It carries Amtrak's Northeast Corridor and MARC's Penn Line passenger rail traffic.

On February 26, 1903, the Commissioners of the District of Columbia gave their approval for the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad (B&P, then controlled by the Pennsylvania Railroad, or PRR) to build a more direct line from Baltimore to the District of Columbia.

It would largely replace the local section of the Washington City Branch, which crossed the Anacostia 3 miles (4.8 km) to the south.

[6] Early in the morning on August 24, the Crescent Limited—a high-fare, luxury train catering to wealthy individuals—derailed as it crossed the bridge, plunging the locomotive and some passenger cars into the Anacostia River.

[7] Although traveling only 30 miles per hour (50 km/h), the locomotive was hurled nearly 125 feet (40 m) from the point where it left the rails.

A dredge, several cranes, and a pile driver were brought to shore up the bridge and help remove debris and wreckage.

[10][11] Two men were hurt on August 24 by debris and cranes attempting to lift the locomotive from the water.

[12] A temporary single-track span was erected on August 28, and traffic over the bridge resumed shortly thereafter.

[19] At first, the Federal Bureau of Investigation feared that the bridge had been set on fire deliberately as an act of sabotage.

[19] But the Metropolitan Police Department said that the fire started when a night watchman dumped hot coals from the stove in his watchhouse down the embankment of the river, igniting dry brush and oil (which had dripped from passing rail cars) at the base of the bridge.

[19] A fireboat and 20 fire trucks and engines were needed to put out the blaze, which sent flames 50 feet (15.24 m) into the air.

The owner ensures the bridge is capable of safely accommodating all rail traffic operated over the track and specifies the maximum weight the structure can support.