Union RR marker at BAL

[ne52]

As you pull out of Baltimore Penn, heading north, there is a white marker on the right side of the tracks. It's an obelisk shape (like a mini Washington Monument) past the platforms and under an overpass. This is before you enter the tunnels.

One side says UNION RR. Another says PENNSYLVANIA RR.

Does anyone know the significance here? I know the Union RR constructed the tunnels. Was there a handoff from Pennsylvania RR to Union RR or were there tracks that once crossed here?

Thanks for any info

 

[MikefromCrete]

Probably a property marker that managed to survive many, many years.

 

[railiner]

As you pull out of Baltimore Penn, heading north, there is a white marker on the right side of the tracks. It's an obelisk shape (like a mini Washington Monument) past the platforms and under an overpass. This is before you enter the tunnels.

One side says UNION RR. Another says PENNSYLVANIA RR.

Does anyone know the significance here? I know the Union RR constructed the tunnels. Was there a handoff from Pennsylvania RR to Union RR or were there tracks that once crossed here?

Thanks for any info

I am not sure of the exact details, but I believe the Baltimore and Potomac RR which ran from Baltimore to Washington, was a PRR subsidiary prior to the PRR's other early acquisition's (the Philadelphia, Wilmington, and Baltimore and/or Norhern Central) acquiring the Union RR which ran a short distance northeast from Baltimore. Hence the marker shows where B&P property (PRR), and Union property meet. If correct, this would mean that the station itself was in B&P territory.

This theory somehow seems contradictory to logic, as you would think the PRR would acquire property's consecutively from Philly, southwestward.....

 

[Anderson]

Looking at Wikipedia, it seems that the Pennsy got stuck being unable to merge away a leased line for some time:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_Railroad_of_Baltimore

It also looks like the Pennsy had to take a little time to get everything in order (looking at the merger process and the page on the NCRR), and the Union RR was effectively formed to stick the various pieces together and allow through running, eventually being taken over.

 

[jis]

This was also part of the maneuvering that PRR had to do to get around a Maryland law that gave the B&O exclusive access to Washington DC. PRR had to work through originally independant entities like the B&P initially to get to Washington. Originaally the B&P was not even supposed to go to Washinton DC. Its charter was to build a line to a point on the Potomac between Liverpool Point and St. Mary's River, and was allowed to build branches not more than 20 miles long from this main line. It was originally built to Pope Creek. Pennsy acquired the B&P and cleverly built a branch less than 20 miles long from it to Washington DC border and then had Congress charter the rest of the way to Washington DC, thus staying within the original charter, much to the dismay of the Maryland legislature. Of course soon after the branch was built the branch became the main line and the main line became the branch!

The original B&P mainline now branches off from the NEC at CP Landover and forms part of the freight line to Alexandria through the Virginia Avenue Tunnel. The main line does not exist any more beyond Anacostia where the Alexanrdria line veers to the right. Part of the original RoW is still there quite traceable on Google Map.

 

[ne52]

Very interesting... what do you think the age range of the marker would be then?