On April 13th, 2024, the American Society of Civil Engineers completed the installation of a plaque recognizing the Thomas Viaduct train bridge as a Civil Engineering Landmark.
The program guide, courtesy of the American Society of Civil Engineers, is below. It has many interesting photographs and diagrams of the Viaduct throughout history.
The video of the presentation below was recorded by the Elkridge Heritage Society to document this dedication. During the dedication speakers from ASCE, MARC, the B&O Museum, and the ASCE historians all talked about the significance and history of the Thomas Viaduct. Delegates Christopher Bouchat and Eric Ebersole attended the presentation. Friends of the Patapsco and The Patapsco Heritage Greenway were also represented.
After the presentation, and a picnic lunch that followed, we all went down to the tollbooth at the South Street entrance of the Patapsco Valley State Park, in view of the Viaduct, to see the plaque. The speakers were all there, and other park employees and event organizers. Dr. Calvin Ball, Howard County Executive, came by to see the plaque after the presentation.
Top Photo: Left: Kristopher Shea, President, Maryland Chapter, ASCE; 2nd Left: David Johnson, MDOT/Marc Train; Center: Stephanie Richmond, ASCE Md Program Chair; 4th From Right: Michael O’Connor, Maryland ASCE History and Heritage Committee; 3rd from Right: Ken Derrenbacher, Maryland ASCE History and Heritage; 2nd from Right: Sam Voso, Patapsco Park Ranger; Right: Dr. Calvin Ball, Howard County Executive. Center Photos: Left, a train appeared on the Viaduct; Center: Dr. Ball views the plaque up close; Right: Dr. Ball with Elkridge Heritage Society President Craig Pool.
For more information on the ASCE and this specific dedication: https://www.ascemd.org/institutes-Committees/history
The Elkridge Heritage Society has much of this history in our historic documents, including a blog from Jeff Lang from Nottingham, MD which we have up on our website at the following address for those looking for more history: https://elkridgeheritage.org/ehs-kb/landmarks/thomas-viaduct-relay-maryland-railroad-history/
EHS is currently trying to build our online libraries, and save the Brumbaugh House, our home. If you like this type of information and would like to see more from us, and want to help us maintain and fix our home base, the Brumbaugh House, please consider making a donation to us at this link: https://elkridgeheritage.org/donate/
Follow us on our other media outlets:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyp7VGuvDjbMkdXm1pg3dhw
Facebook: https://facebook.com/ElkridgeHeritageSociety