stuff On The MARC, Part Two: The F-Units

The MARC Commuter Rail system in the early 1990s was loads of fun for railfans. We've already covered the rickety old RDCs. Tonight, we'll take a quick look at some of the F-units MARC employed during the period leading up to their mid-90s fleet upgrade. These classic locomotives from a bygone era in rail travel are extremely photogenic. Dating back to the late 40s and early 50s, they're streamlined and elegant and with the right paint scheme can appear to be smiling. Enough said. The CSX F7 (A-B) set above, followed by one of MARC's own F7 A units, is seen crossing the Monacacy River near Dickerson, MD in 1992.

MARC #7100 at Brunswick, MD in 1994, awaiting repainting in the silver/blue/orange scheme.

CSX #116 and MARC #83 in the yard at Brunswick, MD in 1991.

CSX #116 pushes its train east past Point of Rocks, MD in 1992.

MARC #'s 85 & 7100 on the west end of Rail Appreciation Days special train at Brunswick, MD in 1991.

CSX #118 and MARC #7100 approaching the Thomas Viaduct en route to Baltimore on MARC's Camden Line in 1992.

MARC #85 approaching Metropolitan Grove Road in Gaithersburg, MD in 1994.

MARC #83 races west past eastbound auto-racks near Derwood, MD in 1993. For the record, I would recommend against trying to cling to the top of a barbed-wire fence to shoot two high-speed trains heading in opposite directions within seconds of each other in insufficient light. Just sayin'.

THANKS FOR LOOKING. MUCH MORE TO COME...

Old Stuff On The MARC, Part One: The RDCs

During the first few years of my railfan apprenticeship, I spent many a rush hour shooting the parade of MARC commuter trains in Maryland. In the early 1990s, that often meant shooting some of the oldest power on any major railroad in the U.S. - including venerable E and F units and Budd RDCs. Today we're looking at the RDC (Rail Diesel Car), built throughout the 1950s. As MARC Rail struggled to keep up with increasing ridership in the early 1990s, they ran these ancient self-propelled smog belchers as long as they could. The shot above captures a four-car consist as it heads west from DC, crossing the Monacacy River near Dickerson, MD in 1992.

EB P878 rolls through the signals at Seneca Field, west of Germantown, MD in 1991.

#9913 (one of the former B&O RDCs on the MARC) at Germantown, MD in 1991.

Another four-car set - arriving at Germantown, MD in 1991.

Smoking away under Powder Mill Road - Beltsville, MD in 1991.

An Orioles special train arriving at Camden Station in Baltimore, MD in 1993. The end was near.

EB P878 approaching Barnsville, MD in 1995. The RDCs are not under power; they're just being used as coaches.

An era rolls into the sunset. Westbound RDCs approaching the old "Halpine" signal beneath Twinbrook Parkway in Rockville, MD in 1991.

THANKS FOR VISITING!
Join us next time for yet another trip to the islands...