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.
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.
GPS 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.
This is the first set of NB signals north of the Aberdeen station.
NB & SB CSX CPL Signals
The 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.