This view is looking towards Baltimore. The tracks at far right is the B&O Washington Branch. JD Tower in the background, controlled the junction here for the line down through Bladensburg to Sheppards Point and connections to Potomac Yard.
The boys are standing on the double track Capitol Traction line [note the poles with crossarms supporting trolley wire...] that came out Rhode Island Ave. and entered private right of way just south of here. This line originally ran to Laurel, Md., but was cut back to Branchville, and finally to Beltsville before it was removed in the late 50's/early 60's. Much of the right of way is still quite visible.
JD Tower looked very much like this until it was removed in the 1980's. This is still a very busy junction on what is now CSX, and is controlled from many miles from here.