Great Falls and Old Dominion Railroad
The Great Falls and Old Dominion Railroad (GF&OD) was an interurban trolley line that ran in Northern Virginia during the early 20th century.
History
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 scheduled car reached Great Falls Park in Fairfax County, Virginia on July 3 of that year.[2]
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 Railroad. 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. 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). In 1912, 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.
Interstate 66, the Custis Trail, and Lee Highway were built on the former GF&OD roadbed between Rosslyn and Thrifton Junction.
Stations
The stations on the GF&OD and on the Great Falls Division of the W&OD (with locations of sites in 2008) were:
Station[3] | Location | Coordinates | Jurisdiction | Side of Tracks[4] | Photo | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Georgetown[5] | M Street, N.W., between 35th and 37th Streets, N.W. | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | District of Columbia | West | Terminal station of GF&OD and W&OD until 1923. Adjacent to Georgetown Car Barn, which served Washington's electric street cars. | |
Rosslyn | Passenger Terminal: Fort Myer Drive (west side) between George Washington Memorial Parkway and Lee Highway | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | Arlington County | West | undated colorized postcard & 1923 interior photo of passenger terminal | 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 and in the present route of I-66 from 1938 to 1968. All of the stations and termini were near the present site of the Key Bridge Marriott Hotel. Historical Marker: Rosslyn Station[6] |
Colonial[5] | I-66 at N. Nash Street | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | Arlington County | South | ||
Rosslyn Freight House[5] | I-66 near N. Oak Street | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | Arlington County | North | ||
Mackeys[5] | I-66 at N. Quinn Street | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | Arlington County | Northwest | ||
Park Lane[5] | I-66 east of N. Uhle Street; north of Lee Highway | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | Arlington County | Southwest | ||
Pearce[5] | I-66 near N. Adams Street | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | Arlington County | South | ||
Clark[5] | I-66 near N. Calvert Street | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | Arlington County | South | Near east side of Spout Run. | |
Thrifton[5] | I-66 between Lee Highway and Spout Run Parkway | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | Arlington County | South | North of Lyon Village shopping center. Named for Hugh A. Thrift. East of junction with Thrifton – Bluemont Junction connecting line. | |
Dominion Heights[7] | Lee Highway (between traffic lanes) at N. Monroe Street (east side) | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | Arlington County | South | ||
Cherrydale[7] | Intersection of Lee Highway and Old Dominion Drive at Military Road (east side) | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | Arlington County | Southwest | circa 1908 | |
Harrison[7] | Old Dominion Drive at N. Thomas Street | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | Arlington County | South | ||
Greenwood[7] | Old Dominion Drive at Lorcom Lane (northwest side); east of N. Vermont Street | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | Arlington County | South | ||
Maplewood[7] | Old Dominion Drive between traffic lanes north of Lee Highway; west of N. Abingdon Street | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | Arlington County | South | ||
Livingston[7] | Old Dominion Drive at 24th Street N. (north side) | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | Arlington County | Southwest | 24th Street N. was Livingstone Street prior to 1932 (named for Colin H. Livingstone) | |
Lyonhurst[7] | Old Dominion Drive at 25th Street N. | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | Arlington County | Southwest | Named for the nearby estate of Frank Lyon (now Missionhurst) | |
Summit[7] | Old Dominion Drive at 26th Street N. (southeast side) | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | Arlington County | Southwest | ||
Rixey[7] | Old Dominion Drive at N. Glebe Road (east side) | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | Arlington County | Northeast | 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.[8] |
Jewell[9] | Old Dominion Drive at Rock Spring Road (north side) | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | Arlington County | Southwest | undated | Named for Charles Jewell |
Vanderwerken[9] | Old Dominion Drive at Little Falls Road (northwest side) | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | Arlington County | North | Named for Gilbert Vanderwerken | |
Franklyn Park[9] | Old Dominion Drive at Franklin Park Road | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | Fairfax County | Northeast | undated | |
Rockwell[9] | Old Dominion Drive near Dominion Crest Lane | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | Fairfax County | Southwest | ||
Chesterbrook[9] | Old Dominion Drive at Kirby Road (northwest side) | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | Fairfax County | Northeast | ||
El Nido[10] | Old Dominion Drive at Birch Road | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | Fairfax County | North | ||
Selva[10] | Old Dominion Drive at 6th Place | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | Fairfax County | Southwest | ||
Viresco[10] | Old Dominion Drive between Pimmit Run and Linway Terrace | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | Fairfax County | Northeast | Southeast side of B&O Railroad right-of-way[10][11] | |
Lawnvale[10] | Old Dominion Drive near Holmes Place | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | Fairfax County | Southwest | ||
McLean[10] | Old Dominion Drive at Chain Bridge Road (northwest side) | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | Fairfax County | Northeast | Named for John Roll McLean | |
Ingleside[10] | Old Dominion Drive at Ingleside Avenue | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | Fairfax County | Northeast | ||
Balls Hill[12] | Old Dominion Drive at Balls Hill Road (east side) | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | Fairfax County | West | ||
Hitaffer[12] | Old Dominion Drive at Swinks Mill Road (south side) | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | Fairfax County | Northeast | ||
Jackson[12] | Old Dominion Drive northwest of Swinks Mill Road | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | Fairfax County | Southwest | undated | |
Spring Hill[13] | Old Dominion Drive at Spring Hill Road (east side) | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | Fairfax County | Northeast | ||
Prospect Hill[13] | Old Dominion Drive at Bellview Place | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | Fairfax County | Northeast | undated | |
Belleview[13] | Old Dominion Drive at Bellview Road | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | Fairfax County | Southwest | undated | |
Glendale[14] | Old Dominion Drive at Towlston Road | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | Fairfax County | Southwest | ||
Peacock[14] | Old Dominion Drive at Peacock Station Road (east side) | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | Fairfax County | Southwest | undated | |
Fairview[14] | Old Dominion Drive at Falls Run Road | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | Fairfax County | West | ||
Elkins[14] | Old Dominion Drive at Georgetown Pike (north side) | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | Fairfax County | West | undated | Named for Stephen Benton Elkins. |
Dickeys Road | Old Dominion Drive in Great Falls Park | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | Fairfax County (National Park Service) | Named for Dickey's Inn. Near former site of Matildaville. | ||
Great Falls[14] | Old Dominion Drive in Great Falls Park | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | Fairfax County (National Park Service) | Inside turnaround | 1. undated postcard 2. undated photo |
Terminal station of GF&OD and Great Falls Division of W&OD. |
See also
References
- ↑ Harwood (2000), p. 37
- ↑ Harwood (2000), pp. 39-40
- ↑ Locations of stations from distances along railroad route from GF&OD Railroad 1916 ICC Valuation Maps and Harwood, p. 141
- ↑ Side of tracks from GF&OD Railroad 1916 ICC Valuation Maps and Harwood, p. 141
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Rosslyn Station historical marker located at site of Bluemont Junction station of Washington and Old Dominion Railroad. See: Washington and Old Dominion Railroad#Stations
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 7.7 7.8 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Note: Rixey station in undated photo was on southwest side of tracks, east of N. Glebe Road (Coordinates: Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found..
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 10.6 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Description of planned Baltimore and Ohio (B&O) Railroad branch in Virginia.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Further reading
- Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- King, W.E. (1934-07-19). Index map showing Washington & Old Dominion Railway's line abandoned in relation to other railroads and common carriers in lower left corner of Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
External links
- * Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. At Google Books.
- Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- Yahoo group discussing W&OD and GF&OD
- Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. In Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Map shows stations and route of Great Falls Division of W&OD (former route of GF&OD).
- Articles with Geo
- Defunct Virginia railroads
- Defunct Washington, D.C. railroads
- Streetcars in Virginia
- Streetcars in Washington, D.C.
- Transportation in Arlington County, Virginia
- Transportation in Fairfax County, Virginia
- Electric railways in Virginia
- Electric railways in Washington, D.C.
- Interurban railways in Virginia
- Interurban railways in Washington, D.C.