Richmond and Petersburg Railroad
Encyclopedia
Richmond and Petersburg Railroad was a regional railroad serving east-central Virginia
. It was strategically important to the Confederacy
during the American Civil War
, when it provided a vital supply and transportation route in late 1864 and early 1865 for Robert E. Lee
's entrenched Army of Northern Virginia
, which was protecting the Confederate capital of Richmond
and Petersburg
.
The Richmond and Petersburg Railroad was chartered in 1836 and opened in 1838. It was originally built between Manchester, Virginia
, across the James River
from Richmond and the north bank of the Appomattox River
across from Petersburg. The single track railroad initially extended 22.15 miles, and included a siding to Port Walthall
.
River bridge
s into both Richmond and Petersburg were added after the Civil War. In 1898, the Petersburg Railroad
was merged into the Richmond and Petersburg Railroad, and the resulting corporation was renamed the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad
of Virginia.
, most of the original line of the Richmond and Petersburg Railroad is still in use as part of the A-line of CSX Transportation
.
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. It was strategically important to the Confederacy
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, when it provided a vital supply and transportation route in late 1864 and early 1865 for Robert E. Lee
Robert E. Lee
Robert Edward Lee was a career military officer who is best known for having commanded the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia in the American Civil War....
's entrenched Army of Northern Virginia
Army of Northern Virginia
The Army of Northern Virginia was the primary military force of the Confederate States of America in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War, as well as the primary command structure of the Department of Northern Virginia. It was most often arrayed against the Union Army of the Potomac...
, which was protecting the Confederate capital of Richmond
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
and Petersburg
Petersburg, Virginia
Petersburg is an independent city in Virginia, United States located on the Appomattox River and south of the state capital city of Richmond. The city's population was 32,420 as of 2010, predominantly of African-American ethnicity...
.
The Richmond and Petersburg Railroad was chartered in 1836 and opened in 1838. It was originally built between Manchester, Virginia
Manchester, Virginia
Manchester, Virginia is a former independent city in Virginia in the United States. Prior to receiving independent status, it served as the county seat of Chesterfield County, between 1870 and 1876...
, across the James River
James River (Virginia)
The James River is a river in the U.S. state of Virginia. It is long, extending to if one includes the Jackson River, the longer of its two source tributaries. The James River drains a catchment comprising . The watershed includes about 4% open water and an area with a population of 2.5 million...
from Richmond and the north bank of the Appomattox River
Appomattox River
The Appomattox River is a tributary of the James River, approximately long, in central and eastern Virginia in the United States, named for the Appomattocs Indian tribe who lived along its lower banks in the 17th century...
across from Petersburg. The single track railroad initially extended 22.15 miles, and included a siding to Port Walthall
Port Walthall
Port Walthall was located on the north bank of the Appomattox River in Chesterfield County, Virginia, a few miles upriver from its confluence with the James River at City Point....
.
River bridge
Bridge
A bridge is a structure built to span physical obstacles such as a body of water, valley, or road, for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle...
s into both Richmond and Petersburg were added after the Civil War. In 1898, the Petersburg Railroad
Petersburg Railroad
Petersburg Railroad was chartered in 1830 and opened in 1833. It ran from Petersburg, Virginia south to Garysburg, North Carolina, from which it ran to Weldon via trackage rights over the Seaboard and Roanoke Railroad...
was merged into the Richmond and Petersburg Railroad, and the resulting corporation was renamed the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad
Atlantic Coast Line Railroad
The Atlantic Coast Line Railroad was an American railroad that existed between 1900 and 1967, when it merged with the Seaboard Air Line Railroad, its long-time rival, to form the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad...
of Virginia.
, most of the original line of the Richmond and Petersburg Railroad is still in use as part of the A-line of CSX Transportation
CSX Transportation
CSX Transportation operates a Class I railroad in the United States known as the CSX Railroad. It is the main subsidiary of the CSX Corporation. The company is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, and owns approximately 21,000 route miles...
.