For those unfamiliar with what Conrail called its "Main Line Landover and South End", this was/is a freight bypass around Washington Union Station. Two tracks diverged from what is now Amtrak at Landover, MD and ran through Anacostia to Benning Yard, which is still very much in use. At the south end of the yard, Anacostia Tower controlled the junction with B&O's freight bypass from "JD" in Hyattsville. Double track then continued across the Anacostia River on a swing bridge run by the operator at Anacostia. At the mouth of Virginia Avenue tunnel, the railroad became single track (it was originally two tracks, but was single tracked in the 1950s to increase clearances. At Virginia Ave. Tower (now "CP Virginia), double track from Union Station joined. At one time there were four tracks from Virginia Ave. to an interlocking at 14th Street, just north of the Long Bridge. The two outside tracks were lifted in the 1970s.
Wire extended, as noted, to the arrival tracks and engine terminal at Potomac Yard. Wire was removed not long after electric freight operation was discontinued in 1982. Tracks running south from Union Station to CP Virginia never had wire, except for a short distance into the Capitol Hill tunnel so locos could cut off southbound trains and run to Ivy City.
Two or three years ago, CSX constructed a new siding on the former ROW of the south track from the west portal of VA Ave. Tunnel to 14th Street, about a mile and a half. This gives them two tracks from the tunnel to CP Virginia, and three tracks to 14th Street. At the same time, VRE paid for a pocket track east of L'Enfant Plaza station on the north side, long enough to store two commuter trains.
CSX plans to rebuild the VA Ave. Tunnel as part of the National Gateway project. This will give them double track from 14th Street to Anacostia Tower, where the former B&O diverges.
Longer term, VRE would like to construct a second two-track bridge across the Potomac. The railroad from "RO", just south of the river, is already three tracks to "AF" interlocking near Van Dorn Street, and CSX is installing nine miles of third main south from "AF" (paid for by Virginia).
Randy Resor, aka "NellieBly" passed away on November 1, 2013. We honor his memory and his devotion to railroading at railroad.net.