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Aberdeen
Havre de Grace MD
Perryville MD
These three towns are very close to each other, and therefore, grouped as such
Location / Name:
Aberdeen MD, Harford County
What's Here:
MARC / Amtrak station
Former B&O depot
Data:
GPS Coordinates: as needed
Phone A/C: 410
ZIP: 21001
Access by train/transit:
Amtrak and MARC
The Scoop:
Aberdeen MD is one of the few spots in Maryland where you will find a station on both of the railroads that go through town. Both tracks offer pretty good sight lines for photographing, especially on the CSX where the tracks are straight. Over on the corridor, if you have a telephoto lens, shooting northward you can get a NB signal bridge in the shot for southbound trains.
If you're looking for a place to eat, sleep, or get gas, there are oodles of them to the east of the I-95 interchange, and more over on Rt 40.
Aberdeen is also part of a trip I took back in 2007 with Michael Watnoski tracking down the remaining CPL signals and is here.
Bing Maps no longer has birds-eye view of Aberdeen as of my checking in December 2023.
Acknowledgements:
aberdeenbostation.org/
Google Maps
Wikipedia
Bing Maps
Websites and other additional information sources of interest for the area:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aberdeen_station_(Maryland)
http://www.harfordhistory.net/aberdeen%20b&o%20station.htm
http://www.aberdeenroom.org/bao-railroad-station-restoration.html
https://www.amtrak.com/stations/abe
https://www.greatamericanstations.com/stations/aberdeen-md-abe/
https://www.mta.maryland.gov/marc-station-information
Driving into Aberdeen via Pulaski Highway, aka, US Route 40, is the most direct route, but is slower than taking I-95 if coming from afar. Doing the Rt 40 thing tho allows you to also stop at other places such as Havre de Grace and Perryville to the north, or follow the NEC and CSX to the south. Closer to Baltimore, the ex B&O tracks run pretty close to the highway.
If coming in via the interstate I-95, get off at exit 85. If you are getting off in the NB direction, you can take the ramp directly onto West Bel Air Ave, which takes you to both of the stations in town. If taking the SB exit, you'll have to take a left at the end of the ramp onto MD22, the Aberdeen Throughway. Shortly after passing the remainder of the exit ramps after going over I-95, you can bear off to the right onto NE Rd, which will take you to W. Bel Air Rd, where you will take a left.
Map
The above map is available here as
a PDF. The one below is from Google maps.
The MARC / Amtrak StationGPS Coordinates: 39.50841, -76.16321
18 East Bel Air Ave, Aberdeen MD 21001
Amtrak Station Code: ABE
The Aberdeen NEC station serves both Amtrak and MARC regional commuter trains. Aberdeen is on the northern section of MARC's Penn Line, served by seven NB and six SB trains daily. There is talk of extending MARC service to Wilmington DE.
From Wikipedia: The station is serviced by most Northeast Regional trains running between Penn Station in New York City and Union Station in Washington, D.C., but only by some trains originating or terminating at South Station in Boston. On weekends, the station is served by one Northeast Regional bound for Norfolk, Virginia and one leaving Richmond. Acela Express and all long-distance trains pass through the station without stopping.
The station was originally built by the Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore RR approximately in 1898, and inherited by the Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington RR. The current station is a modern structure built in 1943 by Lester C. Tichy for the Pennsylvania Railroad, it contains a 1960s-style pedestrian tunnel, with one of the entrances located at the former north station house. It also contains a pedestrian bridge built in 1982. Aberdeen was also served by an 1886-built Baltimore and Ohio Railroad station along what is now the CSX Philadelphia Subdivision just north of this one on West Bel Air Avenue. Prior to the mid-1980s there was a grade crossing located next to the station. It was removed after Amtrak completed the Northeast Corridor Improvement Project and replaced with an overpass. end Wiki.
From Amtrak: Constructed in 1943 on the site of an earlier depot, the Aberdeen station is served by Amtrak, MARC and local buses; it's a popular stop for staff of the nearby Aberdeen Proving Grounds.
Last year, my best friend and I took a trip to Boston for my aunt's 100th birthday. We took Amtrak out of the Aberdeen station because it was easier to deal with "things" when the train got back at 1 in the morning...... these two pictures are from w hen we got back.
ex B&O Aberdeen DepotGPS Coordinates: 39.51118, -76.17013
https://aberdeenbostation.org/
https://aberdeenbostation.org/history/
The station is a Frank Furness design - it was built in 1885, and opened in 1886. It was last used in 1958. More history at the link above.
The older aerial shots also show where the small Aberdeen yard used to be.
On August 24th, 2023, they held an open house before renovations were to begin in the fall. I missed it, darn-it :-(
The picture below is from Google Streetview, and below that, from the station's org website.
Here are pictures I took back in 2009:
And here are a couple of pictures I took back in 2003:
Amtrak PCL SignalsThis is the first set of NB signals north of the Aberdeen station.
NB & SB CSX CPL SignalsThe easiest way to get pictures of these fellows is to park in the lot for the "club" on Rogers St, and walk the short distance up the track.
These signals were replaced with standard color lights signals (I think) in 2019.
The main fire station and police headquarters are located on the same piece of property surrounded by Parke St, Franklin St, and Rogers St.
This crossing gate signal was adjacent to the B&O depot, looks like it has been replaced in the 2019 Google Streetview.
Disclaimers:
New format 10/26/23: Please check out my disclaimer page for my standard dribble and contact info here
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NEW 01/01/2013, DEC29/2013, JUL27/28/2021, AUG05/2023, DEC29/2023
Last Modified 29-Dec-2023