The Washington & Old Dominion Railroad Collection, 1914-2000

Access and use

Location of collection:
Fairfax County Public Library
Fairfax County Public Library
City of Fairfax Regional Library
Virginia Room
10360 North Street
Fairfax, VA 22030-2514
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Chris Barbuschak
Phone: (703) 293-2142
Phone: (703) 293-6227 ext. 6 (Virginia Room)
Fax: (703) 293-2155

Summary

Extent:
2.25 linear feet
Creator:
Virginia Room staff
Abstract:
The Washington & Old Dominion Collection consists of 2.25 linear feet and spans the years 1914-2000 and consists of tickets, brochures, train schedules, magazines, copies of right-of-way maps, a small metal W&OD Trail boundary sign, and a CD-ROM containing scans of 1911 right-of-way maps.
Language:
English

Background

Scope and content:

The Washington & Old Dominion Collection consists of 2.25 linear feet and spans the years 1914-2000 and consists of tickets, brochures, train schedules, magazines, copies of right-of-way maps, a small metal W&OD Trail boundary sign, and a CD-ROM containing scans of 1911 right-of-way maps. Subjects include the history of the Washington & Old Dominion Railroad.

Biographical / historical:

What became known as the Washington & Old Dominion Railroad traces its origins to the Alexandria & Harper’s Ferry Railroad Company incorporated on March 20, 1847. On March 15, 1853, the Virginia General Assembly amended the charter and renamed the railroad the Alexandria, Loudoun, & Hampshire Railroad. Construction on the road began on February 1855, starting from Alexandria, passing through Falls Church, Vienna, and on to Leesburg. Union troops seized the railroad in May 1861, and the line saw much action during the Civil War. New owners acquired the railroad and on July 26, 1870, they renamed it the Washington & Ohio Railroad and extended the line to Round Hill. In 1883, the Washington, Ohio & Western Railroad took over the line, leased the road to the Richmond & Danville Railroad in 1886, and it became property of the Southern Railway in 1894. The Southern Railway extended the line to Bluemont. On May 2, 1911, John R. McLean and Stephen B. Elkins incorporated the Washington & Old Dominion Railway and leased the railroad from the Southern Railway. In 1912, the Great Falls & Old Dominion Railroad became the W&OD’s Great Falls Division, which was abandoned in November 1934. In 1935, the Washington & Old Dominion Railroad was organized by David Elkins and assumed operation of the railroad after it had been placed into receivership. The W&OD ceased passenger service for good on May 31, 1951. In 1956, the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad acquired the W&OD, and the railroad ceased operation all together on August 27, 1968. The Virginia Electric Power Company (VEPCO) assumed ownership of the old right-of-way, and in 1977, they sold a portion of the route to the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority to create the Washington & Old Dominion Railroad Regional Park rail trail.

Acquisition information:
Collection assembled by Virginia Room staff over a period of years. Unused train excursion ticket donated by John K. Gott. W Trail boundary marker and railroad magazines donated by Chris Barbuschak in 2015.