VRE Amidst The Blossoms
After spending the night in Alexandria enjoying dinner and drinks with a good friend we headed out Friday morning only 15 min from his home for a wildly productive morning of photographing 12 different trains in the span of only three hours (plus a couple we didn't bother with because it was raining so hard when we first showed up).
With the world renowned Sakura (cherry blossoms) at peak there was only one place to go to photograph some trains. Few places in the district are more iconic for rail photography than the short bridge over the Washington Channel flowing from the Tidal Basin as seen from East Potomac Park.
This was the second of nine trains I shot at this spot before we moved to two other locations for trains 10 thru 12. I'm not actually sure what this is as there were no more Virginia Railway Express inbound trains scheduled at this time so perhaps it's a returning protect set or some other deadhead going back toward Union Station or Ivy City Yard. VRE V50 (MPI MP36PH-3C blt. Jun. 2010) shoving on the south end is at about MP CFP 111.3 on modern day CSXT's RF&P Subdivision. These rails leading to the Long Bridge over the Potomac River (out of sight to the left) are ex Pennsylvania Railroad and a few catenary poles remain as seen in this shot from the days when long freights behind electric motors headed for classification at the mighty and long gone Potomac Yard.
The roof of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing is visible at right center behind the spring trees and the 555 ft tall Washington Monument rises beyond
Washington, D.C.
Friday March 24, 2023
VRE Amidst The Blossoms
After spending the night in Alexandria enjoying dinner and drinks with a good friend we headed out Friday morning only 15 min from his home for a wildly productive morning of photographing 12 different trains in the span of only three hours (plus a couple we didn't bother with because it was raining so hard when we first showed up).
With the world renowned Sakura (cherry blossoms) at peak there was only one place to go to photograph some trains. Few places in the district are more iconic for rail photography than the short bridge over the Washington Channel flowing from the Tidal Basin as seen from East Potomac Park.
This was the second of nine trains I shot at this spot before we moved to two other locations for trains 10 thru 12. I'm not actually sure what this is as there were no more Virginia Railway Express inbound trains scheduled at this time so perhaps it's a returning protect set or some other deadhead going back toward Union Station or Ivy City Yard. VRE V50 (MPI MP36PH-3C blt. Jun. 2010) shoving on the south end is at about MP CFP 111.3 on modern day CSXT's RF&P Subdivision. These rails leading to the Long Bridge over the Potomac River (out of sight to the left) are ex Pennsylvania Railroad and a few catenary poles remain as seen in this shot from the days when long freights behind electric motors headed for classification at the mighty and long gone Potomac Yard.
The roof of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing is visible at right center behind the spring trees and the 555 ft tall Washington Monument rises beyond
Washington, D.C.
Friday March 24, 2023