Train at the Rockville, Md. station, 1970s.

This image likely shows the inaugural run of the Shenandoah (Washington-Cumberland-Cincinnati) in October, 1976, as the train makes a stop at the historic depot in Rockville, Md. The Shenandoah, which ran until 1981, took its name from an earlier train operated by the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad (B&O). An early flyer noted, "Now for the first time you can take in eye-opening daytime views of the beautiful Blue Ridge and Allegheny mountains as you travel..." It also touted the use of new Amfleet cars on the route.

In the beginning, passengers could transfer to the combined Mountaineer/James Whitcomb Riley (later the Cardinal) at Cincinnati for connecting service to Chicago. Today, the portion of the route between Washington and Cumberland, Md. is covered by the Capitol Limited (Washington-Chicago).

The Victorian depot in this image was designed by well-known architect E. Francis Baldwin and built by the B&O in 1873. In 1981, the 400-ton building was rotated 180 degrees and moved about 30 feet south of its original location to make way for the current intermodal station that brings together the services of Amtrak, MARC rail, the Washington subway and local and regional buses. Today, the historic depot houses offices and is easily seen from passing trains.

Photographer: Unknown. From the Amtrak Corporate Collection.