Washington and Old Dominion Railroad
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The Washington and Old Dominion Railroad (colloquially referred to as the W&OD) was an intrastate short-line railroad located in Northern Virginia. Its oldest line extended from Alexandria on the Potomac River northwest to Bluemont at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains near Snickers Gap, not far from the boundary line between Virginia and West Virginia. The railroad's route largely paralleled the routes of the Potomac River and the present Virginia Route 7.
The line followed the winding course of Four Mile Run upstream from Alexandria through Arlington to Falls Church. At that point, the railroad was above the fall line and was able to follow a more direct course in Virginia through Dunn Loring, Vienna, Sunset Hills (now in Reston), Herndon, Sterling, Ashburn, Leesburg, Paeonian Springs, Hamilton, Purcellville and Round Hill to its terminus at Bluemont, turning sharply only after passing through Clarkes Gap in Catoctin Mountain west of Leesburg. The Washington & Old Dominion Railroad Trail (W&OD Trail) and several other trails have replaced much of the railroad's route.
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[edit] General history
Originally incorporated as the Alexandria and Harper's Ferry Railroad, construction on the line began in 1855 by the Alexandria, Loudoun and Hampshire Railroad (AL&H). First intended to cross the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Shenandoah River to reach the coal fields in the western part of Hampshire County, Virginia, that are now within Mineral County, West Virginia, the AL&H reached Leesburg in Loudoun County in 1860. Because of its proximity to Washington, D.C., the line saw much use and disruption during the Civil War. After the war, the name of the line was changed in 1870 to the Washington and Ohio Railroad. The line was extended from Leesburg to Hamilton in 1870 and to Round Hill in 1874.
Upon acquisition by new owners in the 1880s, the line's name was changed twice: first to the Washington and Western Railroad in 1882 and in the next year to the Washington, Ohio and Western (WO&W) Railroad. However, the line's trains did not serve either Washington, Ohio, or the West.
In 1886, the Richmond and Danville Railroad, a trunk line that connected Washington, D.C., with Atlanta, Georgia, leased the WO&W and operated the WO&W's trains between the Washington, D.C., and Round Hill. In 1894, the newly-formed Southern Railway absorbed the Richmond and Danville Railroad and acquired the WO&W. In 1900, the Southern Railway extended the line westward for four miles from Round Hill to Bluemont (formerly Snickersville). The Southern Railway designated the line as its Bluemont Branch.
By 1907, steam locomotives were hauling Southern Railway passenger trains from the new Union Station in Washington, D.C., to Alexandria Junction (north of old town Alexandria), where they switched to travel westward on the Bluemont Branch. A connecting line shuttled passengers from a station in old town Alexandria on a route that the AL&H had earlier established. On weekends, express trains carried vacationers from Washington to Bluemont and other towns in western Loudoun County in which resorts had developed.
Meanwhile, in 1906, electric trolleys had begun to run on the Great Falls and Old Dominion Railroad (GF&OD) northwest to Great Falls from Georgetown in Washington, D.C. This line crossed the Potomac River on the old Aqueduct Bridge, passed through Rosslyn, and traveled northwest on a double-tracked line through Arlington and Fairfax County to an amusement park (trolley park) that the railway constructed and operated near the Falls.
In 1911, the owners of the GF&OD formed a new corporation, the Washington and Old Dominion Railway. In 1912, the GF&OD became the "Great Falls Division" of the W&OD Railway.
Also in 1912, the W&OD Railway leased all of the Southern Railway's Bluemont Branch, except for a short segment connecting Potomac Yard with old town Alexandria. The W&OD made the Southern's Bluemont Branch a part of the new railway's "Bluemont Division" and electrified all of its operations over the next four years, becoming an interurban electric trolley system that carried passengers, mail, milk and freight. From that time onward, W&OD trains crossed over Potomac Yard on a long viaduct. In contrast to the Southern Railway's earlier Bluemont Branch service, the W&OD Railway's Bluemont Division did not serve Washington's Union Station.
To join its two lines, the W&OD Railway constructed in 1912 a double-tracked Bluemont Division connecting line that traveled between two new junctions in Arlington: Bluemont Junction on the Alexandria-Bluemont line and Thrifton Junction on the Georgetown-Great Falls line. The connecting line passed a short distance west of Ballston, crossing on a plate girder bridge over a competing interurban electric trolley line (the Fairfax line of the Washington-Virginia Railway) that carried passengers between Rosslyn, Clarendon, Ballston, Falls Church, Vienna and Fairfax City.
The railway distributed direct current (DC) to its Bluemont Division cars and trains through overhead catenary wires. Single overhead wires carried the Great Falls Division's electricity over its tracks. Stationary and movable electrical substations containing Westinghouse transformers and AC to DC converters were located at various points along the railway's routes.
The W&OD's main passenger line ran from Georgetown and Rosslyn through Thrifton Junction, Bluemont Junction and westward to Bluemont. However, after crossing the Potomac River from Georgetown, many W&OD passengers transferred in Rosslyn to the trolleys of the competing Washington-Virginia Railway. Most of the W&OD's freight trains ran between Potomac Yard, Bluemont Junction and either Rosslyn or various locations along the Bluemont Division.
In 1923, the W&OD Railway ceased operating from Georgetown when the federal government replaced the aging Aqueduct Bridge with the new Francis Scott Key Bridge. At the same time, the railroad constructed a new passenger station in Rosslyn which became its "Washington" terminal.
The W&OD Railway fell upon hard times in the 1930s during the Great Depression. In 1932, the railway went into bankruptcy and was placed in receivership. In 1934, the railway abandoned operations on the Great Falls Division between Thrifton Junction and Great Falls.
In 1936, a new corporation, the Washington and Old Dominion Railroad, assumed operation of the remnants of the W&OD Railway, which by then consisted only of the Railway's Bluemont Division and the portion of the former Great Falls Division that had remained between Rosslyn and Thrifton (which was no longer a junction). Shortly thereafter, in 1939, the railroad abandoned the western end of its line, which had connected the towns of Purcellville and Bluemont.
In 1943, the W&OD Railroad acquired ownership of the section of line between Potomac Yard and Purcellville that the W&OD Railway had earlier leased from the Southern Railway. The Southern Railway retained ownership of the easternmost section of the railroad's route between Potomac Yard and old town Alexandria.
During the 1940s, the W&OD Railroad converted all of its lines' operations from electric to diesel or gasoline power. During that decade, the railroad discontinued its electrified passenger service in 1941, but temporarily resumed passenger service during the Second World War using gas-electric motor cars and cars pulled by diesel-electric locomotives. Passenger and mail service finally ended in 1951; thereafter, the railroad carried only freight.
The Chesapeake and Ohio Railway (C&O) purchased the W&OD Railroad in 1956, but did not change the railroad's name. In 1963, the C&O abandoned the segment of its line that traveled between Rosslyn, Thrifton and Ballston. The Commonwealth of Virginia then purchased this segment to acquire a right-of-way for the planned route of Interstate 66 (I-66).
Five years later, in 1968, the railroad, which by that time ran only between Alexandria and Purcellville, ceased operations. Shortly thereafter, the C&O sold the remainder of the railroad's route to the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Commonwealth then sold most of the route to the Virginia Electric Power Company (VEPCO) (now Dominion Virginia Power), whose transmission lines had run along the railroad's right-of-way. The Commonwealth retained a portion of the route in Arlington immediately east of Falls Church, on which it built I-66, and the section of the route which crossed the Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway (presently part of Interstate 395 (I-395)) along the Arlington-Alexandria boundary.
[edit] Bluemont Division, Alexandria-Bluemont Line
Most of the Bluemont Division's passenger cars or trains ran on the W&OD Railway's Great Falls Division's line from Georgetown over the Aqueduct Bridge through Rosslyn to Thrifton Junction. From Thrifton Junction, the trains ran on the Bluemont Division's connecting line to Bluemont Junction, where they met other Bluemont Division passenger cars or trains that ran from old-town Alexandria or Potomac Yard, following Four Mile Run in Arlington. Some of the Bluemont Division cars or trains then continued their trips through Falls Church, Vienna, Herndon, Sterling, Ashburn, Leesburg, Clarkes Gap and Purcellville to terminate in Bluemont, Virginia, at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains, following a route that was similar to that of Virginia State Route 7.
The Norfolk Southern Railway now operates a spur between the Alexandria waterfront and a Southern Railway main line that earlier had traveled through Potomac Yard. The route of the spur formerly served W&OD trains traveling on the Bluemont Division to the Division's freight and passenger stations in old town Alexandria. As the Southern Railway owned and operated the route of the spur and the stations, this section of track remained in operation after the W&OD closed.
A paved trail in Alexandria's linear Mt. Jefferson Park and Greenway has replaced part of the Bluemont Division's course through that city. The Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority's W&OD Trail travels in the Washington & Old Dominion Railroad Regional Park within the Bluemont Division's former right-of-way from the Alexandria/Arlington boundary through Bluemont Junction to Purcellville. The section of the Bluemont Division between Purcellville and Bluemont has not become a part of any trail, as the W&OD Railroad abandoned this section many years before the remainder of its line closed in 1968.
I-66 and its adjacent Custis Trail now travel on the former right-of-way of the W&OD Railway's Great Falls Division between Rosslyn and Thrifton Junction. The highway and the trail continue to Washington Boulevard in Ballston along the former route of the Bluemont Division's Thrifton - Bluemont Junction connecting line.
Arlington County's Bluemont Junction Trail now travels on the connecting line's former right-of-way from Washington Boulevard to meet the W&OD Trail near Bluemont Junction. The Junction now contains an Arlington County railroad display that features a bay window Southern Railway caboose that was built in 1972, four years after the W&OD closed.
[edit] Stations
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The stations on the Alexandria-Bluemont line of the Bluemont Division (with locations of sites in 2006) were:
[edit] Existing remnants of Bluemont Division, Alexandria-Bluemont Line
The following remnants of the Alexandria-Bluemont Line were visible in 2007:
[edit] Stations
| Station | Location | Jurisdiction | Operator | Present use | Photo | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vienna | 231 Dominion Road NE at Ayr Hill Avenue NE (southeast side) & W&OD Trail | Town of Vienna | Northern Virginia Model Railroaders, Inc. | Museum and model railroad layout | 2007 | |
| Sunset Hills | Old Reston Avenue (west side) & W&OD Trail | Fairfax County | Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority | Vacant | Former headquarters office of Washington and Old Dominion Railroad Regional Park. | |
| Herndon | 717 Lynn Street at Station Street (south side) & W&OD Trail | Town of Herndon | Herndon Historical Society | Visitor center and historical museum | 2006 undated | Listed on National Register of Historic Places
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| Leesburg Freight Station | Market Station at Harrison Street SE (west side) and Royal Street SE | Town of Leesburg | Metro Management Services, LLC | Pizza restaurant | 2008 | Moved two blocks north of original location in 1985. |
| Clarkes Gap Passenger Shelter | Simpson Circle (west side) & W&OD Trail | Loudoun County | Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority | Trailside shelter | 2007 | Replaced burned Clarkes Gap station. Preserved by former W&OD Railroad employee. Relocated to former site of Paeonian Springs station by Northern Virginia Regional Parks Authority. |
| Hamilton | Hamilton Station Road (east side) & W&OD Trail | Loudoun County | Loudoun Milling Company | Mill equipment storage | Undated | |
| Purcellville | 21st Street N (east side) and W&OD Trail | Town of Purcellville | Purcellville Preservation Association | Public meeting space | undated | Preserved and restored by Purcellville Preservation Association. |
| Round Hill | 35 Main Street | Town of Round Hill | Property owners | Private residences | 1997 | Former passenger station, freight station and electrical substation are private residences. |
[edit] Bridges and overpasses
[edit] Other remnants
| Remnant | Location | Jurisdiction | W&OD Trail Mile | Side of Tracks | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norfolk Southern Railway spur | Tracks between Pendleton Street (west of intersection with N. Fairfax St.) and CSX main line near Slaters Lane | City of Alexandria | ------------ | Operating railroad; formerly owned by Southern Railway | |
| Floor of electrical substation at Bluemont Junction | Between soccer field and 1972 Southern Railway caboose east of W&OD Trail in Bluemont Junction Park (between Bluemont Junction Trail and Wilson Boulevard) | Arlington County | 3.4 | East | In Bluemont Junction Historical Railroad Display |
| Elevated siding with rails and ties | 0.05 mile west of Lee Highway (U.S. Route 29); south of W&OD Trail | Arlington County | 5.6 | South | Formerly used to unload coal from hopper cars |
| Leesburg Station master's house | Market Station at Harrison Street SE (west side) and South Street SE | Town of Leesburg | ------------ | Moved to Market Station (south of relocated freight station). Used as store. |
[edit] Trails along railroad route
[edit] Rail trails
- Trail between E. Raymond Avenue and Commonwealth Avenue in Mt. Jefferson Park and Greenway, Alexandria
- Washington & Old Dominion Railroad Trail (W&OD Trail)
[edit] Other trails
- Unpaved trail connecting Russell Road and Landover Street, Alexandria
- Section of Mount Vernon Trail adjacent to Norfolk Southern Railroad spur between Pendleton Street and E. Abingdon Drive, Alexandria
[edit] Linear parks along railroad route
[edit] Great Falls Division
[edit] Bluemont Division, Thrifton-Bluemont Junction Connecting Line
In 1912, the new Washington and Old Dominion Railway constructed the electrified Thrifton-Bluemont Junction connecting line to connect the Railway's Georgetown-Great Falls line with the Alexandria-Bluemont line. The line travelled between Thrifton Junction (near the present crossing of I-66 and Lee Highway (U.S. Route 29) at the Lyon Village Shopping Center) and Bluemont Junction (presently in Arlington County's Bluemont Junction Park), passing the west end of Ballston along the way. Sometimes termed the "Rosslyn Branch" or the "Spout Run Branch", the line climbed a grade while following the route of Spout Run after leaving Thrifton.
The line closed in sections between 1963 and 1968. I-66 and the Custis Trail replaced the line between Thrifton and Washington Boulevard in Ballston. Arlington County's Bluemont Junction Trail replaced the line between Washington Boulevard and Bluemont Junction.
[edit] Stations
The stations on the Thrifton-Bluemont Junction connecting line of the Bluemont Division (with locations of sites in 2006) were:
| Station | Location | Jurisdiction | Side of Tracks | Photo | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thrifton | I-66 between Lee Highway and Spout Run Parkway | Arlington County | North of Lyon Village shopping center. Named for Hugh A. Thrift. East of junction with Thrifton – Bluemont Junction connecting line.
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| Hayes | N. Lincoln Street (east side) and I-66 | Arlington County | South | ||
| Douglas | N. Quincy Street (east side) and I-66 | Arlington County | South | ||
| Clements Avenue | N. Stafford Street and I-66 | Arlington County | |||
| Clarenford | N. Utah Street (east side) and I-66 | Arlington County | South | ||
| Lacey | N. Glebe Road (east side) and I-66 | Arlington County | Southeast | ||
| Waycroft | N. Buchanan Street and Bluemont Junction Trail | Arlington County | 0.2 mile south of crossing of Fairfax line of Washington-Virginia Railway | ||
| Garrison | N. George Mason Drive at Wilson Boulevard (north side) and Bluemont Junction Trail | Arlington County | Southeast | Undated | |
| Arlington Avenue | N. Jefferson Street and Bluemont Junction Trail | Arlington County | |||
| Bon Air | N. Kensington Street (northeast side) and Bluemont Junction Trail | Arlington County | South | ||
| Bluemont Junction | W&OD Trail between Wilson Boulevard and Bluemont Junction Trail | Arlington County | East | 1950's | Junction with Alexandria-Bluemont line. Historical markers at site. |
[edit] Roads and trails along railroad route
[edit] Road
I-66 between Lee Highway (U.S. Route 29) and Washington Boulevard
[edit] Rail Trail
Bluemont Junction Trail between Washington Boulevard and Mile 3.3 of Washington & Old Dominion Railroad Trail
[edit] Other Trail
Custis Trail between Lee Highway (U.S. Route 29) and Washington Boulevard
[edit] Linear park along railroad route
Bluemont Junction Park between Fairfax Drive and W&OD Trail
[edit] See also
[edit] Notes
- ^ Locations of stations according to distances in Harwood, Herbert Hawley (2000), "Washington & Old Dominion Station List", in Rails to the Blue Ridge: The Washington and Old Dominion Railroad, 1847–1968 (ISBN 0-615-11453-9), pages 139-141.
- ^ Locations of sites in 2006 on hybrid satellite image/street map from WikiMapia
- ^ W&OD Trail mileages and maps from "Map of the W&OD" page of The Friends of the Washington & Old Dominion Trail website Accessed March 12, 2008.
- ^ Circa 1900 map of Del Ray and St. Elmo showing Alexandria Junction and Washington & Ohio Junction on page 12 in Schulte, B, "This Year, Marking a Scrappy Start", Washington Post, Alexandria-Arlington Extra section, March 6, 2008, pp. 12-13. Map is on fourth slide in slideshow in article on washingtonpost.com website . Accessed March 12, 2008
[edit] References
- Harwood, Herbert Hawley (2000). Rails to the Blue Ridge: The Washington and Old Dominion Railroad, 1847–1968. ISBN 0-615-11453-9.
- Williams, Ames W (1989). The Washington and Old Dominion Railroad. ISBN 0-926984-00-4.
- Neville, Ashley M., National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Washington & Old Dominion Railroad Historic District (Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) No. 053-0276), Gray & Pape, Inc., Richmond, Virginia, July 25, 2000, in Appendix J of NORTHERN VIRGINIA REGIONAL PARK AUTHORITY - PRE-FILED DIRECT TESTIMONY OF MR. HAFNER, MR. MCRAY AND MR. SIMMONS, November 30, 2005 (Part 4 of 5, pages 1-46). Retrieved on March 24, 2008, in Case Docket Search for documents in Case No. PUE-2005-00018 on official website of the Commonwealth of Virginia State Corporation Commission.
[edit] External links
- A detailed history
- The Washington and Old Dominion Railroad in Del Ray
- Washington & Old Dominion Railroad Regional Park (official site of Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority
- Friends of the W&OD Trail
- Friends of the W&OD Trail map of the Washington & Old Dominion Trail showing mileages
- Washington & Old Dominion Trail at BikeWashington.org
- Washington & Old Dominion Trail showing the individual segments and distances
- Map showing the course of W&OD Trail
- "Washington and Old Dominion Railroad Markers" series in HMdb.org: The Historical Marker Database official website Photographs and descriptions of markers describing the history of the W&OD Railroad.
