CSX - Bay View Junction Overpass

Sandy,

I'm assuming that means it was scrapped rather than simply set aside, correct?

As the person who posted all four photos, I should point out that all four photos were secured from cooperative railroad officials, only one of which is willing to be named. Further, the photos from the train are not from a regular passenger train, but from a reward-facing camera riding on a special track inspection vehicle. Anyone attempting to duplicate these photos from a regular Amtrak or MARC passenger train is likely to be very disappointed in the results by comparison.

As the first three photos of this bridge illustrate, often the best photos available from a passenger train of any type are from the rear window after passing by the object of interest. I once stood in the rear window of a moving Amtrak train for an hour, just taking pictures.

One way to deal with dirty train windows is to use a low f-stop, to create a shallow depth-of-field, to help make the dirt on the window out of focus. This will also require a faster shutter speed, which is also a good thing from a moving train. Position the camera lens as close to the window as you can without touching it. But a shallow depth-of-field also requires you to focus carefully on the object and keep it in focus as your train moves away from it. This is not a perfect technique, but it may be the best possible way to get otherwise impossible photos through dirty windows.

Baltimore train-riders: how about a couple more photos of this bridge, out the rear window, before its demise?

Be careful flying a drone off a bridge. They lost ine in alabama over water because it didn't know where home was 100' up and drove straight into the Tennessee River. Bummer. Would have been some great shots for us. He wobt go over water much anymore.

Be careful flying a drone off a bridge. They lost ine in alabama over water because it didn't know where home was 100' up and drove straight into the Tennessee River. Bummer. Would have been some great shots for us. He wobt go over water much anymore.

Neat to see the oldtimer still carrying trains!

Where roadway Whipple trusses were built into the mid-1890's, I would say that this being a RR span would put it likely no newer than 1880-1885.

The drone idea has some merit, but the area has far too many high-voltage power lines criss-crossing the location (Amtrak catenary and other lines) to permit me to recommend the idea.

Perhaps a solution to photo woes could be found here >.> http://www.thecoolist.com/7-high-tech-drones-for-sale-today/

Sorry (but not surprised) to hear that this RR over RR bridge in an urban/industrial area is not easy to access. Urban RR bridges have been a constant frustration for me since I began photographing bridges.

If Amtrak trains out east are anything like the ones in Chicago, it is particularly challenging to take any photos from the train because they NEVER clean the windows, so there is a combination of fingerprints on the inside and dirt on the outside. Given these conditions, I did have decent luck trying this with a bridge (in a steel mill) in Chicago which is similarly impossible to access due to insane security.

http://www.historicbridges.org/bridges/browser/?bridgebrowse...

Also should note it is problematic to photo bridges you directly pass over or under on the Amtrak because you only have a side window which is sealed. Back in the Good Ole Days, you could open train windows and stick your head out... and get better photos!

Be advised that this bridge is essentially impossible to access even by railroad personnel of either Amtrak or CSX except by train--even Amtrak officials report being cut off from access to this area by CSX removing access roads that used to traverse adjacent Bayview Yard! Trespassing to access this bridge is STRONGLY discouraged, and will likely result in immediate arrest by railroad police on safety grounds. Further, heavy tree growth obstructs the view from nearby industrial properties which also prohibit trespassing. Best way to see this bridge is either from Interstate 895 or by riding an Amtrak or MARC train underneath it.....