Virginia Rails - The Popes Creek Sub

CSX's Popes Creek Subdivision

A Voyage Down The Creek

Out of every motive to construct a new railroad, the Popes Creek Subdivision started life in a quite unorthodox way; as a simple corporate scheme of the goliath Pennsylvania Railroad. Originally built under the guidance of the Baltimore & Potomac Railroad, a Pennsylvania Railroad subsidiary, this line was constructed to allow the Pennsylvania to bypass a local law that gave the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad control of all business in Washington D.C. The Popes Creek on paper was constructed as a "mainline" and the line between Bowie, Maryland, and Long Bridge in Washington D.C. was simply an extension of the main. Later on, Maryland's government realized this was a silly law and amended it allowing railway competition in the Nation's Capital.

In 1902, the Baltimore & Potomac would be merged with another Pennsylvania Railroad subsidiary, the Philadelphia, Wilmington, & Baltimore Railway to form the Philadelphia, Baltimore, & Washington Railroad. The mainline of this railway would later be electrified and form the backbone of the Pennsylvania Railroad's Northeast Corridor. As local business continued to shift towards transportation by trucks, the future of the Popes Creek Branch seemed bleak. This was evident in that an original segment of the line from Faulkner, Maryland, to Popes Creek, Maryland, was abandoned sometime in the early 1960's.

By 1964 however, things were changing for the better as the Potomac Electric Power Company constructed the Chalk Point Generating Station near Eagle Harbor, Maryland, on what was another Pennsylvania Railroad branch line that split of the Popes Creek Branch in Brandywine, Maryland. This was followed six years later by the construction of yet another coal powered generating station at the southern end of the branch in Newburg, Maryland. Chalk Point, as well as this new plant, the Morgantown Generating Station, would totally revitalize the line as coal had to be shipped to the plants a few times a week in order to keep the power on.

Even with these new business opportunities, we all know what happened to the mighty Pennsylvania Railroad and sooner than later, the whole line was under Conrail control. When Conrail was broken up in 1999, the Popes Creek ended up owned by CSX which continues to operate the line today. In the early 2000's, the line was mainly known for being the last SD80MAC stronghold, as these massive locomotives were most effective at pulling long coal trains on light grades. Unfortunately, after 57 years, the Chalk Point Generating Station ceased combusting coal in June of 2021 which dealt a severe blow to the value of the subdivision. Thankfully, the line still sees about a train or two a day thanks to two aggregate companies that receive cars as well as Morgantown which will continue to get coal until June of 2022. The future of the line is quite uncertain as of now as only time will tell if the line continues to thrive even after Morgantown stops getting coal.

CSX Popes Creek Sub Train Albums

CSX B456

On Wednesday, March 15th, 2023, I set out for southeast Washington D.C. to chase CSX loaded aggregate train B456-13 down the rarely photographed Popes Creek Subdivision. My first stop was Anacostia just west of Benning Yard where I caught B456-13's power, ES44AH pair #920 and #995, crossing the Anacostia River Bridge at 9:14 A.M. I found out later that the purpose of this move was to grab three other locomotives to bring down to Cheney Industries in Waldorf, Maryland. The purpose of these three engines was to bring a cut of aggregate hoppers out of winter storage. I planned to catch him next at Seabrook but, to say it kindly, I was unsuccessful. With that, I continued east to the junction with the Popes Creek Sub itself; Bowie, Maryland.

*Nick A. Jobe Photograph*

At 12:02 P.M. I caught B456-13 approaching Highbridge Road just south of the Junction at Bowie, Maryland. This ancient Pennsylvania Railroad Position Light signal displays "approach" to warn northbound crews that they are entering signaled territory. ES44AH #817 was one of the three locomotives picked up at Benning to be dropped off at Waldorf for the R150-15 that would run later that night. It was quite the sight seeing five locomotives pulling 60 loaded aggregate hoppers on a line that barely sees 3 trains a week.

*Nick A. Jobe Photograph*

I then chased the B456-13 down to Upper Marlboro, Maryland, where at 12:33 P.M. I caught him at the Buck Lane crossing. It was a gamble choosing to catch him here and thankfully I had just enough time to set up and get good shots. According to the main track inspector for the Popes Creek, the max speed for the line is only 25 MPH so I probably had more time than I thought throughout the chase. I was probably just paranoid because of my miss at Seabrook earlier in the day.

*Nick A. Jobe Photograph*

Further south I caught the B456-13 passing through Brandywine, Maryland, at 1:03 P.M. The track in the foreground is the south leg of the wye leading to CSX's Herbert Subdivision. With the closing of the Chalk Point Generating Station at the eastern end of this line, the Herbert Sub has been placed out of service in all but name. It's hard to believe but the Herbert Subdivision was seeing a coal train each way everyday for nearly three decades. The Popes Creek meanwhile was seeing multiple moves a day for nearly five. How things have changed...

*Nick A. Jobe Photograph*

The last spot I stopped at during the chase was White Plains, Maryland, where I got the B456-13 at 1:57 P.M. Note the old crossing box here at Billingsley Road. Also note that ES44AH #817 is no longer leading. #817 and the three locomotives in the front of the consist were dropped at Waldorf while the rest of the train continued south. I did follow him down to La Plata but was unable to catch him on camera again. Heck of a chase and I'll definitely do it again.

*Nick A. Jobe Photograph*

CSX B458

After a two day journey from the quarry in Clearbrook, Virginia, just north of Winchester, Virginia, CSX loaded aggregate train B458-03 meanders through Upper Marlboro, Maryland, onward to Waldorf, Maryland, on the Popes Creek Subdivision at 1:40 P.M. on Thursday, August 3rd, 2023. With 76 loaded hoppers in tow, this rock runner has only a few more miles before reaching its destination of Chaney Enterprises in Waldorf. Note the varied hoppers in the consits behind the locomtives. Some of these company cars were built almost 50 years ago!

*Nick A. Jobe Photograph*

Following the B458-03 down the Popes Creek, here he is approaching Cherry Tree Crossing Road just north of Brandywine, Maryland, at 2:07 P.M. This train originated out of Winchester as the B458-01 but terminated at Brunswick. I've never gotten the answer for why these trains run in segments. The next day, August 2nd, the train ran from Brunswick to Benning Yard as the B458-02. August 3rd would finally be the day the train completed its journey arriving into Waldorf around 3:00 P.M.

*Nick A. Jobe Photograph*

Cherry Tree Crossing Road parallels the Popes Creek Sub for a little ways allowing for some pacing shots. Here I caught up to the B458-03 just north of the Brandywine Wye at 2:10 P.M. climbing the short grade to Wine, Maryland. Note the power lines following the railroad right of way, these originate at the Morgantown Generating Station in Newburg, Maryland, where until May of 2022, unit coal trains would arrive three or four times a week.

*Nick A. Jobe Photograph*

The CSX Popes Creek Sub of The Past

CSX B701

CSX ES44AH #927 is on the point of southbound loaded rock runner B701-27 as it approaches Brandywine, Maryland, on Monday, December 27th, 2021. Destined for Aggregate Industries in La Plata, Maryland, this train was powered by the usual pair of General Electric locomotives with ES44AH #961 trailing second. Cherry Hill Crossing is just off camera to the left.

*Nick A. Jobe Photograph*

A trio of CSX ES44AH locomotives are caught leading empty rock train B701-28 north across Cedarville Road just south of Brandywine, Maryland, on Tuesday, December 28th, 2021. Powered by engines #916, #965, and #764, this train has just left Chaney Industries in Waldorf, Maryland, and will head up the Creek towards Bowie, Maryland, where it will then enter Amtrak's Northeast Corridor.

*Nick A. Jobe Photograph*

CSX GP40-2 #6295 is caught trundling through the foliage heading south after crossing Robert Crain Highway in Upper Marlboro, Maryland on Thursday, December 20th, 2001. Operating under the symbol B701, this train served as the Popes Creek local for many years working industries on the line such as Chopp Lumber (Now Builders FirstSource) in Waldorf and 84 Lumber in White Plains.

*W. R. "Butch" Schuler Photograph**Nick A. Jobe Collection*

CSX GP40-2 #6152 pulls Popes Creek local B701 off the Northeast Corridor and onto the Popes Creek Subdivision at Bowie, Maryland, on Thursday, December 20th, 2001. The train is heading onto the western leg of the wye and had been travelling on the NEC since leaving Benning Yard in Southeast Washington D.C.

*W. R. "Butch" Schuler Photograph**Nick A. Jobe Collection*

CSX GP40-2 #6152 pulls Popes Creek local B701 south across Old Indian Head Road near Cheltenham, Maryland, on Thursday, December 20th, 2001. Note the loaded centerbeams which could be destined for Chopp Lumber (Now Builders FirstSource) in Waldorf or 84 Lumber in White Plains.

*W. R. "Butch" Schuler Photograph**Nick A. Jobe Collection*

CSX N720

CSX loaded coal train N720-28 hustles through Brandywine, Maryland, heading southbound on Friday, March 4th, 2022. In a crazy turn of events, this train ran all the way from Brunswick, Maryland, to the Morgantown Generating Station in daylight which allowed for the opportunity to catch this soon to be abolished train at three different spots. At 338 axles, this train was by no means a monster nor was its power special, however, what was special was that in three months, this train would cease to exist. On June 1st, 2022, the Morgantown Generating Station would shut down meaning that a scene like the one pictured here will never be repeated.

*Nick A. Jobe Photograph*

A final look at the last Popes Creek coal train I would ever see, CSX N720-28 rumbles past Bel Alton Newtown Road in Bel Alton, Maryland, just north of the Morgantown Generating Station on Friday, March 4th, 2022. As this train cleared the crossing, the last chapter for coal trains on the Popes Creek would reach yet another solemn milestone as the amount of coal trains left to run decreased from eight to seven. Not to mention the stretch of the subdivision from La Plata, Maryland, to Morgantown, Maryland, was also on its last legs. As of me writing this in October of 2022, a scene like this will never be feasible again as the Morgantown plant has now been decommissioned permanently. Glad at least that I was able to catch what is now history.

*Nick A. Jobe Photograph*

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