Nostalgia & History > Nitty Gritty Northeast Railscene, Baltimore Md to be exact

On my way home to the Philadelphia Pa area I passed thru Baltimore Md. Getting of the I95 and doing a little exploring resulted in these few shots seen here. Near the Shops and Main Offices of the Canton RR I came across this Canton RR Job working along Ponca Street (Thnx WM_1109). Canton SW1500 1501 is headed NB from the yard/shop area and is seen looking south from Boston Street. The track on left now serves a GAF Plant but back then , no clue. Trying to figure who down this way would get those 85Ft Box Cars, like the 1 frist out and perhaps even the one to the left. I always thought these cars were more Auto Parts or Appliance Products. Any thought's anyone? But as one can see, things were a little ruff along the tracks here in the North East along the tracks, but all in a days work for the crew. The gent in the blue hard helmet in between the 1501 and the car on left looks more like someone out cutting down weeds perhaps than a crewmember of the Canton.  The 1501 apparently is still working for the Canton today. It is an ex SP unit, 2455 and is 1 of 2 on the Canton.

The CS AC44CW 114 is leading a loaded Coal Train beside what is the old Montgomery Ward Building/Warehouse (1800 Washington St, and again thnx to Ted aka WM_1109 for the exact locations on these, pre-sha-dit). One of the crew can be seen walking the train to the left along the train. Other units were CSX 165-CR Q 6123 and CSX 6839.  Just another day. which was Sept 17 1996. Thanks for stopping by. Be well all, Ben



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/14/25 14:00 by ns2557.

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Maybe a marshmallow factory? :) Interesting paint job on that former SP "Crud".
Go

I think the 86 ft boxcars are used for handling the fiber strengthening material used in the production of shingles. I should note that this is something I heard about 10 years ago. Corrections welcomed.
CR

Posted from iPhone

WM1977 Wrote:
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> I think the 86 ft boxcars are used for handling
> the fiber strengthening material used in the
> production of shingles. I should note that this is
> something I heard about 10 years ago. Corrections
> welcomed.
> CR
>
> Posted from iPhone

That makes sense as the plant on left is a GAF Facility that made or makes Roofing Material.  Thanks. Ben

Thanks, great shots of the Canton Railroad.  I believe the GAF plant is still active today and still a rail customer.  As for the 86-foot boxcars, railroads have tried using them for a variety of commodities as the auto parts business has contracted.  They work fine for low density commodities that need lots of cubic feet.  But many customers are not set up to take railcars that large.  The shot coming by the Montgomery Ward warehouse was a good catch, as CSX doesn't run that much over the former B&O Mount Clare Subdivision.  The Montgomery Ward building is quite the landmark in southwest Baltimore.  It was built in 1924-25 and was a major warehouse and distribution center for the company.  The B&O served it from its Mount Clare Subdivision, and there were several tracks inside with a total of 75 car spots inside the warehouse.   Mostly vacant since the 1970's, it has been restored and today is an office and event center.  In the 1970's when I lived nearby, the Mount Clare Subdivision was double track and those trees between the train and the warehouse were not there.  Things change.  

Steve Salamon
Valley City, OH  



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 04/14/25 19:37 by cr7998.

The crossing of Washington Blvd. was just east of the Montgomery-Ward warehouse, and one day in 8/1992, Johnny Floyd and I caught this coal train tied down, note there is still 2 tracks.

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Nice catch on the 8554 with the coal. Ben