by polybalt
I have been riding MARC sporadically for years beween Baltimore and Washington, I was never able to actually clock a Penn Line train going 120 mph by timing the mileposts. I recently decided to make an effort to time some of those 30-second miles.
There are two problems. All the MARC northbound station platforms are along the easternmost track (Track 1), which is restricted to 90 mph for all trains. Southbound the platforms are along the westernmost of the three tracks, which is good for 120 mph. But the mileposts, which are on the west side, are too close for me to spot at high speeds riding a southbound train.
So I set out to ride a northbound express. Trains that run express to Baltimore beyond Odenton can crossover at Grove (?) interlocking and run 120 mph on the center track. Trains that run express to BWI can run 120 mph on the center track from New Carrollton until crossing over at Grove for the rest of the trip.
My first try was a bust. The new 5:10 express (from Seabrook to Baltimore) did cross over to the center track at Grove, but was diesel-powered and never got much above 90 mph. That's 40 seconds between mileposts. After arriving in Baltimore, the 4-car train consist immediately deadheaded back to Union Station. I assume it was recrewed with CSX personnel and made a trip on the Brunswick line.
Another day I had much better luck with the 5:20 express to BWI, then lcoal to Baltimore. We had 6 bilevels and an AEM-7, and were up to 110 mph before flying through the platform at New Carrollton with the horn blaring. After that we passed a milepost every thirty seconds mile after mile, before slowing down to about 90 to take the high speed crossover at Grove.
120 mph. Not bad for a lowly commuter train!
Pete Schmidt
There are two problems. All the MARC northbound station platforms are along the easternmost track (Track 1), which is restricted to 90 mph for all trains. Southbound the platforms are along the westernmost of the three tracks, which is good for 120 mph. But the mileposts, which are on the west side, are too close for me to spot at high speeds riding a southbound train.
So I set out to ride a northbound express. Trains that run express to Baltimore beyond Odenton can crossover at Grove (?) interlocking and run 120 mph on the center track. Trains that run express to BWI can run 120 mph on the center track from New Carrollton until crossing over at Grove for the rest of the trip.
My first try was a bust. The new 5:10 express (from Seabrook to Baltimore) did cross over to the center track at Grove, but was diesel-powered and never got much above 90 mph. That's 40 seconds between mileposts. After arriving in Baltimore, the 4-car train consist immediately deadheaded back to Union Station. I assume it was recrewed with CSX personnel and made a trip on the Brunswick line.
Another day I had much better luck with the 5:20 express to BWI, then lcoal to Baltimore. We had 6 bilevels and an AEM-7, and were up to 110 mph before flying through the platform at New Carrollton with the horn blaring. After that we passed a milepost every thirty seconds mile after mile, before slowing down to about 90 to take the high speed crossover at Grove.
120 mph. Not bad for a lowly commuter train!
Pete Schmidt
Peter Schmidt