The building seen here which was located in Bethesda just North of the River Road crossing is no more. Nothing remains but the tracks in the pavement and a big hole where it once was. They’ll probably put up a Starbucks or a CVS. According to various maps and references I have, this was once an auto parts warehouse. Tracks served it on the right side.
I know it’s been a long time since I’ve posted here, but I wanted to give a quick update. The area of the Georgetown Waterfront where the yards once were is now a dirt lot. All of the parking area has been removed and they are currently grading and rebuilding the wharf walls along the water. This is going to be parkland and will be nice when it’s done. I just hope they can remember what it once was.
At a recent B&ORRHS Archives Sorting Session, I scanned some pics from Tommy’s albums. These photos depict the Georgetown Branch from 1948 – 1951. Primarily they are of Georgetown Junction, on the Metropolitan Branch, where the Geo. Branch began. There is also a series from the 6/6/1948 MSME Excursion trip down the GB pulled by Q1c 4320. Pics are in the Gallery.
I recently was lucky enough to scan the negatives of Wm. Duvall, a Chevy Chase local. He allowed me to post them to my site. They are absolutely fantastic photos and give one a really fantastic glimpse back to when trains once ran on the Georgetown Branch. His photos cover from the late 1950s through the 1970s, with a few 1940s (and earlier!) shots thrown in. They are in the Gallery.
I also completed installation of the fluorescent lights in the layout room. I have also been doing tests and planning on the helix which will go under the stairs to connect the two levels. I have tentatively decided on the heights for the two layout shelf levels as 36″ and 57″. I am 5’6″ tall. I continue to refine the track plan and hope to have an updated copy up soon. Pics are in the Gallery.
I finally got around to taking some photos of the GB on my commute to work. There are many survivors of the GB, all still where the B&O left them. I have wanted to take photos for a long time now, and this really helped me to get a feel for some of the details along the r-o-w, like bridges, alignment, terrain and other details. Visit the Gallery for a trip on the GB!
I picked up a “Car Service Circular No. 4” at the last B&ORRHS Sorting Session. There is a small mention of the GB in it, so I scanned and posted it in the History section. Matthew G. Vurek was generous enough to lend me 3 more photos of his! They are really great, so check them out in the Gallery. Work in the layout room is on hiatus right now as I am building a brick walkway in the front yard, a retaing wall in the back yard and a walkway ’round the side of the house.
Got some new pics up in the Gallery. Also, my site was recently listed on the Abandoned Railroads site. Check it out! I’m also working on a diagram of the track at Georgetown Junction which indicates what the signal arrangement was.
The drop ceiling installation has begun, pics are in the Gallery. I added a long list of articles from the Washington Post newspaper in the “Sources” section on the History section. I added a few photos from the collection of Matthew G. Vurek who was generous in allowing me to share the photos here on my site. In the Gallery! I also made some spelling/textual changes here and there to the site. Enjoy!
Well, it’s been a while, eh? Things have slowed down a bit with so many other events going on. My main focus has been to get all the electrical equipment roughed in for the layout. Because I have terribly outdated and worn electrical supply lines I have to have some electrical work done to the house. Namely, a heavy-up. I’m going from 100AMP to 200AMP some time in the near future. In the meantime, I purchased some romex cable, junction boxes, flourescent “shop” fixtures, switches, outlets and other parts to rough in.
A big progression for my layout took place yesterday when some land distribution talks with my better half went well and I was able to obtain use of the entire room (YEAH!) in exchange for most of an upstairs room. So, my layout plan will most likely be changing from a 2 level w/ helix to a 1 level w/o helix. I will post more as it happens.
Yesterday I ripped out the remainder of beams from around the HVAC & water heater and also cleaned up the room a bit. I still have a bunch of prep left to do, but I’m getting closer every day.
Enjoy the new page in the gallery which is a study on the 3 bridges over the C&O Canal.
January 18, 2003: We met at B. Rubin’s house and were treated to a great display of maps, photos, drawings and stories by D. Carrel and all who attended. Much insight was gained into the Georgetown Branch. We did a tour of the River Rd. area in Bethesda. It was cold, snow was still on the ground and a good time was had by all. Visit the gallery for pics!