Apparently, getting to agreement to buy land for rightofway and support facilities wasnt difficult in most cases. It extended from alexandria to gordonsville, with another section from charlottesville to lynchburg. The road played a crucial role in the american civil war, and eventually became an important part of the modernday norfolk southern rail system. The united states military railroad organization was established to coordinate this new capability for the union army. This historic photograph was taken in august of 1862 by timothy osullivan looking northeast along the line of the orange and alexandria railroad. Printed topographic strip map with manuscript annotations to show the geologic structure along the route of the railroad. Military railroad construction corps, russell was responsible for recording both the technical accomplishments of general herman haupts engineers and the battlefields and campsites in virginia. The memories of more than 50 northern virginia residents are captured in oral histories. With the increasing loss of river traffic to steamboats, and inland trade to the railroad, alexandria stood to lose everything to baltimore, its powerful commercial rival to the north. Working magic with cornstalks and beanpoles national archives. Railroad history 35 books meet your next favorite book. The orange and alexandria railroad is well documented in books and on the internet. Dec 15, 2017 by may 1862 the orange and alexandria railroad, which ran from alexandria southwest toward orange, virginia, was an important supply line, as was the manassas gap railroad, which covered the territory between manassas junction and front royal and strasburg. Construction of the railroad started southward in 1850 at a point along the potomac river waterfront.
Fairfax station, virginia is a collage of the areas history, completed by. This map shows the orange and alexandria railroad and its extension south from charlottesville to lynchburg. Russell, a captain in the 141st new york infantry volunteers, was one of the few civil war photographers who also was a soldier. Construction began in 1850 and was completed in april 1854,when it connected with the virginia central railroad in orange county. View on bull run, crossing of orange and alexandria railroad lccn2012647816. The alexandria and fredericksburg railway was chartered february 3, 1864, to continue the line from alexandria to fredericksburg. Map and profile of the orange and alexandria rail road. Bull run railroad bridge northern virginia history notes. Accotink park road lies on the rightofway of the orange and alexandria railroad, which linked the markets of northern and central virginia. Richmond, fredericksburg and potomac railroad wikipedia.
The author includes several maps, charts and tables to back up and illustrate several of the facts he presents in the book. The original map was created by the virginia central railroad in 1852. Railroad history score a book s total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book. In 1872 the orange and alexandria rr was merged with the. The orginal orange and alexandria railroad roadbed forms an entry road to the park and a portion of the trail system. It extended from alexandria to gordonsville, with another section from. This is an outline map of the southeastern united states showing major drainage and important cities. Mont saint michel and chartres is a book written by the american historian and scholar henry adams 18381918. The orange and alexandria railroad, however, was designed with a maximum grade of just 1. Nov 17, 2015 it was here that a special railroad car was made for president lincoln.
Architecture and history buffs wont want to miss the orange county courthouse at main street and madison road. Old railroad map orange and alexandria railroad 1851. Orange and alexandria railroad virginia is for lovers. The american civil war was the first war where railroads were a significant factor in moving troops and supplying forces in the field. Located in prince william county, virginia and its county seat. Formed in 1848, the orange and alexandria was the only cargo and. The photographic history of the civil war, after a raid on the orange and alexandria railroad p. The orange and alexandria railroad company was founded in 1848 to divert hinterland products away from. Southern telegraph code book were a part of daily operations. Available also through the library of congress web site as raster image. The orange and alexandria railroad, which originated in alexandria, was constructed in sections beginning in alexandria and building westward. Timeline of burke history of burke and fairfax county virginia. August 1862 confederate troops under general fitzhugh lee entered manassas junction and captured the rail center, setting the stage for the second battle of bull run, which began on august.
Union soldiers at the wreckage of the orange alexandria railroad at the time of the second battle of bull run. The orange and alexandria railroad was one of the earlier american railroads. History of york county, maine c1880 pg 120149 history of the 27th maine james stone c1895 book available to read on internet archive if you are interested in reading more about the 27th maine and the medal of honor, you must read john pullens a shower of stars. Burke connection by steve hibbard a few dozen people attended the fairfax station railroad museums special exhibit called memories of the orange and alexandria railroad on sunday, sept. Chartered in 1847, the orange and alexandria had thirteen locomotives and stretched 148 miles by the start of the civil war. Bull run bridge on the orange and alexandria railroad.
Atkinson was the chief engineer responsible for construction of the railway and albert h. The engine firefly on a trestle of the orange and alexandria railroad. Orange and alexandria railroad bridge, near union mills. A railroad that once connected fairfax county to other parts of virginia is now helping to connect the county to its civil war past. Then in 1873, the company was consolidated into the virginia midland railway, which was controlled by the baltimore and ohio railroad. Timeline of burke history of burke and fairfax county.
The orginal orange and alexandria railroad roadbed forms an entry road. The orange and alexandria railroad company was founded in 1848 to divert hinterland products away from baltimore and richmond. In 1852 it was the junction of the manassas gap railroad and the orange and alexandria railroad. The first section was completed between 1850 and 1854 connecting alexandria. Adams wrote this book, a meditative reflection on medieval culture, well after his historical masterpiece, the history of the united states of. Burkes station would later be established as a stop on the orange and alexandria. Sitesfacts specific to this historic railroad map are. They continued in that duty until the 24th of march, 1863, on which day they moved to chantilly, va. Map and profile of the orange and alexandria rail road with. T he parks access road lies on top of the original roadbed of the strategic orange and alexandria railroad. Fairfax county history commission events history commission. Library of congress, map of warrenton junction, orange and alexandria r. Beginning with frederick douglasss escape from slavery in 1838 on the railroad, and ending with the driving of the golden spike to link the transcontinental railroad in 1869, this book charts a critical period of american expansion and national formation, one largely. Map and profile of the orange and alexandria rail road with its.
Clifton, va trains and history abound in a classic main. The orange and alexandria railroad within lake accotink park was constructed and was operational in the early 1850s. Orange and alexandria railroad the story of ravensworth. The area was occupied early by federal troops, but the railroad continued to be the target of frequent confederate raids. Campbell, who laid out the location of the line between accotink and the west bank of bull run, was an. Manassas, virginia was incorporated as a town in 1874. Jan 29, 2018 this map shows the orange and alexandria railroad and its extension south from charlottesville to lynchburg. Photographs, documents, maps and artifacts amplify these personal experiences. Modified it to highlight the orange and alexandria railroad. Working magic with cornstalks and beanpoles national. United states military railroad project gutenberg self.
The railroad entered reconstruction in dire shape, with much of its track ripped up and most of its rolling stock destroyed. Jack hiller points out in his historical essay, henry daingerfield and the origin of springfield that the majority of landowners permitted tracks to cross their property without charge in the hope that their land. A new perspective on the central role of the railroads and slavery in the coming, fighting, and aftermath of the civil war. As a lifelong railroad buff, i had been looking for a good overall history of the railroads in the united states. A look back at braddock distric t is a local history, the story of a rural region in the heart of fairfax county, virginia, transformed over time into a sprawling suburb of washington, dc. Beginning with frederick douglasss escape from slavery in 1838 on the railroad, and ending with the driving of the golden spike to link the transcontinental railroad in 1869, this book charts a critical period of american expansion and national formation, one. With 17 poster displays, it also featured original artifacts from the railroad coupling equipment, a drawbar spring, track pieces, an old brake. The alexandria and the chesapeake and ohio canals and stage stable for horses used on the piedmont stage route to north carolina are also indicated. Construction began in march 1850, and the line was extended to manassas in 1851, and to gordonsville in march 1853. It was here that a special railroad car was made for president lincoln. Then in 1873, the company was consolidated into the virginia midland railway, which was controlled by the baltimore and. History of york county, maine with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers. Orange and alexandria railroad project gutenberg self. By may 1862 the orange and alexandria railroad, which ran from alexandria southwest toward orange, virginia, was an important supply line, as was the manassas gap railroad, which covered the territory between manassas junction and front royal and strasburg.
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