Sunset freight

Brunswick, Maryland

WB Tower

Brunswick, Maryland 

This interlocking tower was built around 1910, and controlled train traffic in the B&O Brunswick yards as well as the mainline through town. WB (West Brunswick) tower continued in operation until December 9th, 2011 when the last switch was thrown and control turned over to a dispatcher in Baltimore. WB Tower was the last railroad tower in operation in Maryland.

Evening train

Brunswick, Maryland 

Brunswick is a railroad town. The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad arrived in 1834 and by 1907 the B&O had completed the largest freight classification yard in the country in Brunswick. In 1974 the B&O reached an agreement with the Maryland Department of Transportation to subsidize its unprofitable passenger service and this agreement evolved into the present day Maryland Area Regional Commuter (MARC) train which provides passenger service to Brunswick.

Above, the westbound MARC train pulls into the Brunswick station on the evening of October 19th.

October woodland

Greene County, Virginia 

Here are a few more pictures from my walk in the woods on Saturday.

Earlier this month I spent four days at a campground in Brunswick, Maryland. One day I visited the Antietam National Battlefield, and one day I drove up to Cumberland and rode the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad. More about all of that starting tomorrow. Hope you will stop by.

Autumn waning

Greene County, Virginia 

Saturday I went for a walk in the woods near my house. There is still a fair amount of fall color but many of the trees have already lost most of their leaves, so the color is spotty. It was a cloudy, lingering autumn afternoon, but the sun peeked through now and again, sending shafts of illumination through the trees

The caboose

Colorado Railroad Museum - Golden, Colorado

Hope you have enjoyed exploring the railroad with me this week. This was the last picture of the day, as we waited at the crossing to exit the museum grounds. (No, that's not me riding in the caboose,) The "wig-wag" crossing guard seen here is has disappeared from active railroad service as far as I know. This is the only one I have ever seen in operation.

Enjoy the weekend, and thanks for reading Photography In Place.

Manitou and Pikes Peak Railway

Colorado Railroad Museum - Golden, Colorado 

M&PPR Locomotive No 1 is a cog engine designed to climb steep grades in the mountains. A cog gear underneath the locomotive engages a stationary geared rail to provide positive traction for both ascending and descending. This engine was one of three purchased in 1893 from the Baldwin Locomotive Works to carry tourists up Pike's Peak.