From here some 12 miles northwest to Glen Burnie, Maryland, ASL's right-of-way has been remade into the Baltimore & Annapolis Trail. Rails-to-trails efforts rarely manage to completely eradicate railroad artifacts, and often they intentionally retain a few, so let's see what we can find...

Link: B&A Trail info

This cement base of a signal or equipment box survives at the Severn Way grade crossing. B&A's stop here was named Asberry.

Various points of interest along the trail are indicated by historical markers labelled A through Z installed during 1992 by Eagle Scout Brian Sanders and Troop 1785. Eagle Scout Eric Schroeder and Troop 450 refreshed them during October 2005. A descriptive marker list can be obtained at the Earleigh Heights ranger station that will be seen later on this page.

At the adjacent Pines on the Severn grade crossing, a train-automobile collision killed 4 during December 1924. The crossing was private at that time, and trains did not sound a whistle or horn for such crossings.

Link: Arnold area history

This photo of ASL car 32 dates to shortly after the 1908 electrification of the line. The photo location has been lost to time, unfortunately. Even after 1908, ASL operated some steam while it waited for delivery of more "motors" as the electrically-powered cars were known.

Sadly, none of the railroad bridges between here and Glen Burnie remain in their original state. Most have been replaced for trail purposes by light-duty bridges like this. This was the location of the stop named Joyce.

Link: 1987

There's another light-duty, post-railroad bridge to span a small but deep creek between Asquithview Lane and Old County Road; at the latter, Revell was the stop name. The Icy Conditions sign is fake news since by photo time spring greening was well underway. Fast-growning, non-native bamboo stands tall in many spots along this stretch of the trail, perhaps an unintentional import during the regrading for the trail.

This building at Jones housed an ASL electrical substation. The rails under the structure (right) facilitated swapping the heavy equipment within for service or newer models.

During 2015, the Ann Arrundell County Historical Society opened a store within the building and, as of 2018, was remodeling it into a craft shop.

Links: shop, AACHS site

After the Severn River bridge closed during 1968, B&A's southern terminus shifted north from Annpolis to here. Into the early 1970s, the railroad hauled freight here for the Annapolis Lumber and Supply Company.

Jones's passenger station that stood trailside at left is remembered by a historical sign.

Per the sign (the linked photo is extra-large so as to make the full text legible):

"Jones Station was the eighth stop from Annapolis on the Baltimore & Annapolis Railroad and served both as a passenger and freight station. The railroad fueled growth in the Baltimore-Annapolis corridor by providing fast and frequent passenger service via an expertly-constructed railroad infrastructure. This location was also the site of vital railroad support facilities, most importantly an electrical substation that facilitated reliable propulsion for all rail vehicles."

During the early 20th century, people escaping the summer heat of Baltimore and Washington rode trains to Anne Arundel County in sufficient quantity to temporarily quadruple its population. At that time, Round Bay, along the Severn River, was the only interracial beach area. Summer camps for children, such as Camp Linstead and Camp Wawanaissa, were also found along the river.

J. Wilson Brown was part owner of both Round Bay as well as ASL, hence ASL built a station a short distance off the main line, plus a track wye here. Randell Road on the left is a remnant of that wye.

Link: AA Beach Resorts (PDF)

Round Bay Station has been preserved by incorporation into a private home. A plaque on the structure reads "Hall Train Station Est. 1878" though ASL did not arrive here until 1887. Hall might be the name of the current resident.

The appropriately-named Old Station Road (left photo), with the grading and narrow width characteristic of a railroad route, leads to the former station.

Less than a mile north, one finds another station building, that of Severna Park, currently home to The Severna Park Model Railroad Club.

Privately owned even during its heyday and heated during the winter, this station may have been the comfiest one between ASL's terminal cities.

Railroad crossing signs in reverse-color of today's standard may date to the post-ASL, WB&A era yet still stand guard at adjacent Riggs Road.

Link: station history

The even-numbered signal means this view looks eastbound which, per WB&A and B&A reckoning, is from Annapolis to Baltimore, hence the camera is looking northwest as B&A car 205 pauses at Robinson. The siding on the right appears to not extend very far, and is omitted by topographical maps from the period.

A modern view at Robinson Road shows little more than the right-of-way still matches.

This reverse view puts Robinson Station on the left. History Marker L stands nearby.

When we think of train stations today, often we envision grand structures such as DC's Union Station. It is important to remember that along interurban lines, stations in less-populated areas were sometimes little more than passenger waiting shacks open to the elements. Robinson is unique along the trail in that both sides exhibit curbs that marked the edge of platforms.

Pack Town (History Marker M) was named for a local family. The Jennings Road grade crossing closed during 2017.

The oldest surviving railroad station in the county is now a ranger station for the B&A Trail park. Frost's Store, as it was known, was built in the second-Empire style popular during the late 1800s. Over time, it has served as a home, post office, ticket office, and store.

To my knowledge, this building served as a passenger station only until ASL built its own station closer to the tracks; if you know otherwise, please email me. Note the curb at the bottom of the photo at left is the same type as found at many station sites, such as at Best Gate.

Earleigh Heights is not lacking for historical markers. The White House web site described Millennium Legacy Trails as:

"Sixteen 'National Millennium Trails' are trails of national significance -- large, visionary projects that allow people to walk or bike to national wonders, trace historic canals and commercial routes, or commemorate trails of discovery and migration. Fifty-two 'Millennium Legacy Trails,' selected from nominations by Governors of the states and jurisdictions, reflect the unique spirit of the areas they represent."

If you've ever wanted to take big steps in your life, while you walk the B&A trail you can tour the solar system. Each of your steps covers about 400,000 miles.

Link: Planet Walks

The foundation of yet another station sits north of West Boulevard. History Marker P is for Pasadena.

A sign that reminds trail visitors of ethics makes one wonder if similar signs were needed when ASL operated here. Public transit used to feature "No Smoking, No Spitting" signs.

Link: No Smoking/Spitting in NYC subway

This surviving, now-empty equipment box near Waterford Road likely dates to the WB&A era.

This area consisted largely of family farms when ASL built through. Farmers welcomed a new and faster way to send food to the cities. Over time, small towns grew around the various rail grade crossings.

At Elvaton, this view looks southeast to B&A car 203 from the adjacent Jumpers Hole Road grade crossing.

Eighty years later some of the utility pole lines remain.

A storm during 2010 washed out the B&A trail at the swampy, low spot in the distance. The terrapins didn't mind.

Link: Is it a turtle, a terrapin, or a tortoise?

As evidenced by the quantity of wires, an electrical substation had been located at Elvaton, behind what locals may remember as Luckies Store.