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Two unrelated questions, both on Baltimore:
1--Has the Amtrak tunnel under Bolton Hill ever received an extensive renovation during the existence of Amtrak? If not, is it in the planning stages for replacement?
2--Random question, but with the reopening of the Hippodrome in Baltimore, the Mechanic Theater at Charles Center is shuttered. What's the deal with this?
Thanks to all who can give some info.
Eric
rrrayinmd Member # 4148
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Can't comment on Question #1.
Question #2 - the two events, openning of Hippodrome and closing of Mechanic are independent events...one did not occur because of the other. Mechanic was closed because "it outlived its functionality" ... in other words, it became too small to be revenue producing. Between the Lyric, the Meyerhoff, and now the Hippodrome....we may have reached a saturation point.
I Missed the Ma&Pa Member # 4300
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The last rehabilitation/modification of the B&P Tunnel that I am aware of, was in the 1950's, before Amtrak. Apparently, the tunnel was modified to be able to accomodate road railer cars. This may have included any or all of the following: Lowering the roadbed, installing a centered "gauntlet" track, and bevelling into portions of the arch roof. During this time, the possibility was raised of using a detour route via the Northern Central (today's light rail line), the Greenspring Valley line (the grade of which near Hillside Road still exists), and the Western Maryland (the line that parallels Metro, but such a detour was never enacted.
Of course freight is no longer run through the B&P in nearly all cases, but the high Kawasakis are.
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