RAILROAD SIGNALS of the U.S.
RAILFAN GUIDE to BALTIMORE
the Annapolis Junction,
Jessup, and Savage MD areas
Guide Home Maps Hiways Hotels Intro Railroad Sights Links Photos Busses Bio's
Although not a spectacular railfan area, it does offer a few noteworthy items.
Probably the most notable is the 160ft long B&O Bollman Truss Bridge built in 1869. It's the only one of this design left. About ten years ago or so, the county did an excellent job restoring the bridge - including new planking so you can walk across it. It sits adjacent to the Savage Mill, an eclectic collection of shops. More info on the bridge can be found here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bollman_Truss_Railroad_Bridge
There are three MARC Stations on this map, Dorsey, Jessup, and Savage. Of the three, only Dorsey has a real station, having been built maybe ten years ago, and has it's own exit off RT 100. The exit is the only way to get into the parking lot, so don't try to look for an entrance off of the surrounding roads.
Off RT 32 are a couple of businesses with older first and second generation diesels as shown on the map.
It probably doesn't see any traffic these days, but there is a small bridge back off RT 100 and the BW Pkwy.
I have to go check it out to see if is still there, but years ago, there was another B&O bridge on the western side of i95, located off a small park that was put in for joggers (location #2). Prior to that, it was "just out there in the boonies".
For the signal fan, this area is still all B&O CPL's (color position lights). Get em while you can! There are a bunch that are easy to photograph on the south (or west) side of the station platforms at Jessup and Dorsey are CPL signals, and the north end of Savage.
Reminder: following the B&O tradition, all directions on the B&O are either eastbound or westbound, at least here in the Baltimore area. So, here on this map, a westbound freight is going south from Philly to DC, and an eastbound freight is actually going north.
the Dorsey area
Maps from maps.live.com.
The Dorsey station, looking south. Look hard and you can
just see the CPL's (#1) off the end of the platforms. These signals are
for the crossovers just south of here.
Two views of the signals at the south end of the crossovers
(location #2), off Dorsey Rd.
The bridge over Race Rd (green location #6).
Jessup
The maps.live.com map and the Jessup station.
Wider view of the Jessup station - you only have two levels of
magnification in the "birds eye view" mode.
The westbound and eastbound CPL's on the west (south) side of
the station.
the Savage area
Two views of the Bollman Truss Bridge. This location is
off to the left of the maps.live.com map.
Two views of the Savage station.
The engines at Waste Management, the lead into the yard, and
their storage track in the yard.
Whimpey Minerals.
The westbound CPL's on the north side of Guilford Rd.
Eastbound CPL's on the south side of RT 32.
Small CSX MOW yard at the north end of the yard.
The north throat of the yard.
The main reason for the Jessup yard is auto unloading.
The wye on the north side of the yard. Aren't we lucky
with engines in most of these shots!
New 02/21/2008
Last Modified: 21-Feb-2008