The most significant railroad serving Washington DC was Pennsylvania Railroad, with Baltimore & Ohio also significant. The PRR main line extended northeast to Baltimore and Philadelphia and New York. And B&O operated the Washington Subdivision northeast to Baltimore and beyond to Philadelphia, and the Metropolitan Subdivision northwest to Harpers Ferry and points beyond. Union Station was actually operated by Washington Terminal, and consisted mostly of stub tracks extending north and connecting with PRR and B&O. But at the east side of the station, a few depressed through tracks continued south through a tunnel. That line connected with another PRR line, which across the Potomac River connected with the Richmond Fredericksburg & Potomac main line south to Richmond. Southern Railway had trackage rights over these lines, with its main line diverging southwest to Atlanta and New Orleans. And in turn, with trackage rights over SR, was Chesapeake & Ohio with its line west towards Cincinnati. Amtrak and commuter trains continue to operate over all of these lines, except the B&O Washington Subdivision is commuter only.
Significant Locations and Distances from Station
F Tower (2 miles NE) - B&O Washington Subdivision wye connection.
QN Tower (2 miles N) - B&O Metropolitan Subdivision wye connection.
C Tower (1 mile N) - north end WT, connect with PRR, B&O.
K Tower (N of Station) - controlled most of Union Station.
A Tower (S of Station) - controlled depressed tracks south of Union Station.
Virginia (1 mile SW) - south end WT, connect with PRR.
RO Tower (3 miles SW) - south end PRR, connect with RF&P.
AF Tower (9 miles SW) - junction of RF&P, SR with trackage rights.
Orange (85 miles SW) - junction of SR, C&O with trackage rights.