Baltimore Railfan Guide - Sykesville MD Railfan Guide

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Sykesville MD Guide

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For a small dot on the map, Sykesville actually has quite a lot of railroad "stuff". Additional maps are at the bottom, showing successfully more detail. The aerial images are from www.maps.live.com.

The ex-B&O depot is now Baldwin's Station restaurant.

B&P Tower, which used to be at the south end of the Penn Station in Baltimore now resides here, housing a small post office and visitors center.

If I was into Lionel size model trains, Purkey's would be the place I'd be hanging out at all the time. He's got it all, and if he doesn't have it, he can get it. Located in two adjacent row-house style buildings on Main St, it's a wonderland of trains. The owner, Wiley, has spent a lot of time into creating magnificent displays to run trains on... he is also the local expert historian, and has written many reviews and essays for local and web-based publications. Stop by, even if you're not into the model RR Scene. Unfortunately, as of early 2010, Purkey's has shut his doors, and the building is up for sale... it is a sad loss for all of us :-(

There is a small siding with an old C&O coach and B&O caboose (C1909) sitting on it. They are home to the Sykesville and Patapsco Railway, and model RR club that has several layouts in different scales on display. They are usually open once a month, on the second weekend. For more info, go to: http://www.sykesvilleandpatapscorailway.org/

Numerous good photo spots, especially along River Road.... The crossing at route 97 isn't too bad either.

There are a few remnants of the Springfield Branch still around, notably the bridge over Main St.... Most of the branch at the hospital is now gone.

Open on Saturdays in good weather is the "Little Sykes" Railway, a 12 inch gauge passenger train the owner bought from a mall in Harrisburg PA. Sorry ya'll, the ride is just for the kiddies, but it's still worthwhile swinging by if you're around there on a Saturday, I believe the hours are 9am-3pm.

Also located nearby is a fellow who bought one of the Zoo Trains from the Baltimore Zoo about 15 years ago. Because of privacy issues, I haven't shown where he lives.

If you're hungry, I suggest either Becks or Baldwin's, but I favor Beck's because it's a little cheaper (I also go there every Tuesday for lunch with the guys from work). The food is a notch up at Baldwin's, but as I mentioned, it's also a notch up on the money ladder... however, you can sit outside in the good weather, and be right next to the freights as they rumble thru! Eldersburg offers just about everything else in the way of food (well, OK, they don't have any Fridays, Checkers, Papadeux's, or Schlotzsky's).

Don't forget to bring your wife or girlfriend along, as there are numerous antique and knick-knack stores here.

For a tour of the Old Main Line, visit: http://www.trainweb.org/oldmainline/omld8.htm

Sykesville has some info on the tower at: http://www.sykesville.net/Post.html

More tidbits of info at: http://www.purkeystoytrains.com/nearus.html

Hobby Shops in the area are:
http://www.themoosecaboose.com/
http://www.procustomhobbies.com/

1 B&P Tower

Views of B&P Tower, now the Old Main Line Visitor's Center.

B&P Tower and the block Purkey's is in.

2 B&O Depot / Baldwin's Restaurant

Baldwin's Station Restaurant, the far right picture is their business card.

A set of WB train photos taken the first week of April 2010, while having lunch at Baldwin's.

3 the Springfield Branch

The Springfield Branch bridge over main street, and tracks long unused.

4 the Westinghouse Branch

5 the Little Sykes Train

6 the Sykesville Siding

7 the Baltimore Zoo Train

Chance B-20 Aerotrain, formerly at the Baltimore Zoo, in process of being restored.

8 the Route 32 Aluminum Bridge

9 the Sykesville Volunteer Fire Company

A few shots of the Sykesville Vol Fire Co.

10 the West Friendship Volunteer Fire Company

I would like to thank Kevin for a great tour of this new station house, which opened for business a year ago, April 2009. The fire station is staffed by a combination of full time paid county firefighters, and volunteers, who make up about 75% of the staff. There are at least two paid guys around all the time. Downstairs there are about 20 bunk rooms, and with the snow we had here back in March, they were full... there are also 4 dorm rooms where a number of volunteer guys reside all the time. In addition, there are plenty of rooms for meeting, exercise, watching TV, cooking, eating, etc. This past winter, they also had a chance to check out the heated apron with the 3 feet of snow we got. #32 will be replaced shortly with the arrival of a new engine. All of their engines are made by Pierce.

11 the Sykesville Police (and town office building)