The Low-Tech Times

Train Tuesdays

Youth Interest in Historic Preservation

Connor Fischer (8 years old) is trying to refurbish the old train station at Point of Rocks, Maryland:

An 8-year-old train enthusiast came to Point of Rocks a few weeks ago to see one of the country’s most famous historic train stations.

He left wondering why his new favorite station had fallen into disrepair, and he decided he wanted to help fix it.

“It needed to be painted and get the windows fixed,” said Connor Fischer, a third-grader who lives in Darnestown in Montgomery County.

CSX: Expanding Capacity

Alexandria, VA residents have been hearing more train horns recently as train crews are blasting horns to warn track workers who are adding a third mainline track. John Fuller is covering this project in detail on his blog.

NS: Expanding Capacity

Norfolk Southern is adding a new passing siding on the B-line at Gainesville, Virginia. NS also launched a new website called The Future Needs Us which is about the benefits of public-private partnerships to move more freight via rail vs highways. I took a photo of this crane near Linden, VA but recently saw it at the work site in Gainesville. In addition to providing more capacity for hauling freight on the Crescent Corridor, the work at Gainesville is a good start to potential future VRE passenger rail expansion to Haymarket and beyond.

Farther west, the Warren County Report (large PDF file) details plans to improve train speeds at Riverton Junction near Front Royal Virginia.