RAILROAD SIGNALS of the U.S.

RAILFAN GUIDE to BALTIMORE

the Eastern side of Baltimore

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The map below shows the eastern side of Baltimore, including the two Bayview yards of the Norfolk Southern and CSX, NS's Canton Yard, and CSX's Penn-Mary Yard.

CSX has the easiest to follow tracks, and the most accessible (for the most part).  Because of Amtrak's desire to keep crossings and access to the right-of-way to a minimum, there are precious few places you can get good shots on the east side - good spots don't appear until you're on my map 3 (NE).

Beware that Norfolk Southern has a really aggressive police force, and are capable of arresting you.  In years past, they have been known to arrest railfans for taking pictures at a grade crossing in Allentown.  Their police HQ for the Baltimore area is at the western entrance to Bayview Yard, off Lombard street, adjacent to the yard office.  Before NS, it was possible to drive thru Bayview Yard, but not anymore.  In addition to being aggressive, they also have a large force, and at times, can appear to be all over the place.

CSX, on the other hand, has a much smaller police force, and despite the fact that they have a much bigger presence in the way of yards and trackage, don't seem to be as paranoid and aggressive as the Norfolk Southern.  For instance, I have never had any trouble driving into the west end of Bayview Yard, off Monument street (altho there isn't usually a whole lot to go in there for).  I've gone signal chasing on Sundays, and have never run into any railroad police.... this doesn't mean that you won't, it's just that the chances are less.

The Canton RR works the Penn-Mary Yard, and then, about mid-morning, heads out to work the line, usually returning around 4pm or so.  I'm not sure why, but they have a number of signals on the line.  Good pictures can be had at most of the grade crossings.  Like most other local railroads, the Canton had a real nice maintenance facility up till the time they came through with I95, and probably had at lest a dozen or so engines.

Back to CSX, the biggest railfan spot on the east side is off Monument Street, where it joins up with Pulaski Hwy, adjacent to where it goes under the CSX, despite the fact that the CPL signals are gone.  Action is a little better towards the end of the week.  There is a funky overpass at Edison Hwy, which gives the railfan good shots of westbound freights... the sun is better in the afternoon.  Along Sinclair Ln, the tracks are in a culvert, and access is poor, so it's tough going.

On the way from Bayview, to Penn-Mary, there are a number of good places for photos.... Eastern Ave, O'Donnell St, Boston St, Newkirk, and Holabird.  There are nice bridges over Eastern Ave and Amtrak/NS.  From Penn-Mary goes the line to Grays Yard, difficult to chase, however, there is a swing bridge where some nice shots can be had, but a great deal of patience is required.  Maryland's last semaphore was on this line (it disappeared in 2006).

At the south end of Penn-Mary Yard, is a simple diamond with the NS.... you can park along Newkirk and walk in along the NS tracks.  The Pennsy side of the diamond has PL signal heads protecting the crossing, but are not well maintained, and were not lit the day I was there.  The crossing is elsewhere on my signal side of the website.

Amtrak and NS pix can be had where it crosses Monument and Orleans Streets, but they won't be great.

NS pix can be had where the R-O-W approaches Haven Street, and then turns slightly to head into Canton.  It crosses a roadway UNDER O'Donnell Street, and then Boston Street (years and years ago, before the O'Donnell St overpass was built, it crossed all of the Pennsy tracks at grade......  they kept the road in place when the overpass was built to service the business' below.  Once in the yard, the engines lay over a lot near the Keith Ave exit/entrance ramp to I95, but you can't really pull over without attracting attention from the Toll Police, whose HQ is nearby where the Ft McHenry Tunnel starts after the tollbooth's.

One last tip.... altho you may want to get pix of the Consolidated Coal operation, it is all behind a guarded fence.  They used to have there own engines, but I believe those jobs are now being performed by NS.

Last Modified:
06/13/2007