Author: jbcowgill

I am one who loves to travel. I enjoy photography. I take many photos of my journeys. I also write short stories and poems.

Watkins Park, Mount Airy, Maryland

by jbcowgill, posted in Uncategorized

The U.S. state of Maryland is the state where the Star Spangled Banner was written.  It was the state that donated the land that would become the District of Columbia and the capital of the United States of America.  It was where the first railroad in the Western Hemisphere began.  There is so much to this state.  It is where you will find the small town of Mount Airy.  Located in the Washington-Baltimore Metropolitan region, it is a town that pales in comparison to the more famous towns of nearby Frederick, Annapolis, Baltimore, Hagerstown, Ocean City, and Cumberland.  In this town, you will find Watkins Park.  Watkins Park?  Some of the D.C. area locals will confuse this park with Watkins Park located in the historic town of Upper Marlboro, but this is a different park with the same name.  What is special about Watkins Park in Mount Airy, Maryland?  It is a park with picnic tables with shelters and grills, softball and baseball fields plus soccer fields, a playground, and courts for basketball, tennis, and volleyball.  It is a park for the neighborhood.  Watkins Park in Mount Airy, Maryland is a place where you can relax and enjoy.

Some of you are saying, “This is very interesting.  You have two parks in Maryland with the same name.  There is a big problem with this park.  What is the problem?  There is no railroad here.  Therefore, I will not be ‘parked’ here.”

Why visit Watkins Park in Mount Airy, Maryland?  Let us begin in the year 1827.

What happened in 1827?  Well, a whole lot of things.  Let us go to the city of Baltimore.  The day was February 27.  The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was born.  The first leg of the railroad ran east from the Mount Clare Station to the town of Ellicott Mills.  (The town is called Ellicott City today, and the oldest surviving train station in the United States of America is here.  It is no longer an active train station, but it is open as a museum.)  The railroad went west from here.  It went to the town of Mount Airy, Maryland.  Many years later, the railroad line was relocated south, and the railroad no longer served the town of Mount Airy.

This brings us to Watkins Park.

Yes, it is a park that has picnic tables, ball fields, and a playground just like any other neighborhood park.  What is special about this park?  Another feature of this park is that it has a nature trail.

Some of you are saying, “Big deal!  Many parks have nature trails.”

That is true, but this one is very special.  How special?  It is only a mile long.  Most of it is paved with a boardwalk.  It begins at Watkins Park.  You walk the trail to the end, and you see something amazing.  What do you see that is amazing?  You see the old Mount Airy Train Station.  (The train station is now a museum.)

Some of you are saying, “That is nice that you see an old train station on the trail, but that is nothing special.”

Well, as you walk along the trail, you notice something that looks like a railroad cut.  Ladies and gentlemen, the trail was part of the original Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Line that ran between Baltimore and the small town of Point of Rocks.  (The old train station at Point of Rocks was on a postal stamp, and it still stands today.)

As you can see, Watkins Park in Mount Airy, Maryland is a local park that holds a piece of railroad history.

Watkins Park in Mount Airy, Maryland is located at 615 Center Street in, of course, Mount Airy, Maryland.  It is right off of Maryland Route 27 and north of Interstate 70 and U.S. Route 40.  The park is open from sunrise to sunset, and the trail is accessible to wheelchairs.

The next time you hear about Watkins Park in Mount Airy, Maryland, please do not confuse it with the park in Upper Marlboro.  Think of it as a simple neighborhood park with a railroad past.

Winchester and Western Railroad Caboose Number C207, Winchester, Virginia

by jbcowgill, posted in Uncategorized

The U.S. state of Virginia is a state that is rich in history.  From the American Revolutionary War to the American Civil War, a great amount of history happened in the city of Winchester.  Located in the northwest region of the state, the town is at the junction of four U.S. Routes (routes 11, 17 which has its northern terminus here, 50, and 522) with Interstate 81 passing east of the town center.

Winchester is not known as a railroad town, but the railroad has a great presence here with Chessie Seaboard Transportation (CSX) having a railroad yard here.  Winchester is also at the eastern end of the Winchester and Western Railroad, a short line railroad that runs west from Winchester to the small town of Gore.

As you drive around in Winchester, you see monuments and historic structures, and then you come upon a caboose.  What is it about this caboose?

In the old days of railroading, cabooses were found at the end of freight trains.  When the caboose became obsolete, some were scraped, but some where sparred.  This particular caboose was spared from being scraped, and it was put on display in a small park next to the police station.  The caboose was originally built by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad.  It was later sold to the Winchester and Western Railroad.  When the caboose was decommissioned, it was donated to the Northern Shenandoah Chapter of the National Railroad Historical Society who put it on display.

The caboose is open for tours certain days of the year.  It is located at 231 E. Piccadilly Street just east of the Old Town Mall and near all of the U.S. Routes.  Please note that the caboose is not wheelchair accessible.  You can contact the Northern Shenandoah Chapter of the National Railroad Historical Society at Home | Winchester Chapter for more information.

Thomas Viaduct, Elkridge, Maryland

by jbcowgill, posted in Uncategorized

What is the Thomas Viaduct in the town of Elkridge in the U.S. state of Maryland?

Some of you are saying, “Well, it is that simple.  It is somebody whose first name is Thomas and his last name is Viaduct.”

Well, you are completely wrong.

The Thomas Viaduct is a bridge made with stone arches that crosses the Patapsco River.  It was built by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and it is the oldest multi-arched bridge in North America.  At the time, it was the largest multi-arched bridge in the United States of America.

Today, the bridge is still in use but by Chessie Seaboard Transportation (CSX).  It can be seen as you enter into the Patapsco Valley State Park from U.S. Route 1 in the town of Elkridge, Maryland which is a suburb of the Washington D.C. / Baltimore Metropolitan Region.

The Thomas Viaduct is a National Historic Landmark and a Historic Civil Engineering Landmark.  As you take a look, you see an amazing structure that has carried trains since the early days of the railroad in North America.

The Railroad and Harpers Ferry, West Virginia

by jbcowgill, posted in Uncategorized

Many people have heard of the small scenic town of Harpers Ferry in the U.S. state of West Virginia.  Originally established as an independent town where the Shenandoah River flows into the Potomac River, it is today a suburb of Washington D.C. at the easternmost point meeting with the U.S. states of Virginia on the south side of the Potomac River and Maryland on the north side.  It is a town full of history with old structures like John Brown’s Fort.  The town is also surrounded by mountains to include Maryland Heights that holds the ruins of an old fort and where you get great views of the town and the rivers.

As you walk around the historic town and hike the trails, there is one thing you notice.  What do you notice?

You cannot visit the Harpers Ferry National Historic Park without noticing the railroad.

The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad first came to the town in 1833 and was the site of the first railroad junction in the United States of America as the Winchester and Potomac Railroad ran from Harpers Ferry to the town of Charles Town.  Through the years, the trains have been rerouted through the town.  A section of the original track route is near the old train station.

Today, many railroad fans come to see Chessie Seaboard Transportation Trains (CSX) and Amtrak pass through the famous Harpers Ferry Tunnel on the Maryland side of the Potomac River.  The old train station that was built by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad remains an active train station today serving Amtrak passengers.

Wherever you go in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, the sounds of the railroad sounds loud as ever.  With every passing train, it awakens the history of this historic town.

Cassandra Bridge, Cassandra, Pennsylvania

by jbcowgill, posted in Uncategorized

What is Cassandra Bridge?

Some of you are saying, “Cassandra Bridge?  She is probably a very beautiful and wonderful lady.”

It could be possible that there could be a lady by that name, but this is about an actual bridge.

Some of you are saying, “I see.  It is a bridge named Cassandra Bridge.  It was probably named after a lady named Cassandra.”

Cassandra Bridge, also called the Cassandra Bridge Overlook, is located in the small town of Cassandra in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania.  How the town got its name it currently unknown.

Some of you are saying, “That is interesting.  It is called Cassandra Bridge located in Cassandra, Pennsylvania.  It does not matter because it is not a railroad bridge, you will not see me here.”

Ladies and gentlemen, if you are a fan of trains, Cassandra Bridge is where you want to be.  Why?  It is a place where railfans go to watch trains.  It is a bridge that crosses a railroad line with three tracks that was originally owned by the Pennsylvania Railroad.  Today, railroad fans come here to watch the Norfolk Southern Railway and the occasional Amtrak Trains roll by.

Now you have a reason to visit Cassandra Bridge in Cassandra, Pennsylvania.  Be advised that you may not see a lady named Cassandra Bridge, but you can get a great view of any passing train that rolls by.

Cassandra Bridge is located at the east end of Main Street in Cassandra, Pennsylvania, just a short drive from Pennsylvania Route 53.  Parking is available on site.  The bridge is not wheelchair accessible, but you can still see the trains from the parking area.

Please note that the photos of the ladies named ‘Cassandra Bridge’ were AI generated photos.

Goshen, Virginia

by jbcowgill, posted in Uncategorized

The small town of Goshen in the western region of the U.S. state of Virginia is merely a ghost town today.  Well, it appears to be a ghost town.  How does it appear to be a ghost town?  When the town was settled, there were many mills and farms in the area.  Name ‘Goshen’ comes from the Bible saying that the area was like ‘The Land of Goshen’ with the rich farmland in the region.  The railroad arrived in 1855.  A train station was built, and it was simply called Goshen.

With the railroad, the town of Goshen thrived with factories, mills, and a big hotel.  Through the years, the town went through decline.  The railroad line was sold to the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway.  The big hotel burned down and was never rebuilt.  The town returned to being a ghost town with few structures and regional farms.

However, the old train station remains, and so does the railroad.  You will not see the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway, but you will see trains from the Chessie Seaboard Transportation (CSX), and it is also the terminus of the Virginia Scenic Railway.

As for the old train station, it still remains.  Although it is not open to the public, it still remains the centerpiece of the town.  It is located on the Virginia Route 39 Truck Route.  You can read more into the story of Goshen, Virginia at https://goshenvirginia.com/history2/.

The town of Goshen may be a ghost town today, but it is full of history brought to you by the railroad.

The Journey of a Train

by jbcowgill, posted in Uncategorized

Every day, a train is beginning its journey at a train yard.  The train is put together, and it heads down the track to it next destination.  Some train haul freight while some transport passengers.  You have the yard workers who put the trains together.  You have the mechanics who work to keep the locomotives and rolling stock together and working properly.  You have the engineers who operate the locomotives.  You have the track workers who work to keep the tracks in good shape to prevent any derailments.  If the train derails, you have those who work around the clock to keep the tracks clear.  You have those who work the signals to make sure the trains have a safe and clear journey.

You have the conductors who helps the passengers on and off the trains.  You have the baggage handlers, and you have the porters making sure your overnight is a pleasurable one.  As for your meal, you cannot forget the waiters and the chefs.  All of the journey begins with the ticket master who gives you the ticket to ride the train.

On this Labor Day, remember everyone who labors to keep the trains running.

Antietam Station, Sharpsburg, Maryland

by jbcowgill, posted in Uncategorized

Many people have heard of the Battle of Antietam.  Also known as the Battle of Sharpsburg, it was one of the largest battles in the American Civil War.  Unlike the other major battles of Manassas and Gettysburg, the Battle of Antietam, named after Antietam Creek, was the largest battle of the American Civil War where the railroad did not play a role in the battle.  After the war, family members who came to reclaim the bodies of their loved ones had to either travel to Hagerstown or to Keedysville and then traveled by horse and buggy to Sharpsburg.  In 1877, the Shenandoah Valley Railroad came to Sharpsburg bringing railroad service to the town.  The town grew around the railroad as people travel by train to visit the battlefield.  A small train station was built west of the town along the Shepherdstown Pike (present day Maryland Route 34), but it was destroyed by fire in 1910.

In 1911, Antietam Station was built to accommodate the many visitors to the battlefield as well as accommodate farmers who wanted to ship their produce by the train.  When to automobile became a more common way to travel, the station played less of a role to the town.  The station was sold to a private person.  It was going to be demolished, but it was saved by local foundations.  In 1997, it became to home of the Hagerstown Model Railroad Museum.

Some of you are saying, “Wait a minute.  This is Sharpsburg.  How can it be the home of a model railroad from Hagerstown?”

That is a very good question.

It is called the Hagerstown Model Railroad Museum because it was originally in Hagerstown, Maryland and was originally called the Hagerstown Model Engineering Society in 1937.  Oh, it is the fourth oldest model railroad club in the United States of America.  They first met in a local hobby shop.  They met in other locations before they accepted an offer to be housed in the old Antietam Station.

Today, as you drive along Maryland Route 34 between Sharpsburg towards Shepherdstown, West Virginia, you can see the old Antietam Station with the old railroad line with Norfolk Southern Railway trains passing by… but not stopping.  What looks like a lonely train holds model train displays and lots of history.  It is located at 17230 Shepherdstown Pike (Maryland Route 34) west of the town.  You can go to https://antietamstation.com/ to get information about their open houses and to read more about the history of the station and about the Hagerstown Model Railroad Club.

Seymour, Indiana

by jbcowgill, posted in Uncategorized

How many of you have ever heard of the small town of Seymour in the U.S. state of Indiana?  Very few people have.  The state has more famous cities and towns like the state capital Indianapolis, the home of the Indianapolis 500, and South Bend, the home of the University of Notre Dame, and Bloomington, the home of the University of Indiana.  What about Seymour?  It is where John Cougar Mellencamp, a famous rock-n-roll musician was born.  (His boyhood home remains but is not   It was the home of Katie Stam.  Who is Katie Stam?  She just happened to be Miss Indiana in 2008 and Miss America in 2009.  Then you have Colonel Harland Sanders.  Who is Colonel Harland Sanders?  He was not born here, but he had family in town making him a frequent visitor.  His claim to fame was the fact that he happened to be the man where the phrase ‘finger lickin’ good’ came about.  Yep!  He is famous for his Kentucky Fried Chicken.  Seymour was also the home of Freeman Army Airfield, the first helicopter airfield in the United States of America.  (It is a civilian airport today.)  For many, Seymour, Indiana is a very special town.

Some of you are saying, “Wow!  John Cougar Mellencamp was born here.  I wonder if he met Jack and Diane here.  It is probably a great town.  The problem is that it is not a railroad town.  Therefore, I will not be ‘crumblin’ down at the wall’ here.”

Ladies and gentlemen, you are absolutely wrong.  How are you wrong?

As you drive into the town along U.S. Route 50, the very first thing you will see are railroads.  The railroad played a big role in the town’s history.  It is called the ‘Crossroads of Southern Indiana’ because of the railroad as an east west route, originally built by the Ohio and Mississippi Railroad connecting Cincinnati, Ohio and Saint Louis, Missouri, and a south north route, originally built by the Jefferson, Madison, and Indianapolis Railroad connecting Louisville, Kentucky with the Indiana capital of Indianapolis, passes through this town.  The railroad lines were later taken over by the Pennsylvania Railroad and the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad.  Today, you will see Chessie Seaboard Transportation trains (CSX for short) roll along these railroad lines.

Being the ‘Crossroads of Southern Indiana’, the railroad played a big role in the American Civil War.  Due to the access the two big cities in the region, the Union Army set up a camp here, and the camp sent supplies by the railroad to regiments in the region.

If that is not enough, the town was the site of a railroad robbery.  There have been many railroad robberies in the early years of railroading, but in Seymour, it was the site of the first robbery of a moving train.  The Reno Gang robbed the Adams Express on the Ohio and Mississippi Railroad.  Some of the gang members were caught and hanged.

Is that it?  No.  It was the site of a railroad strike in 1876.  On October 22, 1908, William Howard Taft campaigned in his running for the United Stated President from the rear of a train.  Weeks later, he was elected as the President of the United States of America.

The town of Seymour, Indiana is located in the southern region of Indiana east of Interstate 65 and U.S. Route 31 on U.S. Route 50.  The town may not be famous, but the railroad played a famous role in the town.  You may not meet Jack and Diane, but you may see a CSX train roll through.

Canal Basin Park, Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania

by jbcowgill, posted in Uncategorized

The town of Hollidaysburg in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania is a suburb of Altoona, the city famous for the World Famous Horseshoe Curve.  Hollidaysburg is also the home of the Everett Railroad.  Not far from the Everett Railroad is a park called the Canal Basin Park.  What is the Canal Basin Park?

Some of you are saying, “Well, it is a park designed around a canal basin.”

You are correct.  Well, you are mostly correct.  The park was designed around an old canal basin of the Pennsylvania Main Line Canal.  Canal basins was an area where boats would wait until the canal channel was cleared, and then they continued on.  The canal, like many of the old canals, was destroyed by flooding.  Today, the Canal Basin Park consists of the remains of the basin, a replica canal lock, and a museum housed in an old Victorian home.  The Canal Basin Park is a site that preserves American history.

Some of you are saying, “This is great.  They take an old canal basin and build a park around it.  There is a problem.  This is not a railroad site.  Therefore, you will not see me here.”

So why visit the Canal Basin Park in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania?

The Pennsylvania Main Line Canal was one of many canals built to allow boats to bring goods from the ocean port cities to the inland cities and towns.  Each canal was built with a channel wide enough for a boat that was pulled by either mules or horses through the channels and the canal locks which allowed the boats to climb different elevations along the landscape.  The Pennsylvania Main Line Canal was built connect the cities of Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.  Along these canals, small towns were erected.

Then they came to the Allegheny Mountains.  How in the world are you going to build a canal over the high mountain range.

This brings us to Canal Basin Park.  Yes, it was a basin where boats waited.  It was not for the channel to be clear of boat.  It was for the boats to be placed on a flatcar on a train.  It was here in Hollidaysburg where the canal boats were put on the Allegheny Portage Railroad.  The Pennsylvania Main Line Canal used the Allegheny Portage Railroad to carry the canal cars over the mountain range and then placed back into another canal basin where it continued along its way.

You see.  You think that Canal Basin Park is about boats.  It is, but it is boats combined with the railroad.

Canal Basin Park is located at 101 Canal Street in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania.  It is a short drive from U.S. Route 22 and the Everett Railroad.  The park is open from sunrise to sunset.

Next time you are in Hollidaysburg and riding the Everett Railroad, take a little time to visit Canal Basin Park.  The boats and the railroad are long gone, but you can see a place where American history took place.