Can anyone tell me the correct name and any other interesting details about the branch (I believe CSX) that comes South from DC and crosses over South Capitol Drive and snakes its way across parts of Bolling Air Force Base and the Naval Research Lab going to something they refer to Blue Field.

I've just done a trackage audit (for bridge cranes) of the NRL and though the Navy does not use or inspect the track, I need to make reference to it in my report.

Thanks in advance.

Greg

Navy Crane and Railroad Trackage Program
greg.ramsey@navy.mil

> Can anyone tell me the correct name and any
> other interesting details about the branch
> (I believe CSX) that comes South from DC and
> crosses over South Capitol Drive and snakes
> its way across parts of Bolling Air Force
> Base and the Naval Research Lab going to
> something they refer to Blue Field.

Try a google search on CSX "Shepherd Branch". Trains Magazine's internet site (trains.com) had a feature article on the line. The reference to 'Blue Field' I suspect should be DC's "Blue Plains" sewage treatment plant.

I believe the track is now abandoned or at least out of service.

Alan Maples

AMaples@aol.com

>> I believe the track is now abandoned or at
> least out of service.

There was a write-up in the local NRHS newsletter (Potomac Rail News?) a few months ago reporting on the last and final train to operate on the line, so yes, it's now OOS and probably heading to scrap.

More interestingly, that line actually began as a connector to a car ferry that went from Alexandria's Jones Point to the east shore--one of the original "through routes" through the DC area during Civil War times.

LNER4472-NOSPAM-@bcpl.net

The right of way is being evaluated for a light rail line to connect the Minnesota Ave. Metro station with far southeast DC. The branch once served the heating plant at St. Elizabeth's hospital. Much of that St. E's track was scrapped by our Museum to construct the 1973 extension of our present demonstration railway. The St. E's "fireless cooker" is at the B&O Museum.

The St. E's
> "fireless cooker" is at the
> B&O Museum.

Small correction--not a fireless; a Porter 0-4-0T conventional locomotive, built April of 1954.


eledbetter@rypn.org

From WTOP Radio via Delmarva Traction group on Yahoo.

Wesley
---------------------
Trolley Line in Anacostia Gets Preliminary OK
Updated: Friday, Feb. 13, 2004 - 9:50 AM
WASHINGTON - Construction could start in April on a trolley line in Anacostia. These days trolleys are called light rail. Metro's budget committee approved construction of a 2.7-mile-long light rail line that would run from Bolling Air Force Base to just north of Pennsylvania Avenue. The $45 million trolley line to be paid for by the District would have six stops, including one at the Anacostia Metro station, and would be completed in 2006. Officials hope it will spur development. The city is looking at building a stadium in Southeast. D.C. Councilmember David Catania says fans could get to the stadium using the new light rail, and says the stadium could have a "mini MCI" effect on the area. But Metro Board Chairman Bob Smith isn't sure this is what D.C. should be spending its money on right now. "You can find money to fund a new line in Anacostia. You find a quarter million dollars to change station names, but we can't fund Metro Matters, the basic maintenance of the 103-mile system as we know it itself," Smith says.

(Copyright WTOP and The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

An interesting engine. Supposed to be the last steamer built by H.K.Porter. The story was that St. E's retired the engine when it's engineer retired. Anyway, the loco went from St. E's to the Army and ended up at Fort Eustis. From there, it went to Cass via the surplus route. It was involved in the trade between West Virginia for the WM 6. West Virginia got the WM6 and the B&O Museum got the St. E's loco and the Cass #1 Shay, plus a surplus hospital car or two.

> An interesting engine. Supposed to be the
> last steamer built by H.K.Porter.

The St. E engine has a builder's number of 8234. Four other steam engines worldwide have a higher builders number:

8237 Delmarva Power & Light 0-4-0F #1
8245 (Serbia) 0-4-0T #8
8248 (Serbia) 0-4-0T #11
8266 IP&L 0-4-0F no number?

While two of these are fireless, the two in Serbia are very similiar to the St. E. engine but 760mm in guage. They are now out of use in an old iron works in Smederevo, Serbia.

Were they the last of the Porter engines?

-James Hefner
Hebrews 10:20a

Surviving World Steam Locomotives
james@survivingworldsteam.com

> An interesting engine. Supposed to be the
> last steamer built by H.K.Porter. The story
> was that St. E's retired the engine when
> it's engineer retired. Anyway, the loco went
> from St. E's to the Army and ended up at
> Fort Eustis. From there, it went to Cass via
> the surplus route. It was involved in the
> trade between West Virginia for the WM 6.
> West Virginia got the WM6 and the B&O
> Museum got the St. E's loco and the Cass #1
> Shay, plus a surplus hospital car or two.

Catalpa ain't bragging, but he was one of the employees of the State of WV who physically did the removal of the 6 from the B&O Museum. The very first time I visited there, I remember seeing the burnout marks on the floor from the overmatched fork truck used to push Big 6 on to the turntable.

Steve

SZuidervee@aol.com

There are many factors at work. Condition is very important. Extra holes, side-swipes, and cracks will hurt the value of any plate. The railroads that the locomotive served on are also very important. Industrial lines generally do not have the interest that you would see on certain class ones and certain narrow gauge lines. There is very strong interest in certain first generation CAST diesel plates from Alco DL109, FA and PA, F-M Trainmasters, Lima-Hamilton, and Baldwin plates from certain road units. This is happening as the population ages. Collectors are often interested in what they saw in their youth.

steamfan@crusoe.net