WB&A

[asciibaron]

there is no Coke plant - it was never built.

-steve

[RockGp40]

there is no Coke plant - it was never built.

-steve

True, the Coke plant was never built off of Coca-Cola Drive. However, there is a Coke distribution facility off of Candlewood Rd. on the other side of Route 295. Its been there for over 3 years now.

[Mark5]

The NEC is still very busy near Candlewood Road, but freight trains are very few and far between. I thought that the coal trains heading for the power plants near Brandywine, MD, and by the Nice Bridge across from Dahlgren, VA, were supplied by this rail line, but now I think those trains come by way of D.C.

I see coal drags every once in while Northbound when coming into DC on the MARC in the AM. They seem to be coming off the trackage that veers east of the Amtrak main south of New Carrollton but I could be wrong.

[asciibaron]

yeah, i love how the county bent over backwards and then Coke stuck it to them.  that area was seen by J.S. Owens as the "Gold Coast" - i guess she saw it as a way to attract the Howard County dollars into AA - thus the Mall.  i would have preferred the trees and bears that were already there, but that doesn't bring in 2.2 million in tax revenue.

J.S. Owens can DIAF.

-steve

[asciibaron]

I see coal drags every once in while Northbound when coming into DC on the MARC in the AM. They seem to be coming off the trackage that veers east of the Amtrak main south of New Carrollton but I could be wrong.

the CSX coal drags on the NEC are coming from Benning (Anacostia) to Bowie where they head down the Pope's Creek Sub to one of 2 power plants.  there is also a local that plys the NEC to get to the Pope's Creek Sub.

the Pope's Creek Sub was originally, on paper, the PRR's mainline and the line to DC was the branch.  this allowed the PRR access to DC since the B&O had the legislature block all competing lines to build main lines in MD to DC.  Oden Bowie was instrumental in enabling the PRR's plan and as such, the railroad named two towns along the line after him - Odenton and Bowie - nevermind they already had names.

-steve

[Bob Bufkin]

If Alcoa decides to built a power plant at Indian head you may see more trains and then again if the powerplant by the river decides to use barged coal you may see less. 

[tom mann]

There are plans to re-route traffic over the Pope's Creek line to avoid freights through DC.  Exactly how this will be done is not determined, and folks are furious at the thought of more train traffic.  Since I live in Bowie, I would be more than happy to see more freight trains come through.

[3rdrail]

There are plans to re-route traffic over the Pope's Creek line to avoid freights through DC.  Exactly how this will be done is not determined, and folks are furious at the thought of more train traffic.  Since I live in Bowie, I would be more than happy to see more freight trains come through.

For much of its early history, the Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac ended at Acquia Creek and traffic moved by carfloat to D.C. or Pope's Creek. The Pennsylvania built the Washington Southern South from Rosslyn, VA, to Acquia Creek. It was not until the Twentieth Century that the two were merged, making PRR a part owner of the RF&P. At Acquia Creek the RF&P is only a couple of hundred yards from the river, so what would be needed would be a new bridge. But, CSXT ain't gonna pay for one. If it can get the taxpayers to do so, who knows?

[Bob Bufkin]

Since the Pope's Creek line is mostly single track a huge amount of money would be needed to double track and resignal.  The powers here in PG county don't like the idea and I double it it gets anywhere.