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I was walking by MICA today on McMechen St. near Mt. Royal Ave in Baltimore and I noticed a large pit that looked excavated a long time ago. Curious, I walked over to the parking lot adjacent to the pit and I noticed signs that cautioned passersby to keep their distance because of live overhead wire. The tunned looked double-track wide and was only partly uncovered. Is this the mainline right of way for the NEC? If so, does it actually go under buildings in the Bolton Hill neighborhood? I always assumed the tunnels followed North Ave. or one of the highways.
notelvis Member # 3071
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It's been 12 years since I last spent any significant time in downtown Baltimore (and even then I was always looking to get OUT of downtown Baltimore ASAP) so I'm not as familiar with the area you're describing as I used to be.....
But.....I imagine that the NEC tunnels do go under buildings rather than just running under streets. You'll notice when you are in those tunnels on a train that you do quite a bit of curving.
The old B&O line (now CSX) tunnels north-south from the old Mt. Royal Station down to Camden Yards. That line is mostly straight but it isn't electrified so there is no live overhead wire.
The only other possibilities would be the Baltimore Light Rail which does an interesting dipsey-doo only a couple of blocks from Penn Station (but that's an underpass/overpass and not a full-blown tunnel) or possibly the one Baltimore subway line BUT it draws it's current from a third rail in the same way the DC Metro does.
Eric R. Member # 4123
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I think I saw transformers and old overhead catenary. The tunnel walls were mostly intact; you could only look directly into the tunnel, and then only between steel beams. And I doubt it would be the subway, as that piece of infrastructure is only about 25 years old. This was definetly older.
notelvis Member # 3071
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quote:Originally posted by Eric R.: I think I saw transformers and old overhead catenary. The tunnel walls were mostly intact; you could only look directly into the tunnel, and then only between steel beams. And I doubt it would be the subway, as that piece of infrastructure is only about 25 years old. This was definetly older.
Yeah.......that would rule out the subway AND the lightrail. I tossed those out as longshots. I'd say you were seeing the NEC mainline.
Eric R. Member # 4123
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I was curious because I do some volunteering at a school on Eutaw Street (Eutaw & Wilson), and the school's custodian told me that the city had to do some utility work on the school and made note of an underground tunnel nearby. The stretch of unearthed tunnel that I noticed ran right under a MICA dorm, parallel to (and probably following) Wilson St. I betcha the tunnel approximately follows Wilson St. before it curves parallel to Laurens St., where it opens several thousand feet later. I guess the corridor passes under all this neighborhood.
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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The B&O Howard Street Tunnel, in which there occurred a bad freight train derailment with resulting HAZMAT issues during July 2001, at one time was electrified.
The Maryland Institute College of Art occupies Mt. Royal Station, which is at the North end of this tunnel.
notelvis Member # 3071
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quote:Originally posted by Gilbert B Norman: The B&O Howard Street Tunnel, in which there occurred a bad freight train derailment with resulting HAZMAT issues during July 2001, at one time was electrified.
The Maryland Institute College of Art occupies Mt. Royal Station, which is at the North end of this tunnel.
There we go. And remember that Mt. Royal Station is only a couple of blocks from Penn Station. Rail tunnels in that area of the city are numerous.
Mr. Norman, did the B&O electrification use overhead wires or third rail?
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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The electrification was overhead, but I believe power was delivered by a copper "track" similar to what was found in Grand Central Terminal over the switch points.
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Correction, Mr. Norman. The original electrification on the B&O used an overhead "Z" shaped conduit into which shoes on the crude pantographs fit. Trains were hauled only upgrade (from Camden Yards to North Avenue), complete with locos, and steam from the locos (even though they were not working) quickly corroded the conduit. Within a few years it was replaced with third rail, and continued in use through the mid-1850s.
The section of tunnel with beams referred to above is probably the "air gap" in the former PRR B&P tunnel. It is a short stretch with beams overhead but no roof, to allow ventilation. That is the only place you will see "old catenary" in Baltimore.
rresor Member # 128
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Pardon the typo -- 1950s.
I Missed the Ma&Pa Member # 4300
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Eric,
The trench you saw was indeed the NorthEast Corridor trackage. I'm assuming you were on Mount Royal Avenue just above the Senior Apartment Building south of North Avenue.
When the trains leave Penn Station bound for Washington, they curve into the curved entry of the old B&P Tunnels, before daylighting briefly at the trench you mention, just below North Avenue. From there, they follow beneath Wilson Street, emerging behind the Rite Aid Store on Pennsylvania Avenue (where fragments of the original Pennsy. Ave. Station remain, then follow through a deep cut parrallel to and south of Laurens Street before curving Southward at Monroe Street.
Eric R. Member # 4123
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Cool. I thought so.
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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Here is a photo of the B&O electric locomotives noted earlier in the thread:
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