Some history


  • Property Name: Point of Rocks Railroad Station
  • Bate built : 1873
  • Date Listed: 4/11/1973
  • Inventory No.: F-1-129
  • Location: Tuscarora Road (MD 28), Point of Rocks, Frederick Country, Maryland
  • 39° 16' 24.62" N  77° 32' 0.04" W

Description:
The Point of Rocks Railroad Station is a Gothic Revival building vaguely triangular in shape with a four-story tower on the apex and a 1 1/2-story wing at the base. The central 2 1/2-story section forms the main block of the station. On both the north and south facades the central section has a hip roof with a pair of jerkin dormers over the second story windows. One of the pair has a gable roof and the other dormer has a hip roof, all decorated with sawnwork "gingerbread" trim. The exterior fabric is comprised of brick with horizontal bands of granite stripping. One band is located just above the foundation, one below the first story windows, one 3/4 of the way up the first story windows, and one below the second story windows. The rear 1 1/2-story wing has no granite bands. However, a raised brick band is located at the same level as the granite band which is 3/4 of the way up the first floor windows. Two wide porches project from the north and south sides of the central section. Large wooden trusses and brackets carved in a geometric, but Gothic, style support the porches. The lancet-shaped windows have alternating granite and sandstone voussoirs. The rectangular window and door openings have straight granite lintels. The first floor window lintels and door lintels connect to the granite bands which are 3/4 of the way up the windows, creating a continuous line of trim. Likewise, a granite band encircles the building at the level of the window sills, also forming a continuous line. The lancet-shaped window opening on the first story of the tower is composed of two lancet-shaped windows and a trefoil cut in wood between the windows. The tower itself has a pyramidal roof containing a dormer on each side. A square cupola atop the tower supports the pyramidal peaked roof. The cupola is decorated with a quatrefoil design cut in wood. The tower roof has several rows of round-shaped shingles interspersed in the rows of square shingles. Clay chimney pots complete the Gothic illusion.

Significance:
The proportion, detailing, and color of the Point of Rocks Railroad Station is unusually sophisticated for its rural setting and ranks with the most outstanding work of the Victorian Gothic Revival. The polychrome effect produced by the combination of brick, granite, and sandstone is reminiscent of earlier work in England by architects like William Butterfield. The elaborate architecture of the Point of Rocks Railroad Station testifies to the significance of the railroad as the dominant institution in post-Civil War America, especially in small towns. In Point of Rocks, the Baltimore and Ohio depot is the most imposing and elaborate structure. The town was moved to its present site in order to be near the tracks, indicating the depth of control the railroad exercised.
Source & copyright: mht.maryland.gov/....

Point of Rocks (MARC station)

The Point of Rocks Railroad Station is a historic passenger rail station on the MARC Brunswick Line between Washington, D.C. and Martinsburg, WV located at Point of Rocks, Frederick County, Maryland, United States.[2] The station was built by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad in 1873, and designed by E. Francis Baldwin. It is situated at the junction of the B&O Old Main Line (running to Baltimore) and the Metropolitan Branch (running to Washington, D.C.). The Met Branch also opened in 1873 and became the principal route for passenger trains between Baltimore, Washington and points west.

The main station building is a 2 1⁄2-story, triangular Gothic Revival with a four-story tower and a 1 1⁄2-story wing at the base. The tower has a pyramidal roof containing a dormer on each side. On top is a square cupola supporting a pyramidal peaked roof.[3]

The station building itself is not open to the public and is used by CSX as storage and offices for maintenance of way crews. In 2008, new platforms and platform shelters were built for MARC commuters traveling east towards Washington DC, replacing older bus shelter–style structures which were erected in the mid 90's.

During the blizzard of 2010, the south side awning on the main building collapsed under the weight of record snow fall, and was later removed leaving half the building missing cover. In January 2011, work to rebuild the destroyed part of the structure began.

The Point of Rocks Railroad Station was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973,[1] and reopened for the Maryland Rail Commuter Service, now called MARC, which established the Brunswick Line.
Source & copyright: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Point_of_Rocks_%28MARC_station%29

Point of Rocks railroad station

This is one of the most, if not the most, beautiful railroad stations in America.

You can easily be captivated and transported back to 1873 when you stand on the platform of the old Baltimore and Ohio Railroad station. What’s even more fascinating is that it’s still used as a daily commuter station for the MARC train into Union Station (free t-shirt to the first GoDCer that shows me they commute from this station).

The station was completed in 1873, designed by Ephraim Francis Baldwin, a prominent architect, who contributed many buildings to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad.

On May 1st, 1873, the Baltimore Sun printed an article about the upcoming opening of the station and new line from Washington.

Preparatory to putting in operation during the latter part of the present month the Metropolitan Branch of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, extending from the national capital forty-two miles to the Point of Rocks, on the Main Stem of the road, an excursion party set out from Washington yesterday afternoon over the new line of road, with a view of inspecting its track, bridges and other work, and thence pass up to Cumberland, and to some extent into the coal region.

By this branch road Washington city is put in direct communication with the entire West by a short line, without changes or break of connection, ever the whole system of roads owned or controlled or in affiliation with the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, and thus has all the advantages without cost to itself of over $36,000,000 of capital, which Baltimore and Maryland, through the citizens, the State and municipal governments, have invested in the great works which have mainly contributed to the present prosperous condition of Baltimore. From the fact that the excursion was intended for Washington bu few persons from Baltimore were invited to participate in the same, and those who did go from this city were principally officers of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad and members of the press.
…
At 3 P. M. Captain Dukehart shouted “all aboard,” and in a twinkling the Washingtonians who had met the train at the depot at Washington entered the train, and in a moment afterwards the cars passed upon the rails of the Metropolitan Branch. Among the Washington notables were Gen. W. T. Sherman, of the armies of the United States; Col. Audenreid, chief of staff; Gen. Heintzleman, Gen. Porter, of the United States engineer corps … and representatives of the Washington, Philadelphia, New York and Boston press, in all sixty-five persons, which, which those from Baltimore, swelled the party to upwards of one hundred.
…
The train reached Point of Rocks at six o’clock, and a halt of about half an hour was made there, in order that the excursion might enjoy a lunch. After the lunch had been properly attended to the train moved on to Weaverton, where another halt was made, in order that Gen. Sherman and others for Washington might return in the St. Louis train. After bidding the General and his friends good-bye, the excursionists again entered their cars and started for Cumberland, which place they reached about twelve o’clock last night. To-day the pleasure-seekers will visit all the places of interest in and about Cumberland, and return home tomorrow night.

Three hours to Point of Rocks and six hours to Cumberland? Today, if you take the MARC train from Union Station at 3:30 p.m., you’re at Point of Rocks by 4:48 p.m. … and that’ll cost you $7.00.
Source & copyright : ghostsofdc.org/2012/09/14/point-of-rocks-railroad/

Point of Rocks, MD

History:
It is named for the striking rock formation on the adjacent Catoctin Mountain, which were formed by the Potomac River cutting through the ridge in a water gap, a typical formation in the Ridge-and-valley Appalachians. The formation is not visible from the town and can only be seen from boats on the river, or from the southern bank of the river in Virginia. In 1828, the narrow passage between the rocks at this site provoked a violent legal battle between the Chesapeake and Ohio (C&O) Canal Company and the B&O Railroad over who could have control of the narrow pass.  After years of disputes, both companies finally compromised and allowed both canal and railroad to build on the right-of-way through the passage, with a wall between the two to avoid trains scaring the mules that pulled the canal boats. During the American Civil War, the town was often raided by Confederate partisans, such as John Mosby, Elijah V. White and John Mobberly, operating in Loudoun County, Virginia. The presence of the B&O railroad and C&O canal along with many exiled Unionists from Loudoun made the town such an attractive target.
Source & copyright: hallowedground.org/Explore-the-Journey/Historic-Towns-Villages/Point-of-Rocks-MD

The Point of Rocks Station

Point of Rocks, Maryland, home to the Point of Rocks station, is a small community of only a little over 1,000 residents and it is situated in the west-central region of the state along the Potomac River and about 28 miles from the historic small town of Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. The town itself gets its name from the stunning rock formation it sits atop which is visible from the Potomac River. However, aside from the town’s natural features it is best known for one of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad’s celebrated locations (even today), and the subject of countless photographs over the years, the Point of Rocks railroad station which splits two former Baltimore & Ohio Railroad lines (the Old Main Line and current main line as they have come to be known).

The Point of Rocks station was completed in 1876 and was designed by renowned architect E. Francis Baldwin who would construct a number of stations and depots for the B&O, particularly along the eastern areas of the railroad. The Point of Rocks station itself in terms of exposure is likely the most well known B&O station as it is heralded as one of, if not the, most photographed railroad station or depot in the country. The station’s popularity lies as much with its splendor as its location. Situated at the point where two railroad lines converge, coupled with a beautiful steeple which faces directly towards where the railroad tracks meet makes for a truly magnificent setting, unrivaled anywhere else.

When constructing the depot Baldwin somewhat incorporated its design into the small area where the two lines converged. Overall, the building was about two-and-a-half stories in height and featured a beautiful steeple along the front façade. The depot was designed in the Gothic Revival style, a Victorian-era architecture with Medieval undertones that dates back to the mid-16th century. As such, the building employs steep, angled roof lines dormers, and partially arched, narrow windows. With the steeple the building is a full four-stories in height. Baldwin constructed Point of Rocks using red-brick and local sandstone for trim as well as the foundation.

While the Point of Rocks station today is placed on the National Register of Historic Places (it received this distinction in 1973) its future is not necessarily secure. The building is currently still owned by CSX Transportation, successor to the B&O, and used as an office by the railroad. As such, the interior of the building is entirely off-limits to the general public and is essentially only a flagstop for MARC. The uncertainty here lies in the fact that CSX has not been known for its historic preservation and has destroyed or let go a number of significant railroad property/locations over the years.  To counter any disastrous plans CSX may have for the building (there has been recent talk of the railroad even mulling razing the station) the Point of Rocks Community Historical Society has been considering ideas on how to permanently preserve the property, which is made all the more difficult by the fact that two active railroad lines continue to flank the station to either side.

Currently, however, the building remains in active use as a railroad station, which is used by MARC, the Maryland-subsidized commuter train service. The stop remains a fairly active one for MARC, transporting commuters from their offices in Washington, D.C. to the suburbs of Maryland and West Virginia. While the future of the Point of Rocks station may be somewhat uncertain it is hoped that by being on the National Register of Historic Places as well as “overseen” by the Point of Rocks Community Historical Society that the station’s future can be secured and preserved.
Source & copyright: american-rails.com/point-of-rocks-station.html
Quote by user "fulltritty" on railroadforums.com (04-09-2006, 05:24 PM):

Point of Rocks, MD MARC Station
Location: Point of Rocks MARC Station Nearest City: Brunswick, MD

Railroads: CSX, MARC, Amtrak

How To Get There: There are many ways to get to Point of Rocks depending on where you are coming from.

FROM VIRGINIA: If you are in Virginia, take the Rt. 15 bridge over the Potomac and then turn right onto MD 28. The station will be on your right not even a half a mile.

FROM BALTIMORE, MD: Take I-70 West towards Frederick. Merge onto US-340 W / US-15 S via EXIT 52 toward CHARLES TOWN / LEESBURG. Merge onto US-15 S / CATOCTIN MOUNTAIN HWY via the exit on the LEFT toward LEESBURG. Turn left onto MD 28 and once again the station will be on your right not even a half a mile.

FROM I-495/WASHINGTON D.C.: This is my favorite route as MD 28 is very nice and scenic and you can also stop at the C&O Canal Historical sites as well. Merge onto I-270 West and stay in the local lanes to the right. Exit onto MD 28 west and enjoy the scenic drive through a country road once you get out of the technology/business center office buildings. Once in the open, the road really gives you a chance to drive like a champ through hilly and curvy conditions with lots of farms for scenery. As you come into Point of Rocks, you will cross the Old Main Line and the station will be on your left.

Train Information:

There are four tracks at the station. The first set of tracks that curve off to the left are the Old Main Line to Halethorpe, MD (as can be seen at St. Denis). The Old Main Line sees a lot of coal on the weekends, but occassionally (like yesterday), the dispatcher can run anything including manifest freights, automotive, and coke trains. There is also a local, D786, that works the line into Frederick on the weekends. During the week, more CSX trains will use this line due to the MARC commuter trains on the Metropolitan Subdivision. Westbound signals are located at the station.

The next set of two tracks that curve off to the right are the Metropolitan Subdivision which head south to meet with the Capital Subdivision at F Tower for the trip into Washington D.C. Everything coming north-west and east-south will use this line as well as the trains heading to Baltimore during normal operating conditions. You can expect to see at least 20 CSX trains during daylight hours including manifest freight, 2 intermodals (1 east/1 west), rock runner, locals (D789 to Pepco Power Plant and D742 with coal for the Benning Yard and later distributed down the Pope Creeks Secondary), automotive, coal for destinations in the south, and empty coal trains. In addition, Amtrak's Capitol Limited runs daily in both directions from D.C. to Chicago. During the week, MARC runs commuter service between D.C. and Martinsburg, WV with a total of 20 trains a day. Westbound signals are located at the station. The Metropolitan Subdivision and Old Main Line combine here to continue into Brunswick. There is a defect detector at 72.1 which will tip you off to trains heading east and about to enter the tunnel which is on the other side of the Rt. 15 bridge.

Frequencies:

160.230 (CSX Road/Brunswick Yard WB Tower)
160.320 (AU Dispatcher)
160.530 (Brunswick Yardmaster)

Other Information:

The ex-B&O Station building is still in use today by CSX MOW forces. They are freindly to railfans as long as you don't get in their way when they are trying to put their hi-rail vehicles on the Old Main Line. The station platform has several bubble shelters with seats to get out of the rain or sun. The parking lot is now equipped with video surveillance cameras put in place by MTA.

[...]

Source & coyright: railroadforums.com/forum/showthread.php?12638-Point-of-Rocks-MD-MARC-Station