Midtown in Baltimore, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Baltimore's Significant Role in American Railroading History

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), February 2, 2025

1. Baltimore's Significant Role in American Railroading History Marker

Unfortunately, the marker has been defaced.

Inscription.

Baltimore's Significant Role in American Railroading History. . , Baltimore served as a major transportation center for the Mid Atlantic and beyond starting in the 1820s. Birthplace of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad in 1827, Baltimore was also a hub for the Western Maryland Railway (1852-1983), Baltimore and Potomac Railroad (1872-1902), Maryland and Pennsylvania Railway (1901-1958), Pennsylvania Railroad (1846-1968) and Northern Central Railway (1858-1976). Since 1980, CSX Transportation has handled the majority of freight by rail through the city., After World War II, as rail faced stiff competition from airlines and automobiles, railroads cut back on intercity passenger service. In 1970, US Congress passed the Rail Passenger Service Act, creating Amtrak. Penn Station serves customers along the Northeast Amtrak Corridor (NAC) from Boston to Washington, DC. The station also connects Baltimore's Light Rail Link to the Maryland Area Rail Commuter Rail (MARC) Penn Line. Major redevelopment of the Penn Station site and plans for critical upgrades to rail corridor infrastructure are in progress., For more information on the legacy of railroads in Baltimore, visit the B&O Railroad Museum and www.borail.org/about., [Captions:] , The B&O's Mt. Royal Station, designed by E. Francis Baldwin, opened in 1896. B&O Railroad Museum, The Pennsylvania Railroad's Union Station, designed by Kenneth MacKenzie Murchison and constructed in 1911, became as the Baltimore Pennsylvania Station. , Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division, The four-story stone Maryland and Pennsylvania Railroad's Baltimore Station, designed by the B&O's architect, E. Francis Baldwin, opened in 1887 at North Avenue and Oak (Howard) Street. , Maryland and Pennsylvania Railroad Historical Society, In 1937, during construction of the Howard Street bridge and demolition of the stone station, a one-story frame, locally-known Ma and Pa Baltimore Station, was built under the North Avenue bridge by Falls Road. , Maryland and Pennsylvania Railroad Historical Society, Background image: Department of Public Works Bureau of Highways 1926 map shows the hub of rail transportation in central Baltimore. , Johns Hopkins Sheridan Libraries

Baltimore served as a major transportation center for the Mid Atlantic and beyond starting in the 1820s. Birthplace of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad in 1827, Baltimore was also a hub for the Western Maryland Railway (1852-1983), Baltimore and Potomac Railroad (1872-1902), Maryland and Pennsylvania Railway (1901-1958), Pennsylvania Railroad (1846-1968) and Northern Central Railway (1858-1976). Since 1980, CSX Transportation has handled the majority of freight by rail through the city.

After World War II, as rail faced stiff competition from airlines and automobiles, railroads cut back on intercity passenger service. In 1970, US Congress passed the Rail Passenger Service Act, creating Amtrak. Penn Station serves customers along the Northeast Amtrak Corridor (NAC) from Boston to Washington, DC. The station also connects Baltimore's Light Rail Link to the Maryland Area Rail Commuter Rail (MARC) Penn Line. Major redevelopment of the Penn Station site and plans for critical upgrades to rail corridor infrastructure are in progress.

For more information on the legacy of railroads in Baltimore, visit the B&O Railroad Museum and www.borail.org/about.

[Captions:]
The B&O's Mt. Royal Station, designed by E. Francis Baldwin, opened in 1896. B&O Railroad Museum

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Railroad's Union Station, designed by Kenneth MacKenzie Murchison and constructed in 1911, became as the Baltimore Pennsylvania Station.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division

The four-story stone Maryland and Pennsylvania Railroad's Baltimore Station, designed by the B&O's architect, E. Francis Baldwin, opened in 1887 at North Avenue and Oak (Howard) Street.
Maryland and Pennsylvania Railroad Historical Society

In 1937, during construction of the Howard Street bridge and demolition of the stone station, a one-story frame, locally-known Ma & Pa Baltimore Station, was built under the North Avenue bridge by Falls Road.
Maryland and Pennsylvania Railroad Historical Society

Background image: Department of Public Works Bureau of Highways 1926 map shows the hub of rail transportation in central Baltimore.
Johns Hopkins Sheridan Libraries

Erected by B&O Railroad Museum; The Maryland and Pennsylvania Railroad Historical Society; Central Baltimore Partnership; Friends of The Jones Falls; Midtown Baltimore; Mahan Rykiel Associates, Inc.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Railroads & Streetcars. In addition, it is included in the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (B&O)

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), February 2, 2025

2. Baltimore's Significant Role in American Railroading History Marker

, and the Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR) series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1827.

Location. 39° 18.557′ N, 76° 37.075′ W. Marker is in Baltimore, Maryland. It is in Midtown. It is at the intersection of Maryland Avenue and Falls Road, on the right when traveling south on Maryland Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1734 Maryland Ave, Baltimore MD 21201, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Central Maryland.

It is also in the American Mid-Atlantic

and in the Chesapeake Bay Region.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies

and also the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Pennsylvania Station (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Lyric Theatre (approx. ¼ mile away); Lanvale Memorial Garden (approx. ¼ mile away); 9/11 Memorial Garden (approx. ¼ mile away); Gloria Victis (approx. ¼ mile away); Archibald Coleman Rogers, FAIA (approx. ¼ mile away); Mount Royal Station (approx. ¼ mile away); a different marker also named Mount Royal Station (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Baltimore.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Confederate Soldiers and Sailors Monument (was approx. ¼ mile away but has been confirmed missing).

Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2025. It was originally submitted on February 2, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 191 times since then and 13 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on February 2, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.