Glenmont, Maryland is the Red Line's northeast terminus. The line heads generally south from here via tunnels under Georgia Avenue.

Since Glenmont is the end of the line, one train is usually waiting to depart. Signage tells how soon departure will occur and reminds of the train's ultimate destination. Shady Grove is the Red Line's northwestern terminus and one of the system's busiest stations.

Operators of 7000-series cars see displays like this.

At almost 200 feet underground, Forest Glen is the system's deepest station.

This southbound train has recently risen from underground to stop at Silver Spring's station, seen at left. An overpass for the Purple Line is under construction above.

Next stop: Silver Spring.

Silver Spring became a Red Line terminal when the line reached here in 1978. That lasted until a further extention north opened during 1990.

Link: 1990

CSX, MARC and Amtrak operate on tracks outside of Metro's.

Change for: CSX ex-B&O tour at this site

Busfans tell me MCDOT 5331 is a Gillig Phantom 30'. "Ride-On" service in Montgomery County began during 1975. "Right on" was still a popular phrase when the system was planned circa 1970. The first routes served Silver Spring. The county council voted in 2025 to eliminate passenger fares from Ride On service.

Penguin Rush Hour, a 100 foot-long mural painted by Sally Callmer, previously graced a wall under the station but was removed during 2005 for eventual restoration at the Paul Sarbanes Transit Center.

Links: Pennies for Penguins, 2017 reinstallation

A Red Line train pauses at Metro's Silver Spring station at left. At photo time, the off-again on-again Purple Line project was weaving its way through town. Wayne Avenue and Ramsey Avenue meet Colesville Road at the right edge.

Workers stroll between two trains.

At Bonifant Street, a gecko ate the penguins.

There's more Metro art where Georgia Avenue passes under the railroads.

Link: Silver Spring's public art

Two tracks over Georgia Avenue (for B&O) doubled to four when Metro arrived during the 1970s.

Many stations have track crossovers nearby.

Fort Totten's is the only multi-level station to include an outdoor level. The Green Line serves other levels.

Fort Totten was created by Union forces during the Civil War to help guard Washington, DC.

Metro scoots under the CSX Metropolitan Subdivision.

Change for: CSX line tour at this site

Rhode Island Avenue Station was part of the first group of Metro stations to open. As of opening day in March 1976, it served as a terminal. It is the Metro station with the highest elevation above surrounding ground level.

A trolley ran along Rhode Island Avenue below until about 20 years prior to Metro's opening.

Change for: Rhode Island Avenue Trolley tour at this site

Northbound and southbound Red Line trains get their own elevated routes that surround Metro's Brentwood Yard facilities ahead. The two rusty tracks below connect CSX's Metropolitan Subdivision with Ivy City Yard.

Since Metro arrived later, it must dance over and around freight rail lines that have been here since the 1870s.

The autoracks of the prior panel were curving in via the track wye from CSX's Capital Subdivision (left).

WMATA's Brentwood Yard is sited where B&O and PRR trains once rolled.

A different kind of yard work is underway as a Red Line train climbs toward Rhode Island Avenue Station.

Numerous repair bays make railcars well again.

Some original Metro cars from 1976 were still in revenue service during the 2020s. That would not happen without repair facilities.

B&O's Eckington E Yard resided within the open area at left.

Looking the opposite direction from New York Avenue yields a view of the Capitol building. Closer is the NoMa Galludet U stop, Metro's first infill station. It opened in 2004.

A short distance south brings us to Union Station Yard. That's an Amtrak train on the left.

Red Line trains squeeze under H Street...

... and then arrive at Union Station, the system's busiest stop. Amtrak, MARC and Virginia Railway Express also stop here. Despite all the activity, only one of Metro's six lines serves Union Station.

This train is bound for Shady Grove, Maryland, the Red Line's northwestern terminus. The 12-mile-long Red Line was the system's longest for decades until the Silver Line's Phase 2 extension to Dulles Airport opened during 2022.

At Metro Center, the second-busiest station, Red Line riders can change for three other lines: Orange, Blue and Silver.