Farewell Excursion Near Linthicum - a photo on Flickriver

            A four car "Farewell To The B&A Trolley" excursion is southbound between Baltimore Highlands and Linthicum, MD, on January 22, 1950. The train is operating over the original Annapolis Short Line trackage which at this time was freight only and used as a connection to the B&O's Curtis Bay Branch at Cliffords. The Annapolis Short Line originally paralleled the Washington Baltimore & Annapolis Electric Railroad between Cliffords and Linthicum from 1908 to 1921, after which the Short Line was merged into the WB&A. The WB&A kept the line intact for freight service and a connection to the B&O which carried over to the newly formed Baltimore & Annapolis Railroad after the WB&A had shut down in August 1935. Speculation as to why the excursion is on the freight only line and not the parallel double track line would seem to be a special “rare mileage” part of this farewell excursion train since other photos have shown the train over on the double track main at Rosemont with a freight on the ASL line in the background.

 The B&A trolleys had but two weeks to go before complete replacement by buses. The last trolleys ran February 5, 1950. A single GE 70 Tonner end cab switcher had been acquired for the remaining freight business between the railroad's namesake cities. The filthy condition of the train clearly displays the B&A's lack of maintenance in the post WWll years as the private automobile and publicly funded highways took their toll on the railroad's business. Note the lead car's number has been cleaned off revealing the dark red color of the body. Also note the curiously fresh paint on the roof of the second car. The consist for this train was three Brill 200 series cars and one Wason car (the one with the fresh green roof).

Original Kodachrome slide by James P Shuman, collection of David J Witty.

Taken in: United States / Maryland / Pumphrey (show map)

Taken on: January 22, 1950

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washington baltimore and annapolis railroad

James P Shuman « less

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