Though this light rail train has just crossed under the Curtis Bay Branch,
it is a relative newcomer. The bridge dates to 1914 when B&O declined
to allow the Maryland Electric Railways Company to continue to operate
the latter's trains upon B&O track from here into the city. The electric
trains were rerouted onto their own right-of-way parallel to what was then
B&O's South Baltimore Branch.
The electric train companies struggled to compete, and went through several
reorganizations and names such as the Baltimore & Annapolis Railroad,
the Annapolis and Baltimore Short Line, and the Washington, Baltimore
and Annapolis Electric Railway.
The B&A's passenger service ended in 1950, and part of the right of way
morphed into a semi-public road known as Urban Lane. For decades it was
possible for autos to drive under the bridge here, but now the unpaved Urban
Lane ends near the photographer's location. Around 1990 the Baltimore Light
Rail system revived the B&A's old route to provide passenger train service
between BWI Airport and Baltimore, plus many local stops.
Change for:
ASL/B&A tour at this site
Link:
Auto-Railer 1935
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