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Camden Station

From Alfawiki
Camden Station
Company typeTrain station / Transportation center
IndustryTransportation, Rail transport
PredecessorMount Clare Station (replaced)
Founded1857 in Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Headquarters
Baltimore
,
United States
ProductsPassenger rail services (historically), commuter rail, light rail
OwnerMaryland Transit Administration (current, implied)

Camden Station, which is also referred to as Camden Street Station, Camden Yards, and officially known as the Transportation Center at Camden Yards, is situated at the intersection of South Howard and West Camden Streets in Baltimore, Maryland. It lies adjacent to Oriole Park at Camden Yards and just behind the B&O Warehouse. This station accommodates both MARC commuter rail and the local Light Rail networks.

Built between 1856 and 1865 by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (B&O), Camden Station served as the primary passenger terminal and headquarters for B&O in Baltimore until 1881. It ranks among the longest-operating train terminals continuously functioning in the United States. The upper stories once contained offices for prominent B&O President John Work Garrett (1820–1884). The station’s location holds historical importance, having witnessed significant 19th-century incidents such as the Baltimore riot of 1861 (Pratt Street Riots) and labor disturbances during the Great Railroad Strike of 1877.

Development

In 1852, the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad's board authorized acquiring five blocks along Camden Street for $600,000 to construct a larger, more centrally located passenger and freight terminal in Baltimore, replacing the earlier Mount Clare Station. Architectural designs by Niernsee and Neilson were presented in 1855. Construction commenced in 1856 under architect Joseph F. Kemp, resulting in a three-story Italianate brick building featuring three towers. By 1857, the central portion was largely completed and began serving B&O passenger trains until the 1980s—making it one of the nation’s longest-operating terminals. The entire station, including its two wings and towers, was finalized in 1867 following the Civil War. The original height of the center tower reached 185 feet.

Civil War years

In February 1861, Abraham Lincoln passed through Camden Station on his way to his inauguration. The station’s telegraph office was the first to receive news of the Civil War’s outbreak in Baltimore. During the Baltimore riot of 1861, Union soldiers moving south took defensive positions within the station.

Throughout the Civil War, Camden Station remained B&O’s principal terminal in Baltimore since its rail line was the sole connection between Washington, D.C., and northern states. After the Battle of Antietam in 1862, it handled wounded troops as well as Confederate prisoners of war. Lincoln stopped at Camden Station again in November 1863 en route to Gettysburg and returned in April 1864. In April 1865, his funeral train made a stop there while traveling to Springfield, Illinois.

Camden Station became a key site during July 1877 amid confrontations linked to the Baltimore railroad strike, part of the nationwide Great Railroad Strike. Although rioters attempted to set fire to the station and nearby B&O properties, their efforts were mostly unsuccessful.

Beginning in 1897, lower-level platforms accommodated B&O’s New York–Washington trains via the Howard Street tunnel leading to Mount Royal Station. Significantly, on June 27, 1895, Camden Station was the site of America’s first mainline electrification of a steam railroad when an electric locomotive pulled a Royal Blue train through this tunnel.

20th century

In preparation for the 1912 Democratic National Convention, Camden Station's main waiting area received enhancements including oak paneling and marble wainscoting. Since 1887, the Annapolis & Baltimore Short Line Railroad operated services to Annapolis from Camden, with electric interurban trains running until 1950 before being replaced by buses under the Baltimore and Annapolis Railroad.

The EMC EA-EB #51 diesel locomotive commenced operations at Camden in 1937, hauling B&O's premier Royal Blue train. Camden functioned as a key junction for B&O’s commuter and long-distance services connecting to cities such as Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland, and St. Louis. Prominent trains departing from Camden included the Capitol Limited, Shenandoah, Washington–Chicago Express, National Limited, Diplomat, Metropolitan Special, and Ambassador. The Baltimore Orioles' first home game in 1954 featured the team arriving via B&O rail service from Detroit.

During the 1950s and 1960s, passenger rail experienced significant reductions, impacting Camden operations. In 1958, B&O discontinued passenger routes to Philadelphia and New York; consequently, the lower-level platforms were limited to Mount Royal Station trains until that station's closure in 1961, after which those platforms were dismantled. Currently, those tracks are utilized by freight trains managed by CSX Transportation, which succeeded B&O. The creation of Amtrak in 1971 terminated all long-distance B&O passenger routes, leaving only local commuter trains—primarily Budd Rail Diesel Cars—to operate at Camden. Throughout the 1980s, Camden remained well-preserved, underscoring B&O’s dedication to quality service and its historical importance.

Current operations

Camden Station is currently served by both the Baltimore Light Rail and the MARC Camden Line commuter rail to Washington, D.C.. The Baltimore Light Rail provides southbound connections to BWI Airport and Glen Burnie, while northbound services extend to Mount Royal, Lutherville-Timonium, and Hunt Valley.

The Maryland Transit Administration’s Light Rail began operating around the time Oriole Park at Camden Yards opened. Its schedules identify the stop as "Camden Yards," a reference to the former B&O freight yards located on the site. Although Camden Station is officially designated as the stop for Oriole Park, many attendees also opt for the nearby Convention Center station, situated close to the stadium’s main entrance. The adjacent B&O Warehouse now forms part of the stadium structure, towering over right field.

The station also experiences heavy use during Baltimore Ravens games at M&T Bank Stadium, despite that venue’s official rail stop being Stadium/Federal Hill station.

While MARC timetables continue to list "Camden Station" as the terminus for the Camden Line, only the platforms remain active. The station consists of three island platforms serving six tracks: MARC utilizes three tracks accessed via the west and center platforms; Light Rail operates on three tracks connected to the center and east platforms. Notably, the center platform accommodates both high-level MARC trains and low-level Light Rail vehicles through differing track elevations—MARC tracks are positioned 48 inches below platform level for level boarding, whereas Light Rail tracks align flush with platform height.

A temporary space frame structure was erected in 1992 as a provisional station building. In November 2016, Maryland obtained a $7.5 million federal grant to construct a permanent facility. This new station opened on September 12, 2019, offering enhanced amenities such as expanded indoor waiting areas, restrooms, updated ticket vending machines, bicycle racks, and improved information displays for both MARC and Light Rail passengers.

The original B&O station building no longer functions as a passenger facility. It was repurposed in May 2005 as the Sports Legends Museum at Camden Yards; subsequently, Geppi's Entertainment Museum opened there in 2006. The Sports Legends Museum closed its doors in 2015, followed by Geppi’s Entertainment Museum ceasing operations in 2018.

See also

External links

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