Good morning. 32*F and sunny with a 10mph wind in my part of MD.
Joe/Louis - you guys are bringing back memories of the "glory days" of railfanning in Baltimore. B&O's Riverside loco terminal; WM's Port Covington; Beth Steel at Sparrows Point; the network of B&O interlocking towers where I would often hang out [sometimes in the middle of the night], waiting for trains. All of those are long gone now *sigh*.
Ken: I was only at Riverside Engine terminal once, one evening during an ice storm in 1985. My purpose was to obtain a Chessie System Portable radio, to place in Anacostia Tower to permit communications with the B&O trains out of Potomac Yard. (B&O had rights on the PRR Main Line - Landover to RO, between RO and Anacostia). For some reason, Anacostia Tower's radio had failed, and while there was no problem communicating with CR trains using a Conrail portable, the B&O trains were another issue. Most engines were at that time not equipped with the 98 frequency universal radios. Once Chessie System determined they could issue the radio to Conrail, (Corporation, and not to an individual); I had to drive down the BW parkway to DC, to get to Anacostia. Fortunately, MD, the Park Service, and the DC DOT had treated the road surface, so the trip was uneventful. I was impressed that Riverside was the overnight layover point for the RDCs between Camden Station, and Washington Terminal. Now, even Potomac Yard is gone. Never thought that would happen.
One of the best locations for railfanning in DC was Virginia Ave. Tower. (Also long gone). Everything passed Virginia, the passenger trains off the RF&P and the Southern, Chessie and Conrail road freight, and Benning Yard drills.
It was also a good location to set up radar and make signal tests.
Don't forget the Fells Point tractor crews, and the night "City Block" transfer move from Bayview to Presidents Street down the middle of Boston street and Aliceanna. Friday nights were always good for a slow speed collision between a somewhat impeded motorist and a locomotive. Then there was always the early morning derailment somewhere along Boston St. Always good for "laughs"
. Now, the street railroad is gone too.