• Alexandria, Virginia Union Station (Amtrak, VRE, CSX, NS)
• MARC Stations on Penn Line: Halethorpe, Odenton. (Amtrak, MARC, and occassionally at night NS)
• MARC Station on Brunswick Line: Point of Rocks, Brunswick (Amtrak, MARC, CSX)
• Weaverton Junction, MD (West of Brunswick) along the C&O Canal (Amtrak, MARC, CSX)
• MARC Station on Camden Line: St. Denis, MD MARC Station (CSX, MARC)
• Harpers Ferry, West Virginia (Amtrak, MARC, CSX)
• Fredericksburg, VA Amtrak Station (Amtrak, VRE, CSX)
• CSX Diamonds at Doswell, VA (Amtrak, CSX)
• Ashland, Virginia (Amtrak, CSX)
• Manassas, VA (Amtrak, MARC, NS)
• Shenandoah Junction, West Virginia (Amtrak, NS, CSX, MARC)

St. Denis MARC Station (North Elkridge, MD near intersections of U.S. Rt. 1 and I-195): really a sparse location (some fast food service about a mile south on Rt. 1), but more traffic than Halethorpe, BWI, or Dorsey. New signal bridge and interlocking in place right at this location. Freight traffic includes Baltimore-Washington main line and the Old Maine Line (and the original B&O maine line west through Ellicott City to Sykesville and Point of Rocks) (Old Main line Sub-division) – the tracks split about 1/2 mile west of St. Denis (at Relay). Thomas Viaduct is located nearby in Patapsco State Park (admission fee for the park though unless you bike in).

BWI Amtrak Statioin – Has food and restrooms, but is more crowded and some attendants may get fussy about photographers. You will see the same trains as at Halethorpe and Odenton. Parking isn’t free like most the other spots listed here, but it is convienient and not too expensive.

Bowie Railroad Station and Huntington Museum - Bowie Tower - Former Pennsylviania Railroad station, freight house, tower, and Norfolk & Western caboose on display. Museum is open 10 - 4 every day except Monday. Cool thing here is you can go up in the tower to take shots (there is a fence along the tracks that otherwise makes photography a little tricky). Llocated in old town Bowie along the east side of Amtrak's Northeast Corridor and just north of the Wye to the Pope's Creek Branch to Morganton. Tower was taken out of service by Amtrak in the very late 1980's and move to its present location from just across the tracks. A lawn chair is a good idea here. There are a couple cafes within walking distance.

Alexandria Union Station - Located at 101 Callahan Drive, across from trhe George Washington Masonic Memorial (up on Shooter's Hill) and adjacent to the King Street Metro Station, this is a very busy location with CSX, NS, Amtrak, and during the weekdays VRE. One of the best places to watch trains in Northern Virginia. The station is open from early morning til roughtly 9 PM daily (there are bathrooms inside) and air conditioning). The platform adjacent the station is covered, well lit, and has benches. Freight trains do move through here quickly, so be advised to stand back a bit.

Magnolia Cut-off (on the CSX Cumberland Line between Martinsburg, WV and Cumberland, MD just west of Hancock). This location may be more than two hours if you live in Northern Virginia or Southern Maryland, but its a fascinating place. The B&O from 1912-1914 built a new grade, four tunnels, an 1800 foot fill, and two bridges to "straighten" 14 miles of original right of way and cut the mileage down to a 7 miles with mild curves.. Both the original line and the new line were used until 1960, when the original alignment, which follows the meandering Potomac River, was abandoned. You can drive the old right-of-way from Hancock to the Paw Paw, WV and get to most of the truly scenic spots. The Western Maryland also meandered across the original B&O right of way, twice (you can see a couple of the old bridges). To get there, Take I-70 West to US 522 South at Hancock, MD. Just as you cross the Potomac bridge there is a road off to your left. If you take that you will drop down to the tracks level near an airport. Bear to the west and follow the railroad. Magnolia cutoff actually starts at Orleans Road which is about 10 miles in, but you will be along the tracks and there are some interesting sights, like an old brick factory.. Driving time from Hancock to Paw Paw is about 2 - 2.5 hours. It's all gravel road rough at times so don't take your low riding sports car. There are no services once you leave Hancock, so take food, first-aid, toilet paper, drinks, and have a full tank of gas. This is rural West Virginia. There are snakes; don't climb rock outcroppings or go trapsing through weeds and grass. Your cell phone probably WILL NOT work out there either. There are usually about 5 - 10 trains during the day and as many as two trains an hour average between about 9PM and 6AM. If you have a scanner the signals going east to west leaving Orleans are Doe Gully, Hansrote, Magnolia, and Paw Paw.

Dorsey MARC Station - A great place to watch MARC in the evening. The station is only accessable from MD 100 (between US Rt. 1 and the Baltimore Washington Parkway). There are also lots of freights of course. Parking is plentiful, but be leery staying there too late alone. The platform has benches and the station has bathrooms, but that is only open for a couple hours in the morning and again in the afternoon and early evening. There is fast food and gas both North and South on U.S. Route 1 nearby.

Halethorpe MARC Station - on Alternate US 1 Just north of MD I-195 (take route one exit North). MARC Trains frequent the place from about six in the morning til 10 at night Monday through Friday.. There is an abundance of speeding Amtrak trains (don't stand too close to the tracks) too pretty much seven days a week. Parking is free and there are benches and shelters on the platform, but there no bathroms.

L'enfant Plaza VRE Station - During the week there are lots of VRE trains and there are CSX Freights headed for the Virginia Avenue Tunnel as well and Amtrak trains.

Other Interesting spots, though not necessarily "Railfan HotSpots." Best time for this spot is weekends.

Martin Airport - Trains on the Northeast Corridor) and A-10s and C-130s.

B&O Station in Ellicott City - Next to CSX's "Old Main Line" which sees several slow lumbering freights a day.

Baldwin Station in Sykesville - Next to CSX's "Old Main Line" also, but has a very nice restaurant.