I was tubing with my extended family (14 of us) on Monday. Passed under the bridge around 11am and noticed a CSX track gang on the bridge approximately where images of the fire broke out. We stopped at the rocks on the right side below where the Shenandoah River joins the Potomac to regroup and enjoy beverages
https://www.google.com/maps/@39.3226989,-77.7252434,702m/data=!3m1!1e3?entry=ttuFrom there we could see people people standing on the Winchester and Potomac bridge, watching what the track crew was doing around 11:20. We saw a good amount of grayish smoke drop down through the bridge for about 30 seconds. I surmised the track crew was repairing a cracked rail with a thermite weld. I know the Capitol Limited from Chicago was held at Harpers Ferry longer than usual - guessing for the track crew to clear off the bridge. The probability of some molten metal not extinguished properly along with the wind coming from the NW and breeze from train traffic may have been a factor.
I saw a fairly long coal drag pass over the bridge afterwards followed by a mixed freight before we continue down the river to the extraction point just past Harpers bridge. We could hear several more trains before getting out and heading to Harpers Ferry Brewing for more refreshments and pizza around 2pm.
If your ever in the area during late spring early summer, I would recommend you try tubing at Harpers Ferry. Late July and August can be stifling from humidity and avoid weekends because of crowds.
