CSXT

the modern CSXT railroad operates major rail yards at Clifton Forge, Petersburg, Newport News, and Richmond, plus terminals to transfer cargo (including ethanol) at Fredericksburg, Richmond, and Portsmouth
the modern CSXT railroad operates major rail yards at Clifton Forge, Petersburg, Newport News, and Richmond, plus terminals to transfer cargo (including ethanol) at Fredericksburg, Richmond, and Portsmouth
Source: CSXT, Virginia

The oldest Virginia-based component of the CSXT is the Richmond, Fredericksburg, and Potomac (RF&P) Railroad, chartered in 1834.

The second-oldest component is the Louisa Railroad. That line began in 1836, with its main business being the transport of farm products from farms in the Piedmont to Richmond. Starting in 1849, it became the Virginia Central.

the Chesapeake and Ohio trains stopped in Gordonsville, where passengers bought fried chicken
the Chesapeake and Ohio trains stopped in Gordonsville, where passengers bought fried chicken
Source: "The Chesapeake & Ohio Railway Directory, Containing an Illustrated History and Description of the Road," Gordonsville - Local Commissary Department (p.224)

During the Civil War, the rail line was heavily damaged. In 1869, Collis P. Huntington acquired the Virginia Central, and it was renamed the Chesapeake and Ohio (C&O) Railway Company in 1878.

in 1881 the C&O's Wickham Station in Hanover County served the Hickory Hill plantation of Williams Carter Wickham, a high official of the railroad
in 1881 the C&O's Wickham Station in Hanover County served the Hickory Hill plantation of Williams Carter Wickham, a high official of the railroad
Source: "The Chesapeake & Ohio Railway Directory, Containing an Illustrated History and Description of the Road," Wickham's Station (p.216)

It remained the Chesapeake and Ohio until 1973. A merger with the Baltimore and Ohio (B&O) Railroad resulted in a name change to Chessie System Railroads. The Seaboard System was added in 1980, and that expansion led to the final name of CSXT (CSX Transportation).1

the Chesapeake and Ohio advertised its route through the mountains in 1881
the Chesapeake and Ohio advertised its route through the mountains in 1881
Source: The Chesapeake & Ohio Railway Directory, Containing an Illustrated History and Description of the Road (p.99)

Before the Civil War, there were plans to extend the Virginia Central west to the coal fields of West Virginia via Harrisonburg. The railroad would cross the Blue Ridge at Thornton Gap, where Route 211 today connects Sperryville with Luray in the Shenandoah Valley. The same gap was the target for the Royal Land Company's plans in 1876 to extend the Potomac, Fredericksburg & Piedmont (PF&P) across the Blue Ridge.2

In the end, the Virginia Central crossed the Blue Ridge at Afton Gap, where Claudius Crozet built the only tunnel in Virginia to cross the mountains. Gordonsville became famous for the chicken prepared by local residents and sold to passengers when trains stopped there.

the Virginia Central used a tunnel carved through the Blue Ridge by Claudius Crozet, and financed by the state of Virginia
the Virginia Central used a tunnel carved through the Blue Ridge by Claudius Crozet, and financed by the state of Virginia
the Virginia Central used a tunnel carved through the Blue Ridge by Claudius Crozet, and financed by the state of Virginia
Source: "The Chesapeake & Ohio Railway Directory, Containing an Illustrated History and Description of the Road," Blue Ridge Tunnel, East Entrance - Opened to Travel in 1858 (p.262) and View from Rockbridge Gap of West Entrance of Blue Ridge Tunnel (p.268)

west of Staunton, the Virginia Central crossed Mill Mountain via Panther Gap
west of Staunton, the Virginia Central crossed Mill Mountain via Panther Gap
Source: "The Chesapeake & Ohio Railway Directory, Containing an Illustrated History and Description of the Road," Panther Gap - Looking East (p.316)

the CSXT still crosses Mill Mountain at Panther Gap
the CSXT still crosses Mill Mountain at Panther Gap
Source: ESRI, ArcGIS Online

The Chesapeake and Ohio's Lewis Tunnel, finished in 1873, is one candidate for the location where the legendary "steel drivin' man" John Henry used his sledge hammer to race a steam drill. According to historian Scott Reynolds Nelson, Henry was a prisoner rented by the Virginia Penitentiary to the railroad.

The lungs of the workers building that tunnel were damaged by silica dust inhaled during construction. That dust facilitated tuberculosis and pneumonia, or directly caused death within several years through silicosis. The prisoners were unable to go on strike to obtain better working conditions, and:3

The use of steam drills on the sandstone in the Lewis Tunnel... probably killed every worker in the tunnel in the space of a few years.

Atlantic Coast Line

Blue Ridge Tunnel

Norfolk & Carolina Railroad

North Carolina & Virginia Railroad

Railroad Access and Hampton Roads Shipping Terminals

the Lewis Tunnel was constructed in Alleghany County to help the C&O Railroad cross the watershed divide between the headwaters of the James River in Virginia and the Greenbrier River in West Virginia
the Lewis Tunnel was constructed in Alleghany County to help the C&O Railroad cross the watershed divide between the headwaters of the James River in Virginia and the Greenbrier River in West Virginia
Source: ESRI, ArcGIS Online

Appalachian Tank Car Services operates a repair business on the CSXT line, upstream of Lynchburg
Appalachian Tank Car Services operates a repair business on the CSXT line, upstream of Lynchburg

CSXT (red line) uses routes first built by the Louisville and Nashville and the Clinchfield railroads to carry West Virginia coal to South Carolina and Georgia
CSXT (red line) uses routes first built by the Louisville and Nashville and the Clinchfield railroads to carry West Virginia coal to South Carolina and Georgia
Source: Virginia Rail Map

CSXT freight train coming through Richmond at Main Street Station
CSXT freight train coming through Richmond at Main Street Station
Source: Virginia Department of Transportation, Main Street Station

Links

each December, CSXT operates the Santa Train and distributes free toys to children in Appalachian towns between Elkhorn City, Kentucky to Kingsport, Tennessee (see route with green center)
each December, CSXT operates the Santa Train and distributes free toys to children in Appalachian towns between Elkhorn City, Kentucky to Kingsport, Tennessee (see route with green center)
Source: Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation, Virginia Railroad Map (2012)

1835 plans for the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad
1835 plans for the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad
Source: Library of Virginia, Bureau of Public Works Entry 532, Map #2

References

1. "Map Collection Includes Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Materials," Library of Virginia e-newsletter, November 11, 2009, http://www.lva.virginia.gov/news/newsletter/stories/2009_11-november.asp (last checked February 12, 2017)
2. The Royal Land Com'y of Virginia, Clemmitt & Jones, 1877, pp.2-3, p.15, pp.17-18, https://books.google.com/books?id=9K9AAAAAYAAJ (last checked February 2, 2017)
3. Scott Reynolds Nelson, Steel Drivin' Man: John Henry: the Untold Story of an American Legend, Oxford University Press, 2006, pp.90-92, https://books.google.com/books?id=ZgIIF8cTCVAC; John Garst, "On the Trail of the Real John Henry," History News Network, November 27, 2006, http://historynewsnetwork.org/article/31137 (last checked July 31, 2015)

CSXT owns the tracks between Washington DC's L'Enfant Plaza and Richmond, so Amtrak and Norfolk Southern must lease rights for their trains to use those tracks
CSXT owns the tracks between Washington DC's L'Enfant Plaza and Richmond, so Amtrak and Norfolk Southern must lease rights for their trains to use those tracks
Source: Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation, D.C. to Richmond Southeast High Speed Rail - Purpose and Need Statement, Figure 5: Number of Daily Trains by Segment (p.20)

signals on CSXT railroad at Columbia (Fluvanna County)
signals on CSXT railroad at Columbia (Fluvanna County)


Historic and Modern Railroads in Virginia
Railroads of Virginia
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