Great Falls and Old Dominion Railroad

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Diagram of Washington area trolley lines (enlargeable image showing Great Falls and Old Dominion Railroad in dark green) DC streetcar diagram.JPG
Diagram of Washington area trolley lines (enlargeable image showing Great Falls and Old Dominion Railroad in dark green)

The Great Falls and Old Dominion Railroad (GF&OD) was an interurban trolley line that ran in Northern Virginia during the early 20th century.

Contents

History

John Roll McLean (1904) John Roll McLean.jpg
John Roll McLean (1904)
Stephen Benton Elkins SBElkins.jpg
Stephen Benton Elkins

Chartered in 1900 by a group of local landowners and acquired in 1902 by John Roll McLean (owner of The Washington Post ) and Senator Stephen Benton Elkins, [1] the 15-mile electrified railroad began operating from Georgetown in Washington, D.C., in 1906. The first trial run was in March of 1906, but only went as far as Difficult Run and the first scheduled car reached Great Falls Park in Fairfax County, Virginia, on July 3 of that year. [2] They laid a second track in 1908. [3]

From Georgetown, the railroad crossed the Potomac River on a superstructure built on the upstream side of the old Aqueduct Bridge to Rosslyn in Arlington, where it made connections with an older electric trolley line, the Washington, Arlington & Falls Church Railway (see Northern Virginia trolleys). [4] From Rosslyn, the railroad traveled northwest along the north side of Lee Highway (now part of U.S. Route 29) to Cherrydale and then on its own right-of-way (now Old Dominion Drive, Virginia State Route 309) in Arlington and Fairfax Counties through forests, farmland and fruit orchards, bypassing the existing villages of Lewinsville and Langley. [5] At Great Falls, the GF&OD constructed a trolley park, which became a popular destination.

The owners gave their own names to two stations located at the railroad's crossings of major roads: McLean Station at Chain Bridge Road (Virginia State Route 123) and Elkins Station at Old Georgetown Pike (Virginia State Route 193). The station at Chain Bridge Road became a focus for development that evolved into the community of McLean, Virginia.

In 1911, McLean and Elkins incorporated the Washington & Old Dominion Railway (W&OD) and in 1912, the new W&OD signed a 50-year lease on the Southern Railway's Alexandria-Bluemont line. In the same year, it then constructed 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 Georgetown-Great Falls line became the Great Falls Division of the W&OD, sharing trackage with the W&OD's Bluemont Division between Rosslyn and Thrifton Junction. In 1935, Fairfax and Arlington counties obtained the right-of-way west of Thrifton Junction in settlement of delinquent taxes. Most of the right-of-way was converted into Old Dominion Drive.

Remnants

Not much remains of the Great Falls Division.

The right-of-way west of Thrifton Junction became Langston Blvd (formally Lee Highway) and Old Dominion Drive; and the right-of-way between the Key Bridge and Thrifton Junction became Interstate 66. The trestle over Difficult Run lasted until 1979, when it was replaced because it could not handle the loads required of it. [6]

Great Falls Trolley Park became Great Falls Park, part of the National Park Service.

Several area names, like the town of McLean, also remain.

Stations

The stations on the Great Falls Division of the W&OD (with locations of sites in 2008) were:

Station [7] LocationCoordinatesJurisdictionSide of Tracks [8] PhotoNotes
Georgetown [9] M Street, N.W., between 35th and 37th Streets, N.W. 38°54′19″N77°04′13″W / 38.90519°N 77.070293°W / 38.90519; -77.070293 (Former location of Georgetown Terminal (Great Falls & Old Dominion Railroad)) District of ColumbiaWestTerminal station of GF&OD and W&OD until 1923. Adjacent to Georgetown Car Barn, which served Washington's electric street cars.
Rosslyn [9] Passenger Terminal (1923 to 1938):
Fort Myer Drive (west side) between George Washington Memorial Parkway and Lee Highway
38°53′58″N77°04′18″W / 38.89957°N 77.071785°W / 38.89957; -77.071785 (Former location of Rosslyn Passenger Terminal (Great Falls & Old Dominion Railroad)) Arlington CountyWest Undated photo of front of station
Undated colorized postcard & 1923 interior photo of passenger terminal
1948
The GF&OD and W&OD stopped at a passenger shelter from 1904 to 1923.
The W&OD terminated behind a passenger station on Fort Myer Drive from 1923 to 1938. The railroad terminated near a maintenance shop in the present route of I-66 a short distance west of Fort Myer Drive from 1938 to 1964.
All of the Rosslyn stations and termini were near the present site of the Key Bridge Marriott Hotel.
Historical Marker: Rosslyn Station [10]
Colonial [9] I-66 at N. Nash Street 38°53′55″N77°04′25″W / 38.89866°N 77.07374°W / 38.89866; -77.07374 (Former location of Colonial Station (Great Falls & Old Dominion Railroad)) Arlington CountySouth
Rosslyn Freight House [9] I-66 near N. Oak Street 38°53′55″N77°04′32″W / 38.898682°N 77.075433°W / 38.898682; -77.075433 (Former location of Rosslyn Freight House (Great Falls & Old Dominion Railroad)) Arlington CountyNorth 1959
circa 1963
Mackeys [9] I-66 at N. Quinn Street 38°53′52″N77°04′44″W / 38.8978717°N 77.078914°W / 38.8978717; -77.078914 (Former location of Mackeys Station (Great Falls & Old Dominion Railroad)) Arlington CountyNorthwest
Park Lane [9] I-66 east of N. Uhle Street; north of Lee Highway 38°53′50″N77°05′04″W / 38.89709°N 77.084509°W / 38.89709; -77.084509 (Former location of Park Lane Station (Great Falls & Old Dominion Railroad)) Arlington CountySouthwest
Pearce [9] I-66 near N. Adams Street 38°53′54″N77°05′22″W / 38.89823°N 77.089466°W / 38.89823; -77.089466 (Former location of Pearce Station (Great Falls & Old Dominion Railroad)) Arlington CountySouth
Clark [9] I-66 near N. Calvert Street 38°53′52″N77°05′35″W / 38.89782°N 77.092985°W / 38.89782; -77.092985 (Former location of Clark Station (Great Falls & Old Dominion Railroad)) Arlington CountySouthNear east side of Spout Run.
Thrifton [9] I-66 between Lee Highway and Spout Run Parkway 38°53′48″N77°05′53″W / 38.896626°N 77.098048°W / 38.896626; -77.098048 (Former location of Thrifton Station (Great Falls & Old Dominion Railroad)) Arlington CountySouthNorth of Lyon Village shopping center near southeast end of Maywood Historic District. [11] Named for Hugh A. Thrift. [12] East of junction with Thrifton – Bluemont Junction connecting line.
Dominion Heights [13] Lee Highway (between traffic lanes) at N. Monroe Street (east side) [14] 38°53′46″N77°06′15″W / 38.8960055°N 77.1040356°W / 38.8960055; -77.1040356 (Former location of Dominion Heights Station (Great Falls & Old Dominion Railroad)) Arlington CountySouthAdjacent to Maywood Historic District [14]
Cherrydale [13] Intersection of Lee Highway and Old Dominion Drive at Military Road (east side) 38°53′49″N77°06′30″W / 38.8969741°N 77.1083701°W / 38.8969741; -77.1083701 (Former location of Cherrydale Station (Great Falls & Old Dominion Railroad)) Arlington CountySouthwest circa 1908
Harrison [13] Old Dominion Drive at N. Thomas Street 38°53′58″N77°06′51″W / 38.89947°N 77.114174°W / 38.89947; -77.114174 (Former location of Harrison Station (Great Falls & Old Dominion Railroad)) Arlington CountySouth
Greenwood [13]
(Lee Heights) [15]
Old Dominion Drive at Lorcom Lane (northwest side); east of N. Upton Street 38°53′57″N77°07′01″W / 38.8991534°N 77.1170604°W / 38.8991534; -77.1170604 (Former location of Greenwood Station (Great Falls & Old Dominion Railroad)) Arlington CountySouth
Maplewood [13] Old Dominion Drive between traffic lanes north of Lee Highway; west of N. Abingdon Street 38°53′55″N77°07′17″W / 38.89867°N 77.12139°W / 38.89867; -77.12139 (Former location of Maplewood Station (Great Falls & Old Dominion Railroad)) Arlington CountySouth
Livingston [13]
(Livingstone Heights) [16]
Old Dominion Drive at 24th Street N. (north side) 38°54′03″N77°07′28″W / 38.90073°N 77.124431°W / 38.90073; -77.124431 (Former location of Livingston Heights Station (Great Falls & Old Dominion Railroad)) Arlington CountySouthwest24th Street N. was Livingstone Street prior to 1935 (named for Colin H. Livingstone) [17]
Lyonhurst [13] Old Dominion Drive at 25th Street N. 38°54′07″N77°07′33″W / 38.90189°N 77.125799°W / 38.90189; -77.125799 (Former location of Lyonhurst Station (Great Falls & Old Dominion Railroad)) Arlington CountySouthwestNamed for the nearby estate of Frank Lyon (now Missionhurst)
Summit [13] Old Dominion Drive at 26th Street N. (southeast side) 38°54′10″N77°07′38″W / 38.902907°N 77.127108°W / 38.902907; -77.127108 (Former location of Summit Station (Great Falls & Old Dominion Railroad)) Arlington CountySouthwest
Rixey [13] Old Dominion Drive at N. Glebe Road (east side) 38°54′15″N77°07′43″W / 38.9042925°N 77.1286476°W / 38.9042925; -77.1286476 (Former location of Rixey Station (Great Falls & Old Dominion Railroad)) Arlington CountyNortheast undated Named for the nearby estate of Dr. Presley Marion Rixey.
Marymount University now occupies the Rixey estate.
Later station on southwest side of tracks. [18]
Jewell [19] Old Dominion Drive at Rock Spring Road (north side) 38°54′28″N77°07′58″W / 38.90781°N 77.132692°W / 38.90781; -77.132692 (Former location of Jewell Station (Great Falls & Old Dominion Railroad)) Arlington CountySouthwest undated Named for Charles Jewell
Vanderwerken [19] Old Dominion Drive at Little Falls Road (northwest side) 38°54′35″N77°08′13″W / 38.90980°N 77.136987°W / 38.90980; -77.136987 (Former location of Vanderwerken Station (Great Falls & Old Dominion Railroad)) Arlington CountyNorthNamed for Gilbert Vanderwerken
Franklyn Park (Franklin Park) [19] Old Dominion Drive at Franklin Park Road 38°54′55″N77°08′54″W / 38.91540°N 77.148453°W / 38.91540; -77.148453 (Former location of Franklyn Park Station (Great Falls & Old Dominion Railroad)) Fairfax CountyNortheast 1910

undated

Rockwell [19] Old Dominion Drive near Dominion Crest Lane 38°55′06″N77°09′00″W / 38.9183177°N 77.1500731°W / 38.9183177; -77.1500731 (Former location of Franklin Park Station (Great Falls & Old Dominion Railroad)) Fairfax CountySouthwest
Chesterbrook [19] Old Dominion Drive at Kirby Road (northwest side) 38°55′18″N77°09′13″W / 38.9215898°N 77.1535599°W / 38.9215898; -77.1535599 (Former location of Chesterbrook Station (Great Falls & Old Dominion Railroad)) Fairfax CountyNortheast
El Nido [20] Old Dominion Drive at Birch Road 38°55′26″N77°09′42″W / 38.92394°N 77.161762°W / 38.92394; -77.161762 (Former location of El Nido Station (Great Falls & Old Dominion Railroad)) Fairfax CountyNorth
Selva [20] Old Dominion Drive at 6th Place 38°55′35″N77°09′57″W / 38.92639°N 77.165893°W / 38.92639; -77.165893 (Former location of Selva Station (Great Falls & Old Dominion Railroad)) Fairfax CountySouthwest
Viresco [20] Old Dominion Drive between Pimmit Run and Linway Terrace 38°55′44″N77°10′04″W / 38.928889°N 77.1678776°W / 38.928889; -77.1678776 (Former location of Viresco Station (Great Falls & Old Dominion Railroad)) Fairfax CountyNortheastSoutheast side of B&O Railroad right-of-way [21] [22]
Lawnvale [20] Old Dominion Drive near Holmes Place 38°55′51″N77°10′22″W / 38.9309379°N 77.1728396°W / 38.9309379; -77.1728396 (Former location of Lawnvale Station (Great Falls & Old Dominion Railroad)) Fairfax CountySouthwest
McLean [20] Old Dominion Drive at Chain Bridge Road (northwest side) 38°56′03″N77°10′40″W / 38.93404°N 77.177692°W / 38.93404; -77.177692 (Former location of McLean Station (Great Falls & Old Dominion Railroad)) Fairfax CountyNortheastNamed for John Roll McLean
Ingleside [20] Old Dominion Drive at Ingleside Avenue 38°56′09″N77°10′59″W / 38.93582°N 77.182946°W / 38.93582; -77.182946 (Former location of Ingleside Station (Great Falls & Old Dominion Railroad)) Fairfax CountyNortheast
Balls Hill [23] Old Dominion Drive at Balls Hill Road (east side) 38°56′30″N77°11′39″W / 38.94159°N 77.19419°W / 38.94159; -77.19419 (Former location of Balls Hill Station (Great Falls & Old Dominion Railroad)) Fairfax CountyWest
Hitaffer [23] Old Dominion Drive at Swinks Mill Road (south side) 38°56′48″N77°12′41″W / 38.9466559°N 77.2114956°W / 38.9466559; -77.2114956 (Former location of Hitafer Station (Great Falls & Old Dominion Railroad)) Fairfax CountyNortheast
Jackson [23] Old Dominion Drive northwest of Swinks Mill Road 38°56′51″N77°12′50″W / 38.9474402°N 77.2139579°W / 38.9474402; -77.2139579 (Former location of Jackson Station (Great Falls & Old Dominion Railroad)) Fairfax CountySouthwest undated
Spring Hill [24] Old Dominion Drive at Spring Hill Road (east side) 38°57′10″N77°13′35″W / 38.95275°N 77.226382°W / 38.95275; -77.226382 (Former location of Spring Hill Station (Great Falls & Old Dominion Railroad)) Fairfax CountyNortheast
Prospect Hill [24] Old Dominion Drive at Bellview Place 38°57′30″N77°14′11″W / 38.95836°N 77.236467°W / 38.95836; -77.236467 (Former location of Prospect Hill Station (Great Falls & Old Dominion Railroad)) Fairfax CountyNortheast undated
Belleview [24] Old Dominion Drive at Bellview Road 38°57′40″N77°14′25″W / 38.96098°N 77.240308°W / 38.96098; -77.240308 (Former location of Belleview Station (Great Falls & Old Dominion Railroad)) Fairfax CountySouthwest undated
Glendale [25] Old Dominion Drive at Towlston Road 38°58′12″N77°14′58″W / 38.96998°N 77.249559°W / 38.96998; -77.249559 (Former location of Glendale Station (Great Falls & Old Dominion Railroad)) Fairfax CountySouthwest
Peacock [25] Old Dominion Drive at Peacock Station Road (east side) 38°58′25″N77°15′12″W / 38.97348°N 77.253223°W / 38.97348; -77.253223 (Former location of Peacock Station (Great Falls & Old Dominion Railroad)) Fairfax CountySouthwest undated
Fairview [25] Old Dominion Drive at Falls Run Road 38°58′40″N77°15′26″W / 38.97777°N 77.257141°W / 38.97777; -77.257141 (Former location of Fairview Station (Great Falls & Old Dominion Railroad)) Fairfax CountyWest
Elkins [25] Old Dominion Drive at Georgetown Pike (north side) 38°58′54″N77°15′25″W / 38.98177°N 77.25686°W / 38.98177; -77.25686 (Former location of Elkins Station (Great Falls & Old Dominion Railroad)) Fairfax CountyWest undated
undated
Named for Stephen Benton Elkins.
Dickeys RoadOld Dominion Drive in Great Falls Park 38°59′36″N77°15′20″W / 38.99338°N 77.255688°W / 38.99338; -77.255688 (Former location of Dickeys Road Station (Great Falls & Old Dominion Railroad)) Fairfax County (National Park Service)Named for Dickey's Inn. Near former site of Matildaville.
Great Falls [25] Old Dominion Drive in Great Falls Park 38°59′48″N77°15′19″W / 38.99663°N 77.255355°W / 38.99663; -77.255355 (Former location of Great Falls Station (Great Falls & Old Dominion Railroad)) Fairfax County (National Park Service)Inside turnaround undated postcard

undated photo
undated colorized photo of dining hall

Terminal station of GF&OD and Great Falls Division of W&OD.

Maps

W&OD Railway system maps

Topographic Maps

See also

Notes

  1. Harwood, p. 37.
  2. Harwood, pp. 39-40.
  3. Burns, John. "The llistirry of the Washington and Old Dominion Railroad" (PDF). Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  4. Undated photograph of Great Falls & Old Dominion Railroad car crossing the Potomac River on the Aqueduct Bridge
  5. "Undated photograph of Washington & Old Dominion Railway tracks and Lee Highway near Cherrydale" . Retrieved November 9, 2018 via Pinterest.
  6. "Bridge Work". The Washington Post. February 15, 1979.
  7. Locations of stations from distances along railroad route from Interstate Commerce Commission. "GF&OD Railroad 1916 ICC Valuation Maps". Washington & Old Dominion Regional Park: History. NOVA Parks. Archived from the original on December 26, 2018. Retrieved December 26, 2018. and Harwood, pp. 139 and 141.
  8. Side of tracks from Interstate Commerce Commission. "GF&OD Railroad 1916 ICC Valuation Maps". Washington & Old Dominion Regional Park: History. NOVA Parks. Archived from the original on December 26, 2018. Retrieved December 26, 2018.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "GF&OD Railroad 1916 ICC Valuation Map No. 2" (PDF). W&OD Railroad Maps. Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority. July 1, 1916. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 17, 2021. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
  10. Rosslyn Station historical marker located at site of Bluemont Junction station of Washington and Old Dominion Railroad. See: Washington and Old Dominion Railroad#Stations
  11. Albee, Carrie E.; Trieschmann, Laura V. (EHT Traceries. Inc.) (November 2002). "Maywood Historic District" (PDF). National Register of Historic Places: Registration Form. Virginia Department of Historic Resources. p. 65 (Section 8). Archived (PDF) from the original on November 12, 2018. Retrieved November 12, 2018. and Accompanying map
  12. Albee, Carrie E.; Trieschmann, Laura V. (EHT Traceries. Inc.) (November 2002). "Maywood Historic District" (PDF). National Register of Historic Places: Registration Form. Virginia Department of Historic Resources. p. 50 (Section 8). Archived (PDF) from the original on November 12, 2018. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "GF&OD Railroad 1916 ICC Valuation Map No. 3" (PDF). Washington & Old Dominion Regional Park: History: W&OD Railroad Maps. NOVA Parks. July 1, 1916. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 10, 2018. Retrieved November 10, 2018.
  14. 1 2 Albee, Carrie E.; Trieschmann, Laura V. (EHT Traceries. Inc.) (November 2002). "Maywood Historic District" (PDF). National Register of Historic Places: Registration Form. Virginia Department of Historic Resources. pp. 59–60 (Section 8). Archived (PDF) from the original on November 12, 2018. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
  15. 1929 topographic map of Washington, D.C., the city of Alexandria, Alexandria County, Falls Church and northeastern Fairfax County, showing the location of the Lee Heights station on the W&OD Railway's Great Falls Division: "Washington and Vicinity: Maryland: District of Columbia: Virginia". Washington, D.C.: United States Department of the Interior: United States Geological Survey. 1929. LCCN   87693006. OCLC   15653164 . Retrieved July 24, 2020 via Library of Congress.
  16. Harwood, p. 141.
  17. "Old Dominion Citizens' Association Neighborhood Conservation Plan" (PDF). Government of Arlington County, Virginia. pp. 8–10. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
  18. Note: Rixey station in undated photo Archived June 12, 2017, at the Wayback Machine was on southwest side of tracks, east of N. Glebe Road (Coordinates: 38°54′14″N77°07′41″W / 38.903779°N 77.128192°W .
  19. 1 2 3 4 5 "GF&OD Railroad 1916 ICC Valuation Map No. 4" (PDF). Washington & Old Dominion Regional Park: W&OD Railroad Maps. Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority. July 1, 1916. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 8, 2013. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
  20. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "GF&OD Railroad 1916 ICC Valuation Map No. 5" (PDF). Washington & Old Dominion Regional Park: W&OD Railroad Maps. Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority. July 1, 1916. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 8, 2013. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
  21. "GF&OD Railroad 1916 ICC Valuation Map No. 5" (PDF). Washington & Old Dominion Regional Park: W&OD Railroad Maps. Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority. July 1, 1916. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 8, 2013. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
  22. Coalition for the Capital Crescent Trail. "The Georgetown Branch Railroad". HMdb.org: The Historical Marker Database (photographed by Tom Fuchs, Greenbelt, MD, 2006-01-21). Archived from the original on September 27, 2015. Retrieved January 1, 2012. Description of planned Baltimore and Ohio (B&O) Railroad branch in Virginia.
  23. 1 2 3 "GF&OD Railroad 1916 ICC Valuation Map No. 6" (PDF). Washington & Old Dominion Regional Park: W&OD Railroad Maps. Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority. July 1, 1916. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 8, 2013. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
  24. 1 2 3 "GF&OD Railroad 1916 ICC Valuation Map No. 7" (PDF). Washington & Old Dominion Regional Park: W&OD Railroad Maps. Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority. July 1, 1916. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 8, 2013. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
  25. 1 2 3 4 5 "GF&OD Railroad 1916 ICC Valuation Map No. 8" (PDF). Washington & Old Dominion Regional Park: W&OD Railroad Maps. Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority. July 1, 1916. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 8, 2013. Retrieved January 7, 2015.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bluemont, Arlington, Virginia</span> Suburb in Arlington, Virginia

Bluemont is a suburban neighborhood in Arlington, Virginia. As of 2020, the population is 7,049 people. The neighborhood is bounded on the north by Washington Boulevard and on the south by Carlin Springs Road. The western boundary is Four Mile Run and the eastern boundary is Glebe Road.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bluemont Junction</span> Rail junction in Virginia, US, 1912–1968

The Bluemont Junction was part of the Washington and Old Dominion Railway that began operation in 1912. Located in Bluemont, Arlington, the wye junction served as a transfer point for passengers and freight from Alexandria and Georgetown to points west ending at Bluemont, the a popular resort in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

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