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Exploring the History of Washington D.C.’s Eckington Rail Yard

Take a look back at the history of Washington D.C.'s Eckington Rail Yard with rare photos from the 1920s, a map from 1919, and a modern comparison to the FedEx shipping center at the intersection of New York Ave. and Florida Ave.
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Pullman autos are extremely rare. They were mass produced between 1905 and 1917 but less than 30 are known to still exist today.

We came across a great photo via Shorpy’s Twitter handle this weekend. It shows the old Eckington rail yard back in the 1920s.

"Eckington Yards, June 4, 1923." A rare and unusually detailed look at the Baltimore & Ohio rail yard in Washington, D.C., during that year's big gathering of Masonic lodges. National Photo Company glass negative.
“Eckington Yards, June 4, 1923.” A rare and unusually detailed look at the Baltimore & Ohio rail yard in Washington, D.C., during that year’s big gathering of Masonic lodges. National Photo Company glass negative.
"Past and present in locomotives. Eckington Yards, June 4, 1923." A closeup of the locomotive in the Baltimore & Ohio rail yard during the Masonic convention in Washington, D.C. The big engine wears the livery of "Boumi Temple," a Baltimore Shrine lodge. 5x7 glass negative.
“Past and present in locomotives. Eckington Yards, June 4, 1923.” A closeup of the locomotive in the Baltimore & Ohio rail yard during the Masonic convention in Washington, D.C. The big engine wears the livery of “Boumi Temple,” a Baltimore Shrine lodge. 5×7 glass negative.

Check out the map of the same area from 1919.

Eckington in 1919
Eckington in 1919

Today, this area is occupied by the FedEx shipping center at the intersection of New York Ave. and Florida Ave.

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