VRE RFW on train V312 from Spotsylvania to Washington DC. Wicked horn!!!!!!!

I have made many cab rides, but this is probably my best effort. We ride on VRE cab car V718 with a horn for the ages.  This horn will probably make many impressions, but I knew as soon as I heard it that I had to seek out this cab car and find out what train it was on. In addition to the horn blowing, we get lots of radio chatter as the engineer calls out signals in addition to getting authority from track foremen to pass numerous work limits. All stations, signals, interlocking as, and passing trains are identified. I didn’t call out too many signal indications as the engineer did that for me. Enjoy the ride. I did!!!!!

[@jimpern]

It's amazing to think that if MARC ever extends their line from Perryville to Newark, DE, it will be possible to ride commuter trains all the way from Spotsylvania to New London, CT!

[@jamesyourse6611]

Growing up in Greensboro NC on the Southern main trips to DC by train in the 1950’s on the Southerner 48 😊was amazing. The speed. It was a nite train. But upon arriving in DC the colors were amazing. ACL was so purple. I miss those days. Thanks for your videos. Also Southern was Green in those days.

[@paulw.woodring7304]

I finally finished watching all of this. I'm impressed with your knowledge of the route, especially knowing the origin of "RO", which I was going to comment on if you hadn't. The area between CP RO and the highway was the location of the very first Marriott hotel, "Twin Bridges" in the early 1950s. It survived until the late 1980s. One correction, RF&P Potomac Yard was on the left after Braddock Rd. It was still functioning when I moved to the DC area in the mid-1980s. When I was working for CSX in the '00s veteran crews still called the Four Mile Run signal "PY" for Potomac Yard. The land on the right where all the expensive town homes are was the former Southern Ry. Alexandria facility. It was where Southern/NS steam excursions for the DC area originated from until around 1990, when they closed the engine facility and started adding the steam locomotive for the excursions at Manassas. "Fleet" is an additional signal added since I left.

[@3985uprr]

I rode a 1218 steam fan trip out of the Alexandria facility in 1990

[@paulw.woodring7304]

@@3985uprr That was probably around the end of trips originating from there. I worked one of the last trips with 1218 that originated there. I'm a little fuzzy on exact dates, I was working OBS on Amtrak back then and used a rare weekend off to staff first class on an occasional trip.

[@bobthreeton6976]

Relaxing ride. Really enjoyed the commentary! Thanks for posting!

[@dalerockwell2226]

Excellent video! Noted one small caption error. Pot. Yard was on the left side of Crystal City stop, now totally developed.

[@3985uprr]

I think it was the right side going north unless there was a line relocation

[@ralphclark2711]

Outstanding video, thank you!!!!😊😊

[@jimlasterni7310]

Nice ride a nice narration I really enjoyed this video

[@jimpern]

Thanks for that. I've seen VRE trains but never had the opportunity to ride one. For a "commuter" line it looks very rural right up until you enter Alexandria! And while I don't have your horn fetish, I must admit that that car does have a very nice one!

[@DCRailfanner]

1:26:09 They are not (substantially) rebuilding the current Long Bridge. They are building 2 new bridges between the existing Long Bridge and the Fenwick (WMATA) bridge; a 2 track rail bridge and a pedestrian bridge. The current Long Bridge will stay and be primarily used for freight with passenger on the new bridge. The railroad will be quad tracked from CP Virginia to AF.

[@MarkK395]

Couple additions about Quantico. One, it's also where the FBI academy is. 2, it's also where HMX-1 (VIP helicopters) are based out of Quantico as well. Cool video BTW

[@chaddallesandro2057]

GREAT VIDEO - Thanks

[@michaelvelik8779]

Gorgeous views across the water ...

[@DCRailfanner]

1:30:45 the signal there is CP Virginia. The RF&P Sub (as defined by CSX) extends to M Street (CFP 113.8) where the Capital Sub Alexandria Extension starts but continues the CFP mileposts until the wye at Tanglewood (~CFP 121)

[@3985uprr]

I knew it wasn’t far past the turnoff to Union Station

[@Nurvington]

Excellent video once again!

[@paulw.woodring7304]

For Amtrak trains going North to the NEC, Featherstone Rd. is the last at-grade crossing before New London, CT.

[@3985uprr]

True.

[@valeriestanford335]

Great clear video and commentary.

[@ariesarethebest271]

This is going to be great!

[@jimpern]

At 1:07:48 that's the Capitol Beltway (I-95/495) overhead!

[@ToABrighterFuture]

Also, the Metro station at L'Enfant Plaza is the only one with service from five lines. The only line that doesn't go there, is the Red Line, which goes to Union Station.

[@Nerdy_dude]

Thanks for doing my home train! I’m just mannases though.

[@3985uprr]

I’ve already retired. That’s why I’m rail fanning hence the name.

[@paulw.woodring7304]

Yes, it is the "Meade Pyramid". Placed by the Daughters of the Confederacy to commemorate the spot where Union Gen. George Meade was stopped and turned back during the Battle of Fredericksburg. Part of the era of racist confederate monuments being put up in the South. I was a qualified CSX engineer over this territory in the '00s, and before that was a Washington, DC-based Amtrak Lead Service Attendant for 14 years.

[@DCRailfanner]

28:22 track layout is reversed. Track 1 is always the extra third track to the right going north on the RF&P, with the main lines that run the whole route being tracks 3 and 2 (right to left going northbound). The RF&P was a left-running railroad, running north on 3 and south on 2. At L'Enfant the third track is on the west side and is Track 4. Milepost prefixes are CFP, not CFB. Train symbol is P312, not V312. Park on the left at RO is Long Bridge Park, named after the bridge.

[@3985uprr]

I did my best for a native Long Islander. I was thinking of FB interlocking in Fredericksburg when I used that CFB

[@ariesarethebest271]

This was excellent! So I have to admit, I never knew Virginia had a commuter railroad train. Sure look forward to you doing more rfw view videos of this line. I actualy enjoyed this way more than your Caltrain rfw because the cab car horn is very enjoyable. Would have been great if LIRR had these horns on their cab car fleet.

[@3985uprr]

I am planning on going to SF this summer yeah the Caltrain horns aren’t that good but I love doing RFW’s

[@ItsTheCostanza]

Railfan the Lansdale & Ambler Train Station

[@dr.johnwhalen9348]

That hockey fan must be a Rangers fan. Don’t worry, you’ll get your revenge soon. 😊

[@3985uprr]

I can’t wait.

[@rolloman667]

What is the top speed on this line? Looks like it could easily be upgraded to 90MPH or even 110MPH.

[@christophercancel934]

Yeah it was fun. I wasn't sure where the Silver Service splits after Alexandria.

[@ToABrighterFuture]

Hold up...they let you in the cab? How did you arrange that?!

[@3985uprr]

They are gallery cars. They have railfan windows

[@ViewpointUnique]

Hey RRHG, I’m going to be in Alexandria this weekend visiting the wife’s family, I’m hoping to pick one day to do some railfanning around DC (either Saturday during the day or perhaps Tuesday morning). Any chance you’d be available and interested in meeting up?

[@3985uprr]

I live far away in Long Island

[@ViewpointUnique]

@@3985uprr yeah I don’t know that I’ll be able to get that far up there in the time I’ll have lol. Any suggestions for good spots around DC for me to railfan? Along the NEC is a no-brainer but I’m not familiar with much else, I’m usually only in DC on layover. Won’t have a car, so preferrably accessible by one of the rail services.

[@3985uprr]

@@ViewpointUnique. A number of red line stations parallel CSX. Green Line parallels CSX around Greenbelt

[@Nerdy_dude]

@@ViewpointUniqueas someone who lives in Washington/Virginia I would say the best place to railfan would be Alexandrea cause all trains going south stop there. But for NEC I would say any train station on the MARK line between union station and penn. If you want to see the auto train then Fredericksburg is good also, but that’s far from DC.

[@Nerdy_dude]

@@3985uprralso my aunt lives in merric on Long Island so whenever I see her I go on LIRR

[@valeriestanford335]

Why do you say thattheywill never have to deal with you again ???

[@3985uprr]

They likely won’t hear me making noise with the radio on their trains again

[@valeriestanford335]

@@3985uprr oh good I was afraid you were really retiring!