Railroaders' Nostalgia > AFT Maps Hagerstown to Washington DC

September 24, 1976
The route was nearly all Chessie (118 miles) and 1 mile of Conrail.
A Chessie switcher pulled the main consist backwards from Hagerstown to Cherry Run (former WM) with the T-1 following. Here the T-1 took over, and we followed the traditional B&O route to Washington via Harpers Ferry.

We took a rather wandering route through DC so as to avoid passing through Union Station- basically: Ivy Yard up to JD Tower in Hyattsville, and then down towards Potomac Yard to where the Rosslyn Branch comes in. (see the supporting map to figure out what I just said)

At the Rosslyn Branch the train was broken up. The T-1 continued on to Potomac Yard to be turned and join the waiting 4449. They returned together, tender to tender, with the T-1 leading. A RF&P switcher positioned the flats for unloading, and once that was completed, took them off somewhere (Pot Yard?). Meanwhile Conrail spotted the main consist on the Pentagon powerhouse spur. Once out of the way the T-1 backed in, and the 4449 followed. They were spotted nose to nose.

No service stop- the T-1 was fueled the day before the move. A helper was standing by, and may have been added (ahead of the T-1) from Barnsville to Germantown. Pilot crew change at Brunswick. P/U press at Rockville.

The Pentagon spur is gone now.

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