Great Falls and Old Dominion Railroad
Encyclopedia
The Great Falls and Old Dominion Railroad (GF&OD) was an interurban
trolley
line that ran in Northern Virginia
during the early 20th century.
(owner of The Washington Post
) and Senator
Stephen Benton Elkins
, the 15-mile electrified
railroad
began operating in 1906. The first scheduled car reached Great Falls Park
in Fairfax County on July 3 of that year.
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 and Falls Church Railroad. From Rosslyn, the railroad travelled 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, State Route 309
) in Arlington and Fairfax Counties through forest
s, farmland
and fruit
orchard
s, bypassing the existing village
s of Lewinsville and Langley
.
At Great Falls, the railroad constructed an amusement park
, which became a popular destination. The park featured a carousel
, a dance
pavilion
, a picnic
area and the nighttime illumination
of the falls.
The owners gave their own names to two stations
located at the railroad's crossings of major roads: McLean Station at Chain Bridge Road and Elkins Station at Old Georgetown Pike (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 and Old Dominion Railway (W&OD). In 1912, the Georgetown-Great Falls line became the Great Falls Division of the W&OD Railway, sharing its trackage with the Railway's Bluemont Division between Rosslyn and Thrifton Junction
(near the present Lyon Village
shopping center). In 1932, during the Great Depression
, the W&OD Railway went bankrupt
. Service ended on the railway's Great Falls Division in 1934. In 1935, Fairfax and Arlington counties obtained the right-of-way west of Thrifton Junction in settlement of delinquent tax
es. Most of this right-of-way became Old Dominion Drive.
Interstate 66
(I-66) and the Custis Trail
now run on the railroads's former right-of-way between Rosslyn and Thrifton Junction. Lee Highway runs on or near the railroad's former right-of-way between Thrifton Junction and N. Quincy Street. Old Dominion Drive runs on the former right-of-way between N. Quincy Street and Great Falls Park.
Interurban
An interurban, also called a radial railway in parts of Canada, is a type of electric passenger railroad; in short a hybrid between tram and train. Interurbans enjoyed widespread popularity in the first three decades of the twentieth century in North America. Until the early 1920s, most roads were...
trolley
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
line that ran in Northern Virginia
Northern Virginia
Northern Virginia consists of several counties and independent cities in the Commonwealth of Virginia, in a widespread region generally radiating southerly and westward from Washington, D.C...
during the early 20th century.
History
Chartered in 1900 by a group of local landowners and acquired in 1902 by John Roll McLeanJohn Roll McLean
John Roll McLean was the owner and publisher of The Washington Post and The Cincinnati Enquirer. McLean was also a one-time partner in the ownership of the Cincinnati Red Stockings baseball team of the American Association and also the Cincinnati Outlaw Reds of the Union Association.He was born...
(owner of The Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
) and Senator
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
Stephen Benton Elkins
Stephen Benton Elkins
Stephen Benton Elkins was an American industrialist and political figure. He served as the Secretary of War between 1891 and 1893...
, the 15-mile electrified
Electricity
Electricity is a general term encompassing a variety of phenomena resulting from the presence and flow of electric charge. These include many easily recognizable phenomena, such as lightning, static electricity, and the flow of electrical current in an electrical wire...
railroad
Rail transport
Rail transport is a means of conveyance of passengers and goods by way of wheeled vehicles running on rail tracks. In contrast to road transport, where vehicles merely run on a prepared surface, rail vehicles are also directionally guided by the tracks they run on...
began operating in 1906. The first scheduled car reached Great Falls Park
Great Falls Park
Great Falls Park is a small National Park Service site in Virginia, United States. Situated on 800 acres along the banks of the Potomac River in northern Fairfax County, the park is a disconnected but integral part of the George Washington Memorial Parkway...
in Fairfax County on July 3 of that year.
From Georgetown, the railroad crossed the Potomac River
Potomac River
The Potomac River flows into the Chesapeake Bay, located along the mid-Atlantic coast of the United States. The river is approximately long, with a drainage area of about 14,700 square miles...
on a superstructure
Superstructure
A superstructure is an upward extension of an existing structure above a baseline. This term is applied to various kinds of physical structures such as buildings, bridges, or ships...
built on the upstream side of the old Aqueduct Bridge
Potomac Aqueduct Bridge
The Aqueduct Bridge was a bridge between Georgetown, Washington, D.C., and Rosslyn, Virginia, in Arlington County. It was built to transport cargo-carrying boats on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal in Georgetown across the Potomac River to the Alexandria Canal...
to Rosslyn
Rosslyn, Virginia
Rosslyn is an unincorporated area in Northern Virginia located in the northeastern corner of Arlington County, Virginia, north of Arlington National Cemetery and directly across the Potomac River from Georgetown in Washington, D.C. Rosslyn encompasses the Arlington neighborhoods of North Rosslyn...
in Arlington, where it made connections with an older electric trolley line, the Washington, Arlington and Falls Church Railroad. From Rosslyn, the railroad travelled northwest along the north side of Lee Highway
Lee Highway
The Lee Highway was a National Auto Trail in the United States connecting New York City and San Francisco, California via the South and Southwest. It was named after Robert E...
(now part of U.S. Route 29
U.S. Route 29
U.S. Route 29 is a north–south United States highway that runs for from the western suburbs of Baltimore, Maryland, to Pensacola, Florida. This highway's northern terminus is at Maryland Route 99 in Ellicott City, Maryland...
) to Cherrydale
Cherrydale, Arlington County, Virginia
Cherrydale is a neighborhood in northern Arlington, Virginia. It is centered on the intersection known as the Five Points consisting of Quincy Street, Military Road, and Old Dominion Road being bisected by Lee Highway . Located in the community is the H-B Woodlawn school...
and then on its own right-of-way
Right-of-way (railroad)
A right-of-way is a strip of land that is granted, through an easement or other mechanism, for transportation purposes, such as for a trail, driveway, rail line or highway. A right-of-way is reserved for the purposes of maintenance or expansion of existing services with the right-of-way...
(now Old Dominion Drive, State Route 309
Virginia State Route 309
State Route 309 is a primary state highway in Northern Virginia, United States. It runs along Old Dominion Drive, the former Washington and Old Dominion Railroad right-of-way, from State Route 123 at McLean to U.S. Route 29 in Arlington...
) in Arlington and Fairfax Counties through forest
Forest
A forest, also referred to as a wood or the woods, is an area with a high density of trees. As with cities, depending where you are in the world, what is considered a forest may vary significantly in size and have various classification according to how and what of the forest is composed...
s, farmland
Arable land
In geography and agriculture, arable land is land that can be used for growing crops. It includes all land under temporary crops , temporary meadows for mowing or pasture, land under market and kitchen gardens and land temporarily fallow...
and fruit
Fruit
In broad terms, a fruit is a structure of a plant that contains its seeds.The term has different meanings dependent on context. In non-technical usage, such as food preparation, fruit normally means the fleshy seed-associated structures of certain plants that are sweet and edible in the raw state,...
orchard
Orchard
An orchard is an intentional planting of trees or shrubs that is maintained for food production. Orchards comprise fruit or nut-producing trees which are grown for commercial production. Orchards are also sometimes a feature of large gardens, where they serve an aesthetic as well as a productive...
s, bypassing the existing village
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
s of Lewinsville and Langley
Langley, Virginia
Langley is an unincorporated community in the census-designated place of McLean in Fairfax County, Virginia, United States.The community was essentially absorbed into McLean many years ago, although there is still a Langley High School...
.
At Great Falls, the railroad constructed an amusement park
Trolley park
In the United States, trolley parks, which started in the 19th century, were picnic and recreation areas along or at the ends of streetcar lines in most of the larger cities. These were precursors to amusement parks. These trolley parks were created by the streetcar companies to give people a...
, which became a popular destination. The park featured a carousel
Carousel
A carousel , or merry-go-round, is an amusement ride consisting of a rotating circular platform with seats for riders...
, a dance
Dance
Dance is an art form that generally refers to movement of the body, usually rhythmic and to music, used as a form of expression, social interaction or presented in a spiritual or performance setting....
pavilion
Pavilion (structure)
In architecture a pavilion has two main meanings.-Free-standing structure:Pavilion may refer to a free-standing structure sited a short distance from a main residence, whose architecture makes it an object of pleasure. Large or small, there is usually a connection with relaxation and pleasure in...
, a picnic
Picnic
In contemporary usage, a picnic can be defined simply as a pleasure excursion at which a meal is eaten outdoors , ideally taking place in a beautiful landscape such as a park, beside a lake or with an interesting view and possibly at a public event such as before an open air theatre performance,...
area and the nighttime illumination
Lighting
Lighting or illumination is the deliberate application of light to achieve some practical or aesthetic effect. Lighting includes the use of both artificial light sources such as lamps and light fixtures, as well as natural illumination by capturing daylight...
of the falls.
The owners gave their own names to two stations
Train station
A train station, also called a railroad station or railway station and often shortened to just station,"Station" is commonly understood to mean "train station" unless otherwise qualified. This is evident from dictionary entries e.g...
located at the railroad's crossings of major roads: McLean Station at Chain Bridge Road and Elkins Station at Old Georgetown Pike (State Route 193). The station at Chain Bridge Road became a focus for development that evolved into the community of McLean, Virginia
McLean, Virginia
McLean is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Fairfax County in Northern Virginia. The community had a total population of 48,115 as of the 2010 census....
.
In 1911, McLean and Elkins incorporated the Washington and Old Dominion Railway (W&OD). In 1912, the Georgetown-Great Falls line became the Great Falls Division of the W&OD Railway, sharing its trackage with the Railway's Bluemont Division between Rosslyn and Thrifton Junction
Junction (rail)
A junction, in the context of rail transport, is a place at which two or more rail routes converge or diverge.This implies a physical connection between the tracks of the two routes , 'points' and signalling.one or two tracks each meet at a junction, a fairly simple layout of tracks suffices to...
(near the present Lyon Village
Lyon Village
Lyon Village is a neighborhood, or “urban village” located in Arlington County, Virginia, along Lee Highway . It is approximately one mile west of Rosslyn and less than a mile north of Clarendon, of which it is sometimes considered a sub-neighborhood.A shopping center located at the confluence of...
shopping center). In 1932, during the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
, the W&OD Railway went bankrupt
Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy is a legal status of an insolvent person or an organisation, that is, one that cannot repay the debts owed to creditors. In most jurisdictions bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor....
. Service ended on the railway's Great Falls Division in 1934. In 1935, Fairfax and Arlington counties obtained the right-of-way west of Thrifton Junction in settlement of delinquent tax
Tax
To tax is to impose a financial charge or other levy upon a taxpayer by a state or the functional equivalent of a state such that failure to pay is punishable by law. Taxes are also imposed by many subnational entities...
es. Most of this right-of-way became Old Dominion Drive.
Interstate 66
Interstate 66
Interstate 66 is an Interstate Highway in the eastern United States. As indicated by its even route number, it runs in an east–west direction. Its western terminus is at Middletown, Virginia, at an intersection with Interstate 81; its eastern terminus is in Washington, D.C., at an...
(I-66) and the Custis Trail
Custis Trail
The Custis Trail is a 4-mile, paved bike trail in Arlington County, Virginia that extends from Key Bridge at Rosslyn westward to the Washington & Old Dominion Railroad Trail...
now run on the railroads's former right-of-way between Rosslyn and Thrifton Junction. Lee Highway runs on or near the railroad's former right-of-way between Thrifton Junction and N. Quincy Street. Old Dominion Drive runs on the former right-of-way between N. Quincy Street and Great Falls Park.
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 | Location | Coordinates | Jurisdiction | Side of Tracks | Photo | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Georgetown | M Street, N.W., between 35th and 37th Streets, N.W. | 38.90519°N 77.070293°W | 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 | 38.89957°N 77.071785°W | 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 |
| Colonial | I-66 at N. Nash Street | 38.89863°N 77.074542°W | Arlington County | South | ||
| Rosslyn Freight House | I-66 near N. Oak Street | 38.8988403°N 77.0754433°W | Arlington County | North | ||
| Mackeys | I-66 at N. Quinn Street | 38.8978717°N 77.078914°W | Arlington County | Northwest | ||
| Park Lane | I-66 east of N. Uhle Street; north of Lee Highway | 38.89709°N 77.084509°W | Arlington County | Southwest | ||
| Pearce | I-66 near N. Adams Street | 38.89823°N 77.089466°W | Arlington County | South | ||
| Clark | I-66 near N. Calvert Street | 38.89782°N 77.092985°W | Arlington County | South | Near east side of Spout Run. | |
| Thrifton | I-66 between Lee Highway and Spout Run Parkway | 38.89646°N 77.098306°W | 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 | Lee Highway (between traffic lanes) at N. Monroe Street (east side) | 38.8960055°N 77.1040356°W | Arlington County | South | ||
| Cherrydale | Intersection of Lee Highway and Old Dominion Drive at Military Road (east side) | 38.8969741°N 77.1083701°W | Arlington County | Southwest | circa 1908 | |
| Harrison | Old Dominion Drive at N. Thomas Street | 38.89947°N 77.114174°W | Arlington County | South | ||
| Greenwood | Old Dominion Drive at Lorcum Lane (northwest side); east of N. Vermont Street | 38.8991534°N 77.1170604°W | Arlington County | South | ||
| Maplewood | Old Dominion Drive between traffic lanes north of Lee Highway; west of N. Abingdon Street | 38.89867°N 77.12139°W | Arlington County | South | ||
| Livingston | Old Dominion Drive at 24th Street N. (north side) | 38.90073°N 77.124431°W | Arlington County | Southwest | 24th Street N. was Livingstone Street prior to 1932 (named for Colin H. Livingstone Colin H. Livingstone Colin H. Livingstone was an American railroad executive and first president of the Boy Scouts of America. Born in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada on June 3, 1863, he died at age 79 on February 1, 1943 in Fisherville, Virginia.... ) |
|
| Lyonhurst | Old Dominion Drive at 25th Street N. | 38.90189°N 77.125799°W | Arlington County | Southwest | Named for the nearby estate of Frank Lyon (now Missionhurst) | |
| Summit | Old Dominion Drive at 26th Street N. (southeast side) | 38.9031°N 77.12677°W | Arlington County | Southwest | ||
| Rixey | Old Dominion Drive at N. Glebe Road (east side) | 38.9042925°N 77.1286476°W | Arlington County | Northeast | undated | Named for the nearby estate of Dr. Presley Marion Rixey Presley Marion Rixey Rear Admiral Presley Marion Rixey was a Surgeon General of the United States Navy and personal physician to Presidents William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt.-Biography:... . Marymount University Marymount University Marymount University is a coeducational, four-year Catholic university that has its main campus located in Arlington, Virginia. Marymount offers bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in a wide range of disciplines and has a diverse and welcoming academic community with approximately 3,600... now occupies the Rixey estate. Later station on southeast side of tracks. |
| Jewell | Old Dominion Drive at Rock Spring Road (north side) | 38.90781°N 77.132692°W | Arlington County | Southwest | undated | Named for Charles Jewell |
| Vanderwerken | Old Dominion Drive at Little Falls Road (northwest side) | 38.90980°N 77.136987°W | Arlington County | North | Named for Gilbert Vanderwerken Gilbert Vanderwerken Gilbert Vanderwerken , originally from Albany, New York, was most notably recognized for introducing the omnibus, an urban version of the stagecoach, in Newark, New Jersey, in 1826.-Biography:... |
|
| Franklyn Park | Old Dominion Drive at Franklin Park Road | 38.91540°N 77.148453°W | Fairfax County | Northeast | undated | |
| Rockwell | Old Dominion Drive near Dominion Crest Lane | 38.9183177°N 77.1500731°W | Fairfax County | Southwest | ||
| Chesterbrook | Old Dominion Drive at Kirby Road (northwest side) | 38.9215898°N 77.1535599°W | Fairfax County | Northeast | ||
| El Nido | Old Dominion Drive at Birch Road | 38.92394°N 77.161762°W | Fairfax County | North | ||
| Selva | Old Dominion Drive at 6th Place | 38.92639°N 77.165893°W | Fairfax County | Southwest | ||
| Viresco | Old Dominion Drive at Linway Terrace | 38.92748°N 77.166499°W | Fairfax County | Northeast | Southeast side of B&O Railroad right-of-way | |
| Lawnvale | Old Dominion Drive near Holmes Place | 38.9309379°N 77.1728396°W | Fairfax County | Southwest | ||
| McLean | Old Dominion Drive at Chain Bridge Road (northwest side) | 38.93404°N 77.177692°W | Fairfax County | Northeast | Named for John Roll McLean | |
| Ingleside | Old Dominion Drive at Ingleside Avenue | 38.93582°N 77.182946°W | Fairfax County | Northeast | ||
| Balls Hill | Old Dominion Drive at Balls Hill Road (east side) | 38.94159°N 77.19419°W | Fairfax County | West | ||
| Hitaffer | Old Dominion Drive at Swinks Mill Road (south side) | 38.9466559°N 77.2114956°W | Fairfax County | Northeast | ||
| Jackson | Old Dominion Drive northwest of Swinks Mill Road | 38.9474402°N 77.2139579°W | Fairfax County | Southwest | undated | |
| Spring Hill | Old Dominion Drive at Spring Hill Road (east side) | 38.95275°N 77.226382°W | Fairfax County | Northeast | ||
| Prospect Hill | Old Dominion Drive at Bellview Place | 38.95836°N 77.236467°W | Fairfax County | Northeast | undated | |
| Belleview | Old Dominion Drive at Bellview Road | 38.96098°N 77.240308°W | Fairfax County | Southwest | undated | |
| Glendale | Old Dominion Drive at Towlston Road | 38.96998°N 77.249559°W | Fairfax County | Southwest | ||
| Peacock | Old Dominion Drive at Peacock Station Road (east side) | 38.97348°N 77.253223°W | Fairfax County | Southwest | undated | |
| Fairview | Old Dominion Drive at Falls Run Road | 38.97777°N 77.257141°W | Fairfax County | West | ||
| Elkins | Old Dominion Drive at Georgetown Pike (north side) | 38.98177°N 77.25686°W | Fairfax County | West | undated | Named for Stephen Benton Elkins. |
| Dickeys Road | Old Dominion Drive in Great Falls Park | 38.99338°N 77.255688°W | Fairfax County (National Park Service) | Named for Dickey's Inn. Near former site of Matildaville. | ||
| Great Falls | Old Dominion Drive in Great Falls Park | 38.99663°N 77.255355°W | 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. |
Roads and trails along railroad route
- Roads
- I-66 between Fort Myer Drive and bridge over Lee Highway (U.S. Route 29) west of Spout Run Parkway], Arlington
- Old Dominion Drive, Arlington and Fairfax Counties
- Trail
- I-66 Custis Trail between Fort Myer Drive in Rosslyn and Lee Highway (at Lyon Village Shopping Center, Arlington
External links
- Historical Marker: The Great Falls Line, by Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority, in website of HMdb.org The Historical Marker Database. Retrieved 2010-02-04.
- Paul McCray's website on Washington and Old Dominion Railroad. Accessed 2010-07-01.
- Yahoo group discussing the Washington and Old Dominion RR and Great Falls and Old Dominion Railroad Map shows stations and route of Great Falls Division of W&OD Railway (formerly route of Great Falls and Old Dominion Railroad).