Nostalgia & History > Depot Friday: Lothair

 Among the images in the FSA collection at the Library of Congress is this Russell Lee photo of the Pennsylvania Railroad depot at Lothair, Maryland taken in November 1939 with a distinctively PRR style sign attached. As late as 1955, Lothair could be found on the Pope's Creek Secondary of the Maryland Division ETT, yet history would have us believe Lothair, 45.2 track miles from Bowie, renamed itself Faulkner in 1903 after a local resident. It is possible the population was distraught over being infamous as the place where John Wilkes Booth crossed the Potomac River into Virginia a week after assassinating President Lincoln. Oddly, a 1902 topography map already shows the name changed to Faulkner (had no idea USGS was psychic back then). It would be interesting to know the reason PRR had for ignoring this name change for well over half-a-century. Neither Lothair nor Faulkner appear on the CSX Popes Creek Sub. 
Photo credit the Library of Congress
Be of good cheer,
—Mac
www.lowellamrine.com

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the rail line was abandoned between Faulkner an popes creek in the early 1960's
 and a new rail line was built near rt.301  to the new coal fired power plant at morgantown,
 just west of the harry nice bridge.

Thank you for that additional detail.
—Mac

Mike6640-2 Wrote:
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> the rail line was abandoned between Faulkner an
> popes creek in the early 1960's
>  and a new rail line was built near rt.301  to
> the new coal fired power plant at morgantown,
>  just west of the harry nice bridge.