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Railfanning at Shenandoah Junction in West Virginia
I had never heard of Shenandoah Junction as a railfanning spot until recently. It is the junction of the old Baltimore & Ohio with the Norfolk and Western. Now they cross separated by a through plate girder bridge – today’s Norfolk Southern above and the present CSX running below. When we had visited, we saw five freight trains run though in short order. It is a great spot for taking photographs.
You will encounter other rail fans there just don’t expect much help from locals to find the spot. One railfan did help us download the free scanner radio app to my wife’s iphone. Thereafter, my stepson Alexander was able to listen to railroad employee communications. Our cashier at the pizzeria had no clue that a railfan spot was nearby – funny thing as we walked out of the pizzeria a freight trains rumbled through right up against the parking lot of her place of business. The closest place we found to eat was King’s New York Pizza which has an address of 43 C Ruland Road Kearneysville, WV 25430. Other places to eat and access a rest room are relatively nearby.
From McLean, Virginia, MapQuest puts the ride at about an hour and five minutes so most Potomac Division members can make a handy day trip out of this. You will likely access the junction by stopping along Potomac Avenue which is off Ridge Road. Viewing the junction from the opposite side of the tracks is problematical as the junction is bordered by an apple orchard.
To make a for a well-rounded trip with a spouse, you can take a side trip to beautiful Shepardstown, West Virginia. It is only about 15 minutes away. It has a bit of a hippy vibe (not a selling point for me) due to the university but there are plenty of restaurants and shops to try - seems ex-hippy professors like fine dining despite their professions of love for the simple life). Parking meters only operated Monday through Friday.
Obey any “no trespassing” signs you may encounter. Be safe and respectful during your visit.
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