Nostalgia & History > More B&O E's AC Zemke photos mid 1950's

#1 B&O train #1 National Limited, Add to dictionary Fall's Pa. 11-5-1955
#2 B&O train #5 Marylander Chester Pa. 11-27-1954
#3 B&O train #5 Marylander Philadelphia Pa. 3-12-1955
AC Zemke photos
PRRFan

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I always liked those B&O E6's with the Farr grills. Where is the thirds shot in Philly, with the six tracks?

I believe it's a northbound headed toward Jersey City, given the location with the skyline in the background. That small street on the left is Pennsylvania Avenue, still there today, it appears from maps. The tracks on the left are the now-abandoned City Branch which ran below street level toward the old Philadelphia Inquirer building on Broad Street, and served some industries at street level east of Broad St.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/17/17 19:55 by knotch8.

Would this not be just south, or east, of Park Junction? The train would be coming out of the tunnel almost under the Philly Art Museum?

Fascinating, well-composed historical images!


PRRFan Wrote:
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> #1 B&O train #1 National Limited, Add to
> dictionary Fall's Pa. 11-5-1955

What the heck does "Add to dictionary Fall's Pa" mean?

Wait...it's Neshaminy Falls, PA. :)

In the background we can see see catenary support bridges for the Reading Company electric traction system for its MU (multiple-unit) electric cars.

While B&O Philadelphia Division trains went to and from Jersey City NJ, they traveled over the Reading Company between Philadelphia and Bound Brook NJ (And east of BB, via the CNJ mainline). East of Philly, part of the run in Pennsylvania was along a Reading bypass route called the New York Short Line. The east end of the double-tracked NYSL joined the RDG's four-tracked New York Branch at Neshaminy Falls, PA.

There was (and still is) a local passenger stop there on the electrified part of the New York Branch, but not on the NYSL (non-electrified) side. In the photo, the NY Branch enters the frame at far left behind the trees and the train, and converges with the NYSL where the interlocking tower is at far right.

So in photo #1, we're looking at the east end of the NYSL as the National Limited heads west. In 14 minutes it would make its stop at Wayne Junction on the RDG, before calling at the B&O's own Philly station at 24th & Chestnut Streets.

#5 was the westbound Capitol Limited.

The westbound Marylander was #523. The eastbound Marylander was #504.

Posted from iPhone

Love all three photos of the B&O in the glory years.  Thank you for posting and sharing them.
John

knotch8 Wrote:
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I believe it's a northbound headed toward Jersey City, given the location with the skyline in the background. That small street on the left is Pennsylvania Avenue, still there today, it appears> from maps. The tracks on the left are the now-abandoned City Branch which ran below street level toward the old Philadelphia Inquirer building on Broad Street, and served some industries at street level east of Broad St.
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Until manufacutring was moved to Eddystone, PA, the RDG's City Branch also served the Baldwin Locomotive Works.  Almost all new Baldwin standard gauge  locomotives bilt before about 1910 traveled on the tracks at left in image #3.  Gerry