Near Relay in Baltimore County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
The Thomas Viaduct
Photographed By Christopher Busta-Peck
1. Thomas Viaduct Obelisk
Front
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.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Bridges & Viaducts • Railroads & Streetcars. In addition, it is included in the ASCE Civil Engineering Landmarks, the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (B&O), and the National Historic Landmarks series lists. A significant historical date for this entry is July 4, 1842.
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. It's quite a climb up from Railroad Avenue
this page online
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 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. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Halethorpe MD 21227, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. A Rural Vacation Spot (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Masterpiece of the Early B&O Railroad
Photographed By Tom Fuchs, February 25, 2006
2. Thomas Viaduct Obelisk
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
Photographed 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. The CSX Capital Subdivision to Washington DC is in the foreground.
Also see . . .
1. Thomas Viaduct. Page on www.bridgemeister.com (Submitted on February 28, 2006.)
2. 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.)
3. Sidereal's Thomas Viaduct Slideshow. Nineteen vivid photographs of the viaduct itself. (Submitted on April 20, 2006.)
4. 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.)
5. Impossible Challenge: The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad in Maryland. (Submitted on May 5, 2008, by Tom Fuchs of Greenbelt, Maryland.)
6. Impossible Challenge II: Baltimore to Washington and Harpers Ferry from 1828 to 1994. (Submitted on May 5, 2008, by Tom Fuchs of Greenbelt, Maryland.)
7. Royal Blue Line. (Submitted on May 5, 2008, by Tom Fuchs of Greenbelt, Maryland.)
8. Royal Blue Line: The Classic B&O Train Between Washington and New York. (Submitted on May 5, 2008, by Tom Fuchs of Greenbelt, Maryland.)
9. Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (Railroad Color History). (Submitted on May 5, 2008, by Tom Fuchs of Greenbelt, Maryland.)
10. Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (MBI Railroad Color History). (Submitted on May 5, 2008, by Tom Fuchs of Greenbelt, Maryland.)
11. Baltimore and Ohio's Capitol Limited and National Limited (Great Passenger Trains). (Submitted on May 5, 2008, by Tom Fuchs of Greenbelt, Maryland.)
12. Route of the National Limited (Baltimore and Ohio Passenger Service, Volume 1). (Submitted on May 5, 2008, by Tom Fuchs of Greenbelt, Maryland.)
13. Route of the Capitol Limited (Baltimore and Ohio Passenger Service, Volume 2)
Photographed By Tom Fuchs, February 25, 2006
4. The Thomas Viaduct Marker
14. 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.)
15. Chessie System (MBI Railroad Color History). (Submitted on May 5, 2008, by Tom Fuchs of Greenbelt, Maryland.)
16. CSX (MBI Railroad Color History). (Submitted on May 5, 2008, by Tom Fuchs of Greenbelt, Maryland.)
17. Baltimore and Ohio Cabooses Volume 1: Photos and Diagrams. (Submitted on May 5, 2008, by Tom Fuchs of Greenbelt, Maryland.)
18. B & O Caboose Diagram Book. (Submitted on May 5, 2008, by Tom Fuchs of Greenbelt, Maryland.)
19. Baltimore and Ohio in the Civil War. (Submitted on May 5, 2008, by Tom Fuchs of Greenbelt, Maryland.)
Additional commentary.
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
Photographed By Tom Fuchs
5. The Thomas Viaduct Marker
— Submitted January 12, 2008, by James W. Lawson Jr. of Rockville, Maryland.
2. Reading 2102
The steam locomotive in this picture was originally built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1923 as an I-10a. The Reading Railway converted it to a T-1 in 1945.
— Submitted November 18, 2013, by Tom Fuchs of Greenbelt, Maryland.
Additional keywords. Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
Photographed By Tom Fuchs, February 25, 2006
6. The Thomas Viaduct
This view is from Baltimore County looking south to Howard County.
Photographed 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.
Photographed 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.
Credits. This page was last revised on October 31, 2019. It was originally submitted on February 28, 2006, by Tom Fuchs of Greenbelt, Maryland. This page has been viewed 34,470 times since then and 3,852 times this year. 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.
