Point of Rocks Maryland

Rail Fan Hot Spot
 

Point of Rocks, Maryland, is a prominent railfanning spot where two major CSX lines intersect: the Old Main Line Subdivision from Baltimore and the Metropolitan Subdivision from Washington, D.C., both once part of the B&O Railroad. The Metropolitan Subdivision also serves as MARC’s Brunswick Line. At the center of these lines stands the historic Point of Rocks Station, a beautiful structure designed in 1873 by architect E. Francis Baldwin. The station serves as a stop for most MARC trains traveling to Brunswick or Martinsburg, West Virginia. Point of Rocks gets its name from a notable rock formation on the nearby Catoctin Mountains, visible only from the Potomac River or the Virginia shoreline.

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Around 25-30 scheduled CSX trains, along with numerous MARC commuter trains and Amtrak’s Capitol Limited, pass through Point of Rocks daily. Additionally, coal, grain, and ethanol trains use this route, with most CSX freight traffic following the Metropolitan Subdivision. Excellent train-watching spots include the station platform for afternoon shots of trains passing the front of the station, while morning shots of eastbound trains are possible from various platform angles as trains diverge onto the Old Main Line. The open field behind the station provides more opportunities for photos, and the signal lights indicate when trains are approaching. Beyond railfanning, visitors can enjoy the nearby Potomac River and Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, which offer scenic hiking and biking trails just west of the station.

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Please click on the video below to view trains passing through the area and subscribe to my website.