Eric and I were both off of work today for the Martin Luther King Holiday so we headed up to Maryland to visit Barnes and Nobles and take in a little railfanning. We had heard on the local news talk radio station that there was a closure on Route 15 north of Lucketts so we took a detour through Loudoun County by way of Route 9 to Route 287 and then through Lovettsville. We hit Brunswick, Maryland and then got on US - 340 from there. We went to Fredrick and the Francis Key Mall to hit up B&N. I got a couple of books from the bargain table and I think Eric picked up one of my birthday presents. :D After we were done there we headed back towards Brunswick, MD in search of some trains.
We saw 2 engines with a lumber car heading WB towards the 84 Lumber there. After awhile the 2 engines came back EB towards the yard. From the chatter on the radio it sounded like they were doing some track testing. Not long after we got a WB of mixed use cars (coal, box, intermodle). Things got quiet after that so we headed down to Point of Rocks, MD.
When we pulled into Point of Rocks there was an EB Amtrak waiting for clearance to continue through. Come to find out they were waiting for a CSX work truck to clear the tracks. The radio was pretty quiet so we decided to drive down towards the west end of the tracks where the signal towers are to see what they read. All red. Bummer. I remembered an entrance to a park just after you turn onto MD-28 from US-15 so we went down there to wait for some action. I saw a bridge that went across the tracks and the old Canal so we got out of the car and started walking towards it only to realize that it was a vehicle bridge. So we jumped back in the car and drove over there. Boy was I happy to have found that. I was finally able to get a picture of the Point of Rocks tunnel which we always see from the bridge but can never get a good picture of.
It's not a straight on picture as I dare not cross the tracks. But I'm happy with it. :D
A couple minutes after we got to our new found spot we got a WB train. It was such an awesome spot to capture the train moving along the tracks. Here is the train on approach.
And moving along the tracks. Yes, that would be snow on the ground. On January 17 we got about 4 - 6 inches in Leesburg. Most of it has now melted (aside from the areas that don't get direct sun).
I love this photo a lot. The shadows from the support pilar of the bridge we are under and from the surrounding trees. I just like it a lot. heh. :)
After the train passed we moved down from the tracks and headed back to the car (since it was colder than we like). Soon after we headed home and called it a day. We had a lot of fun and wish we had more 3 day weekends to do some railfanning.
All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware. - Martin Buber
Day 4 - Heading Home with Stops Along the Way
13 years ago
4 comments:
Your pictures are great! I really like the one of the covered bridge and the front of the engine coming at you. I had never heard of railfanning until reading about it on your blog. Very interesting. I am glad you had a nice day off! ~Katie
Thanks sweets. That spot was a great find and one we'll probably head back to again soon. Railfanning is free and a lot of fun. I always find it so neat to check out the various engines, paint schemes, etc. How you feeling?
I feel great! Thanks for checking on me! (o:
We are already half way through, so it is getting strange to think of another little person in our house soon.
Awesome pics, Jo! You should figure how to make photography, writing, and railfanning a career!!! BTW... HAPPY BIRHTDAY TO YOU, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR JOBEAN, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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