The Old Station at Point of Rocks

The Old Station at Point of Rocks

Point of Rocks is the junction of two mainlines originally belonging to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, the first railroad in the United States, now a part of CSX Transportation. The station, designed by E. Francis Baldwin, was built by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad in 1873. It sits picturesquely iconic in the wye of the two lines as they come together heading west.

On this drizzly, misty Sunday evening in early December, the westbound Amtrak Capitol Limited from Washington has just streaked by, on the (former B&O) Metropolitan Division in foreground, on its way to Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, about 15 minutes from here, and onward to Chicago.

At the moment, there is nothing to mark the Amtrak streamliner’s passage but the faint aroma of diesel exhaust lingering in the misty air. And, being a Sunday, the Capitol Limited is the only passenger train that will be seen here, as the MARC commuter trains do not operate on weekends.

Soon, however, the rumble-grumble of a CSX freight will begin to intensify as it approaches on the “Old Main” from the
direction of Baltimore. The Old Main, while it once carried local passenger trains, is now used exclusively for freight.

This image is available in archival exhibit prints and as a custom printed Photo Note Card.

Photo, Narrative, and Design ©2012 Steve Ember