Hagerstown MD Railfan Guide

RAILROAD SIGNALS of the U.S.

RAILFAN GUIDE to
HAGERSTOWN, MD

Info and History

Hagerstown is at the crossroads of what used to be the Western Maryland, the Pennsy, the Baltimore and Ohio, and the Norfolk and Western. It's now served by CSX and the NS.

The WM had the biggest presence in old Hagerstown, and reached there in 1872. Because of the decline in passenger traffic, after WWII, the WM ended passenger service completely in 1959.

Back in the 60's and 70's, the Western Maryland was host to many, many railfan events, including excursions to the west and to Baltimore; hosting steamers like 759 and 2102, and the D&H PA's. When 759 was painted in American Railroad colors for the 100th anniversary of transcontinental train service, the train came back east through Hagerstown and stopped here overnight..... The WM back then was a railfan's dream railroad!

Here's an interesting note.... if you're old enough to remember semaphore type lenses on auto type traffic lights, Hagerstown still had a few around, at least 4 years ago when I came across them. I can't attest to whether or not they are still around, but I have pictures of them here:
http://www.railroadsignals.us/signals/hagerstown/

Anyways, back to reality, there are no Amtrak or MARC trains coming into or through Hagerstown.

The B&O had a branch from Weverton MD (slightly west of Brunswick) into Hagerstown, passing thru Rohrersville and Keedysville. It was built in the late 1800's. There was also a bypass on the east side of town connecting to the WM main, going from Security Jct on the B&O to Security on the WM. There's supposedly an old B&O depot still in town camouflaged as a car wash.
More info at: http://wikimapia.org/7351343/B-O-Railroad-Weaverton-to-Roxbury-Abandoned

Hagerstown also had an interurban line, the Hagerstown and Frederick Railway..... construction started in 1896 and saw it's last train around 1958/1961, depending on who you consider the last operating entity. They ran trolleys and freight service.
For more info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hagerstown_and_Frederick_Railway

For other guides of the area:
     Click here for a guide to Boyce and Berryville VA
     Click here for a guide to Brunswick MD
     Click here for a guide to the central Maryland area
     Click here for a guide to Frederick MD
     Click here for a guide to Point of Rocks MD,
     Click here for a guide to Harpers Ferry WV.
     Click here for a guide to Mt Airy MD
     Click here for a guide to Point of Rocks MD

Credits:
Aerial pictures are from www.bing.com/maps
And the pictures are captured off the screen using Snagit, great product if you've never used it!

Getting Here

From the north, NY, MA, etc, come down via I78 (and I95) from the Philly area, or I81 from the NY and Binghamton area. Stay on I81 south through Harrisburg, and it will bring you directly into Hagerstown.

From the west (OH, western PA, etc) or east (as in Baltimore), I70 gets you to Hagerstown.

Hagerstown is at the crossroads of I70 and I81.

Coming up from the south west, as in TN, southern WV, AL, or SW Virginia, I81 going north gets you there

From DC, southern/eastern VA, I would head up I270 to Frederick after going north on I95 and around DC on the Beltway, and then head west on I70.

Click here for the Hagerstown map in PDF version.

Click here for the Central MD map in PDF version.

Click here for all of the maps Central MD maps in one PDF.

1 Hagerstown Roundhouse Museum

These used to be very common along the B&O, and some are still around if you look hard enough.

2 Ex Western Maryland Hagerstown Yard (CSX)

Activity here is very slow compared to what it used to be.... sorry.....

The yard goes over Burnham Blvd on this very nice looking overpass.

You don't see many throws like this around these parts.

The signal maintainers maintain a small presence on the far side of the yard.

As old as this structure is, I'm surprised it has survived this long, it uses an auto type signal for controlling the hump movements.

3 Train Park

4 The Norfolk Southern Yard (Ex Norfolk and Western)

5 Ex Western Maryland Depot

6 Hagerstown and Frederick Trolley

West of Hagerstown, off I70, sits a lone H&F trolley, with a couple of signs and a trolley stop bungalow. When last there in 2006, the trolley didn't look like it was being well taken care of, and had a tarp over the roof. Maybe 15 years ago or so, there was a pretty big event dedicating the trolley, I'll have to see if I can find pictures from it.....