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| Add Photo — Add Link — Add Commentary — Correct this page — Print | | Near Relay in Baltimore County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic) |
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The Thomas Viaduct
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By Christopher Busta-Peck | |
| | | 1. Thomas Viaduct Obelisk | | |
Inscription. Commenced, July 4th, 1833. Finished July 4th, 1835.
Johnathan Knight, Chief Engineer, Caspar W. Wever, Superintendent of Construction. Designed by Benjamin H. Latrobe. Built by John McCartney of Ohio.
(Other two sides of the monument list company directors.)
Erected 1835 by Baltimore and Ohio Railroad.
Marker series. This marker is included in the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (B&O), and the National Historic Landmarks marker series.
Location. 39° 13.353′ N, 76° 42.777′ W. Marker is near Relay, Maryland, in Baltimore County. Marker can be reached from Railroad Avenue near Viaduct Avenue. Click for map. It's quite a climb up from Railroad Avenue to track level where the marker is located. Viaduct is easier to approach on its southern end. Marker is at the northern end of the viaduct.
Southern end of the viaduct is in Elkridge in Howard County near the intersection of Lawyers Hill Road, River Road, and Levering Avenue. Approach southern end from U.S. Route 1 (Washington Boulevard), and Levering | | | | 
By Tom Fuchs, February 25, 2006 | |
| | | 2. Thomas Viaduct Obelisk | | |
Avenue.
The viaduct crosses the Patapsco River and Patapsco Valley State Park. Viaduct is in the triangle formed by I-95, I-895 and I-195.
Northern end is half a mile from the St. Denis train station on the MARC Camden Line. The same roadway nearest the marker that is Railroad Avenue in Halethorpe continues straight into South Rolling Road, and straight again into Cedar Avenue. Cedar avenue can be reached from Clark Boulevard off Route 1.
The rail junction at the northern end of the bridge is called Relay, as is the adjacent neighborhood in Halethorpe. But there is no longer a Relay post office or zip code. Marker is in this post office area: Halethorpe MD 21227, United States of America.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Site of Old Relay Station and Hotel (within shouting distance of this marker); A Rural Vacation Spot (about 300 feet away, in a direct line); Masterpiece of the Early B&O Railroad (about 300 feet away); Elk Ridge Landing (approx. 0.4 miles away); World War II (approx. 0.5 miles away); Great War (approx. 0.5 miles away); Relay (approx. 0.5 miles away); The Baltimore County Water and Electric Company (approx. 0.5 miles away). Click for a list of all markers in Relay. | | | | 
By Tom Fuchs, February 25, 2006 | |
| | | 3. On the Viaduct Looking North | | The B&O (now CSX) east-west Old Main Line runs right to left at the base of the hill beyond the marker. | | |
More about this marker. This monument, like the bridge, was designed by Benjamin H. Latrobe II, an American civil engineer, best known for designing railway bridges. Once nicknamed "Latrobe's Folly," as many doubted the viaduct could support itself, it remains in use to this day, carrying far heavier loads than ever envisioned.
Regarding The Thomas Viaduct. This stone bridge over the Patapsco River is still in use today carrying CSX freight trains (Capital Subdivision) and MARC commuter trains (Camden Line) between Baltimore and Washington. The Thomas Viaduct was named a National Historic Landmark in 1964.
Also see . . .
1. Thomas Viaduct. Facts and figures and a couple of B&W photographs. (Submitted on February 28, 2006.)
2. Thomas Viaduct. Page on www.bridgemeister.com (Submitted on February 28, 2006.)
3. B&O Washington Branch Modern-Day Photo Tour. 1½ miles from Relay (the junction with the Main Line north of the bridge), across the bridge and south past Elkridge. (Submitted on February 28, 2006.)
4. 19th Century Passenger Train Crossing Thomas Viaduct After Snow Fall. Baltimore County Public Library Legacy Web (Submitted on February 28, 2006.)
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By Tom Fuchs, February 25, 2006 | |
| | | 4. The Thomas Viaduct Marker | | |
5. 1886 Photo of Thomas Viaduct from Howard County. Baltimore County Public Library Legacy Web. Shows Relay Hotel on the Baltimore County side. (Submitted on February 28, 2006.)
6. 1886 Photo of Thomas Viaduct from Baltimore County Shore. Baltimore County Public Library Legacy Web. (Submitted on February 28, 2006.)
7. Thomas Viaduct Photo Circa 1900. Baltimore County Public Library Legacy Web. (Submitted on February 28, 2006.)
8. Civil War Soldiers at Thomas Viaduct 1861. Baltimore County Public Library Legacy Web. (Submitted on February 28, 2006.)
9. Sidereal's Thomas Viaduct Slideshow. Nineteen vivid photographs of the viaduct itself. (Submitted on April 20, 2006.)
10. Library of Congress HABS/HAER entry for the Thomas Viaduct. Additional Thomas Viaduct information and pictures are available from this Library of Congress Historic American Building Survey (HABS) and Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) site.
(Submitted on September 12, 2007, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia.)
11. Thomas Viaduct Lithograph, drawn on Stone by Thomas Campbell, 1835. The monument is seen to the right of the image. Includes a brief article on the Viaduct by the Maryland Memory Projects, the Digital Library of the Maryland Historical Society. (Submitted on September 12, 2007, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia.)
12. Another Thomas Viaduct Marker, long gone?. “Ridiculous!” “Impossible!” Such were the stern pronouncements in 1833 as work began on this, the world’s oldest multiple-arched, stone, railroad bridge. Completed two years later, this span of granite blocks was named for Philip E. Thomas, first president of the B & O. It became a vital link in the B & O’s new “Washington Branch” between Baltimore and the Nation’s Capital.
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By Tom Fuchs | |
| | | 5. The Thomas Viaduct Marker | | |
During the Civil War, Union troops stationed here guarded the viaduct against destruction by Southern forces. The viaduct stands today as originally built, 612 feet long, 28 feet wide, and curving in a graceful four-degree arc across the Patapsco. Well into its second century yet bearing the weight of modern trains, it has been designated a National Historic Landmark. (Submitted on September 14, 2007, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia.)
13. Impossible Challenge: The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad in Maryland. (Submitted on May 5, 2008, by Tom Fuchs of Greenbelt, Maryland.)
14. Impossible Challenge II: Baltimore to Washington and Harpers Ferry from 1828 to 1994. (Submitted on May 5, 2008, by Tom Fuchs of Greenbelt, Maryland.)
15. Royal Blue Line. (Submitted on May 5, 2008, by Tom Fuchs of Greenbelt, Maryland.)
16. Royal Blue Line: The Classic B&O Train Between Washington and New York. (Submitted on May 5, 2008, by Tom Fuchs of Greenbelt, Maryland.)
17. Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (Railroad Color History). (Submitted on May 5, 2008, by Tom Fuchs of Greenbelt, Maryland.)
18. Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (MBI Railroad Color History). (Submitted on May 5, 2008, by Tom Fuchs of Greenbelt, Maryland.)
19. Baltimore and Ohio's Capitol Limited and National Limited (Great Passenger Trains). (Submitted on May 5, 2008, by Tom Fuchs of Greenbelt, Maryland.)
20. Route of the National Limited (Baltimore and Ohio Passenger Service, Volume 1). (Submitted on May 5, 2008, by Tom Fuchs of Greenbelt, Maryland.)
21. Route of the Capitol Limited (Baltimore and Ohio Passenger Service, Volume 2). (Submitted on May 5, 2008, by Tom Fuchs of Greenbelt, Maryland.)
22. The Great Road: Building the Baltimore and Ohio, the Nation's First Railroad 1828 - 1853. (Submitted on May 5, 2008, by Tom Fuchs of Greenbelt, Maryland.)
23. Chessie System (MBI Railroad Color History). (Submitted on May 5, 2008, by Tom Fuchs of Greenbelt, Maryland.)
24. CSX (MBI Railroad Color History). (Submitted on May 5, 2008, by Tom Fuchs of Greenbelt, Maryland.)
25. Baltimore and Ohio Cabooses Volume 1: Photos and Diagrams. (Submitted on May 5, 2008, by Tom Fuchs of Greenbelt, Maryland.)
26. B & O Caboose Diagram Book. (Submitted on May 5, 2008, by Tom Fuchs of Greenbelt, Maryland.)
27. Baltimore and Ohio in the Civil War. (Submitted on May 5, 2008, by Tom Fuchs of Greenbelt, Maryland.)
Additional comments.
1.
Borrowing from ancient Roman technology this viaduct has stood the test of time and proven its value toward commerce and trade between the states. The stone that was used is cut and placed in a ashular mode and it appears that these stones were pre-cut and fabricated off site but in closer examination many of these stones had to be field dressed as this viaduct is not simply a straight line arched bridge but one that is curved with a radius employed in its construction. With this in mind the supporting truss members has a compound splay to accommodate this method. The surveying, the fabrication and engineering of this Roman arched viaduct has stood the test of time and upon visual examination the mortar joints are still very tight and they do not appear to have ever been repointed or repaired. — Submitted January 12, 2008, by James W. Lawson Jr. of Rockville, Maryland.
Additional keywords. | | | | 
By Tom Fuchs, February 25, 2006 | |
| | | 6. The Thomas Viaduct | | This view is from Baltimore County looking south to Howard County. | | |
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad |
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By Tom Fuchs, circa 1975 | |
| | | 7. B&O Freight Train Finishes Crossing the Viaduct | | This photo was taken back in the days when freight trains had cabooses. Train is heading towards Washington. Photo was taken from the flood plain of the Patapsco River, upstream from the viaduct. Note that the box car is owned (or leased?) by the Seaboard Air Line, another railroad that later became part of CSX. | | |
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By Tom Fuchs, circa 1975 | |
| | | 8. Steam Locomotive Passes Marker, Charges Across Viaduct | | Reading locomotive 2102 is pulling a steam excursion special train heading for Washington and points west. | | |
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| Credits. This page originally submitted on February 28, 2006, by Tom Fuchs of Greenbelt, Maryland. This page has been viewed 12,288 times since then. Photos: 1. Submitted on January 22, 2008, by Christopher Busta-Peck of Shaker Heights, Ohio. 2, 3, 4, 5. Submitted on February 28, 2006, by Tom Fuchs of Greenbelt, Maryland. 6. Submitted on October 11, 2006, by Tom Fuchs of Greenbelt, Maryland. 7, 8. Submitted on January 3, 2007, by Tom Fuchs of Greenbelt, Maryland. • J. J. Prats was the editor who published this page. | | Add Photo — Add Link — Add Commentary — Correct this page — Print |
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