Capital Subdivision
The Washington Branch of the Baltimore and Ohio Rail Road was a major branch of the Baltimore and Ohio Rail Road, connecting the main line near Baltimore, Maryland to Washington, D.C. It is now owned by CSX for freight, with Maryland Area Regional Commuter Camden Line passenger service operating over the full length.
History
Chapter 158 of the 1830 Session Laws of Maryland, passed February 22, 1831, authorized the B&O to build a branch from their main line within 8 miles (13 km) of Baltimore to Washington. As this line would take much business from the parallel turnpikes, especially the Washington and Baltimore Turnpike, the law specifically allowed those companies to subscribe to the stock of the railroad. The line opened on August 25, 1835, splitting from the B&O main line at Relay, roughly 7 miles (11 km) from Baltimore.
The original Washington terminal was located in the block bounded by New Jersey Avenue, North Capitol Street, C Street NW and D Street NW. Trains reached that location via the current location of West Virginia Avenue, street-running trackage on I Street NE and Delaware Avenue, and private right-of-way just south of the current location of Louisiana Avenue. When the Washington Terminal Company opened the new Union Station in 1907, that alignment was changed to the current routing, partially using the former location of Delaware Avenue.
The B&O became part of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway in 1963 and the Chessie System in 1973. In 1980 Chessie became part of CSX, which now owns the line.
Station listing
| Milepost | City | Station | Opening date | Connections and notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BAA5.9 | Relay | originally Washington Junction junction with Baltimore and Ohio Rail Road main line | ||
| BAA13.4 | Dorsey | |||
| BAA15.8 | Jessup | originally Jessops Cut | ||
| BAA18.1 | Savage | originally Annapolis Junction junction with Baltimore and Annapolis Railroad | ||
| Laurel Racetrack | ||||
| BAA21.3 | Laurel | |||
| Muirkirk | originally West Oak Bottom | |||
| BAA27.1 | Beltsville | |||
| BAA29.0 | Greenbelt | |||
| BAA31.4 | College Park | originally Paint Branch | ||
| BAA32.7 | Riverdale | |||
| Hyattsville | originally Bladensburg junction with Anacostia Branch | |||
| BAA38.7 | Washington, D.C. | Union Station |
References
- Railroad History Database
- Mileposts from CSX Transportation Timetables