Richmond and York River Railroad
Encyclopedia
Richmond and York River Railroad was completed between Richmond, Virginia
and West Point, Virginia
in 1861. The western terminus was adjacent to Richmond's Tobacco Row
. West Point was shipping port at the head of the York River
, which is formed by the confluence of the Pamunkey River
and the Mattaponi River
.
The Richmond and York River Railroad played a key role in the Peninsula Campaign
in 1862 during the American Civil War
, and was largely destroyed. Rebuilt after the War, it became part of the Richmond and Danville Railroad
system, later becoming part of the Southern Railway
system, Today, it is part of Norfolk Southern's rail system. A large paper mill is located at West Point and is served by the railroad.
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 West Point, Virginia
West Point, Virginia
West Point is an incorporated town in King William County, Virginia, United States. The population was 2,867 at the 2000 census.-Geography:West Point is located at...
in 1861. The western terminus was adjacent to Richmond's Tobacco Row
Tobacco Row
Tobacco Row is a collection of tobacco warehouses and cigarette factories in Richmond, Virginia adjacent to the James River and Kanawha Canal near its eastern terminus at the head of navigation of the James River.-History:...
. West Point was shipping port at the head of the York River
York River (Virginia)
The York River is a navigable estuary, approximately long, in eastern Virginia in the United States. It ranges in width from at its head to near its mouth on the west side of Chesapeake Bay. Its watershed drains an area including portions of 17 counties of the coastal plain of Virginia north...
, which is formed by the confluence of the Pamunkey River
Pamunkey River
The Pamunkey River is a tributary of the York River, about long, in eastern Virginia in the United States. Via the York River it is part of the watershed of Chesapeake Bay.-Course:...
and the Mattaponi River
Mattaponi River
The Mattaponi River is a tributary of the York River estuary in eastern Virginia in the United States.It rises as four streams in Spotsylvania County, each of which is given a shorter piece of the Mattaponi's name:...
.
The Richmond and York River Railroad played a key role in the Peninsula Campaign
Peninsula Campaign
The Peninsula Campaign of the American Civil War was a major Union operation launched in southeastern Virginia from March through July 1862, the first large-scale offensive in the Eastern Theater. The operation, commanded by Maj. Gen. George B...
in 1862 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...
, and was largely destroyed. Rebuilt after the War, it became part of the Richmond and Danville Railroad
Richmond and Danville Railroad
The Richmond and Danville Railroad was chartered in Virginia in the United States in 1847. The portion between Richmond and Danville, Virginia was completed in 1856...
system, later becoming part of the Southern Railway
Southern Railway (US)
The Southern Railway is a former United States railroad. It was the product of nearly 150 predecessor lines that were combined, reorganized and recombined beginning in the 1830s, formally becoming the Southern Railway in 1894...
system, Today, it is part of Norfolk Southern's rail system. A large paper mill is located at West Point and is served by the railroad.