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Capital Subdivision

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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