Gaithersburg station
| Company type | Commuter rail station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Transportation |
| Founded | 1884 |
| Headquarters | Gaithersburg , United States |
| Products | Commuter rail services (MARC Brunswick Line) |
Gaithersburg station functions as a commuter rail stop located on the Metropolitan Subdivision within the heart of Gaithersburg, Maryland. It currently receives service from the MARC Brunswick Line. Historically, from 1971 until 1986, Amtrak also operated trains through this station. The former station building and freight shed, constructed in 1884 and designed by architect Ephraim Francis Baldwin, are recognized on the National Register of Historic Places under the name Gaithersburg B & O Railroad Station and Freight Shed. Today, these preserved structures accommodate the Gaithersburg Community Museum.
History
Constructed in 1884 for the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad’s Metropolitan Branch, the station was designed by Ephraim Francis Baldwin. The site consists of two significant historic buildings: a one-story passenger station built with common-bond brick and topped with a gabled roof, closely resembling Baldwin’s 1884 design for the Laurel, Maryland station; and a brick freight shed measuring approximately 45 feet by 20 feet situated about 90 feet to the east. An expansion extended the station eastward in 1905.
Following the creation of Amtrak in 1971, passenger services by B&O were replaced first by the Potomac Special, then by the Blue Ridge starting in 1973. Between 1976 and 1981, the station also accommodated the Shenandoah train. In 1978, both buildings were added to the National Register of Historic Places as Gaithersburg B & O Railroad Station and Freight Shed. Amtrak continued operations here until 1986, after which the station became part of MARC’s Brunswick Line network. Passenger disembarkation shifted from platform areas to adjacent roadways, with an auxiliary exit occasionally used for longer trains. To improve infrastructure, a contemporary parking garage and a pedestrian overpass spanning South Summit Avenue were completed in 2000 and 2001 respectively.
Gaithersburg Community Museum
Occupying the restored B&O Railroad Station complex dating back to 1884, the Gaithersburg Community Museum includes not only the freight house but also features a history park and a caboose. Its exhibits highlight local history alongside railroad artifacts and equipment of historical significance.
Among its notable displays are the steam locomotive Consolidation #14 from the Buffalo Creek and Gauley Railroad, a caboose, and a Budd RDC, all positioned in front of the freight shed.