Nostalgia & History > A B&O Signal Sunday at Point of Rocks

Roger Puta was obviously in a cab when he took this photo at Point of Rocks, MD on May 3, 1969.  Point of Rocks was where the B&O mainline coming from the west split to go to Baltimore to the left of the interesting depot just ahead in the photo, and to the right of the depot to go to Washington, DC.

Enjoy,
Marty Bernard



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 10/04/15 13:22 by MartyBernard.

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MartyBernard Wrote:
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> Roger Puta was obviously in a cab when he took
> this photo at Point of Rocks, MD on May 3, 1969. 
> Point of Rocks was where the B&O mainline coming
> from the west split to go to Baltimore to the left
> of the interesting depot just ahead in the photo,
> and to the right of the depot to go to Washington,
> DC.
>
> Enjoy,
> Marty Bernard
Thanks for sharing this and all the other photos Marty.  Roger could have been on the rear of a caboose or did he have a step ladder.  In bygone years I've seen a couple guys bring a step ladder and put it on the railroad track to obtain a photo.  I think that is crazy to do and dangerous.

It looks to me thatb the signals are set for a diverging route.  But you tell me.

Marty

Not sure about the signal, but the switch is set diverging. 

The signal on the left appears to show Limited Clear, which would be appropriate when crossing over.

looks to be the train is eastbound with the signal aspect displaying a Medium Clear ( Limited Clear if bottom light is flashing) and the route is lined for #2 main to #1 Metro Sub ...

Yeah, that crossover does look a little sharp for 45 mph  . . . I didn't look carefully enough at my B&O signal indication cheat sheet . . . clear with steady white on the bottom PLUS a yellow triangle is Limited Clear. It's Medium Clear without the triangle, as in the photo.

http://www.oocities.org/mcivory2000/bandodiagram.gif

Thanks for posting.  The trees at left are much bigger now, there is a large parking lot at left for MARC commuters, the set-off track is gone as are the signals.  Gerry

GPutz Wrote:
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> Thanks for posting.  The trees at left are much
> bigger now, there is a large parking lot at left
> for MARC commuters, the set-off track is gone as
> are the signals.  Gerry
The telephone polls and wires are gone also.
John

I just learned Roger took that photo from the front window of an RDC unit on a special train of five RDCs operated by the B&O for the Chesapeake Division of the Railroad Enthusiasts from Baltimore to Winchester, VA and return.  The train is heading east in the afternoon, preparing at this point to head down the Metropolitan Subdivision (to the right of the station) to Silver Spring and onto Baltimore.

Marty