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.

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

History

John Roll McLean (1904)
Library of Congress
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 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 Railway (see Northern Virginia trolleys).[3] 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.[4] 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 Great Falls Division of the W&OD (with locations of sites in 2008) were:

Station[5] Location Coordinates Jurisdiction Side of Tracks[6] Photo Notes
Georgetown[7] M Street, N.W., between 35th and 37th Streets, N.W. 38°54′19″N 77°04′13″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[7] Passenger Terminal (1923 to 1938):
Fort Myer Drive (west side) between George Washington Memorial Parkway and Lee Highway
38°53′58″N 77°04′18″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. 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[8]
Colonial[7] I-66 at N. Nash Street 38°53′55″N 77°04′25″W Arlington County South
Rosslyn Freight House[7] I-66 near N. Oak Street 38°53′55″N 77°04′32″W Arlington County North
Mackeys[7] I-66 at N. Quinn Street 38°53′52″N 77°04′44″W Arlington County Northwest
Park Lane[7] I-66 east of N. Uhle Street; north of Lee Highway 38°53′50″N 77°05′04″W Arlington County Southwest
Pearce[7] I-66 near N. Adams Street 38°53′54″N 77°05′22″W Arlington County South
Clark[7] I-66 near N. Calvert Street 38°53′52″N 77°05′35″W Arlington County South Near east side of Spout Run.
Thrifton[7] I-66 between Lee Highway and Spout Run Parkway 38°53′48″N 77°05′53″W Arlington County South North of Lyon Village shopping center near southeast end of Maywood Historic District.[9] Named for Hugh A. Thrift.[10] East of junction with Thrifton – Bluemont Junction connecting line.
Dominion Heights[11] Lee Highway (between traffic lanes) at N. Monroe Street (east side)[12] 38°53′46″N 77°06′15″W Arlington County South Adjacent to Maywood Historic District[12]
Cherrydale[11] Intersection of Lee Highway and Old Dominion Drive at Military Road (east side) 38°53′49″N 77°06′30″W Arlington County Southwest circa 1908
Harrison[11] Old Dominion Drive at N. Thomas Street 38°53′58″N 77°06′51″W Arlington County South
Greenwood[11] Old Dominion Drive at Lorcom Lane (northwest side); east of N. Vermont Street 38°53′57″N 77°07′01″W Arlington County South
Maplewood[11] Old Dominion Drive between traffic lanes north of Lee Highway; west of N. Abingdon Street 38°53′55″N 77°07′17″W Arlington County South
Livingston[13]
(Livingstone Heights)[14]
Old Dominion Drive at 24th Street N. (north side) 38°54′03″N 77°07′28″W Arlington County Southwest 24th Street N. was Livingstone Street prior to 1935 (named for Colin H. Livingstone)[15]
Lyonhurst[11] Old Dominion Drive at 25th Street N. 38°54′07″N 77°07′33″W Arlington County Southwest Named for the nearby estate of Frank Lyon (now Missionhurst)
Summit[11] Old Dominion Drive at 26th Street N. (southeast side) 38.902907°N 77.127108°W / 38.902907; -77.127108 (Former location of Summit Station (Great Falls & Old Dominion Railroad)) Arlington County Southwest
Rixey[11] Old Dominion Drive at N. Glebe Road (east side) 38°54′15″N 77°07′43″W 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.[16]
Jewell[17] Old Dominion Drive at Rock Spring Road (north side) 38°54′28″N 77°07′58″W Arlington County Southwest undated Named for Charles Jewell
Vanderwerken[17] Old Dominion Drive at Little Falls Road (northwest side) 38°54′35″N 77°08′13″W Arlington County North Named for Gilbert Vanderwerken
Franklyn Park[17] Old Dominion Drive at Franklin Park Road 38°54′55″N 77°08′54″W Fairfax County Northeast undated
Rockwell[17] Old Dominion Drive near Dominion Crest Lane 38°55′06″N 77°09′00″W Fairfax County Southwest
Chesterbrook[17] Old Dominion Drive at Kirby Road (northwest side) 38°55′18″N 77°09′13″W Fairfax County Northeast
El Nido[18] Old Dominion Drive at Birch Road 38°55′26″N 77°09′42″W Fairfax County North
Selva[18] Old Dominion Drive at 6th Place 38°55′35″N 77°09′57″W Fairfax County Southwest
Viresco[18] Old Dominion Drive between Pimmit Run and Linway Terrace 38°55′44″N 77°10′04″W Fairfax County Northeast Southeast side of B&O Railroad right-of-way[18][19]
Lawnvale[18] Old Dominion Drive near Holmes Place 38°55′51″N 77°10′22″W Fairfax County Southwest
McLean[18] Old Dominion Drive at Chain Bridge Road (northwest side) 38°56′03″N 77°10′40″W Fairfax County Northeast Named for John Roll McLean
Ingleside[18] Old Dominion Drive at Ingleside Avenue 38°56′09″N 77°10′59″W Fairfax County Northeast
Balls Hill[20] Old Dominion Drive at Balls Hill Road (east side) 38°56′30″N 77°11′39″W Fairfax County West
Hitaffer[20] Old Dominion Drive at Swinks Mill Road (south side) 38°56′48″N 77°12′41″W Fairfax County Northeast
Jackson[20] Old Dominion Drive northwest of Swinks Mill Road 38°56′51″N 77°12′50″W Fairfax County Southwest undated
Spring Hill[21] Old Dominion Drive at Spring Hill Road (east side) 38°57′10″N 77°13′35″W Fairfax County Northeast
Prospect Hill[21] Old Dominion Drive at Bellview Place 38°57′30″N 77°14′11″W Fairfax County Northeast undated
Belleview[21] Old Dominion Drive at Bellview Road 38°57′40″N 77°14′25″W Fairfax County Southwest undated
Glendale[22] Old Dominion Drive at Towlston Road 38°58′12″N 77°14′58″W Fairfax County Southwest
Peacock[22] Old Dominion Drive at Peacock Station Road (east side) 38°58′25″N 77°15′12″W Fairfax County Southwest undated
Fairview[22] Old Dominion Drive at Falls Run Road 38°58′40″N 77°15′26″W Fairfax County West
Elkins[22] Old Dominion Drive at Georgetown Pike (north side) 38°58′54″N 77°15′25″W Fairfax County West undated Named for Stephen Benton Elkins.
Dickeys Road Old Dominion Drive in Great Falls Park 38°59′36″N 77°15′20″W Fairfax County (National Park Service) Named for Dickey's Inn. Near former site of Matildaville.
Great Falls[22] Old Dominion Drive in Great Falls Park 38°59′48″N 77°15′19″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.

Maps

W&OD Railway system maps

  • "Washington and Old Dominion Railway system map". c. 1920. Archived from the original on January 7, 2011. Retrieved May 26, 2019 via r2parts.net.

Topographic Maps

See also

Notes

  1. Harwood, p. 37.
  2. Harwood, pp. 39-40.
  3. Undated photograph of Great Falls & Old Dominion Railroad car crossing the Potomac River on the Aqueduct Bridge
  4. "Undated photograph of Washington & Old Dominion Railway tracks and Lee Highway near Cherrydale". Retrieved November 9, 2018 via Pinterest.
  5. 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
  6. 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.
  7. "GF&OD Railroad 1916 ICC Valuation Map No. 2" (PDF). Washington & Old Dominion Regional Park: W&OD Railroad Maps. Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority. July 1, 1916. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 8, 2013. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
  8. Rosslyn Station historical marker located at site of Bluemont Junction station of Washington and Old Dominion Railroad. See: Washington and Old Dominion Railroad#Stations
  9. 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). Retrieved November 12, 2018. and Accompanying map
  10. 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). Retrieved November 12, 2018.
  11. "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 from the original (PDF) on November 10, 2018. Retrieved November 10, 2018.
  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. pp. 59–60 (Section 8). Retrieved November 12, 2018.
  13. "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 from the original (PDF) on November 10, 2018. Retrieved November 10, 2018.
  14. Harwood, p. 141.
  15. "Old Dominion Citizens' Association Neighborhood Conservation Plan" (PDF). Government of Arlington County, Virginia. pp. 8–10. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
  16. Note: Rixey station in undated photo was on southwest side of tracks, east of N. Glebe Road (Coordinates: 38°54′14″N 77°07′41″W.
  17. "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 from the original (PDF) on March 11, 2013. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
  18. "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 from the original (PDF) on October 8, 2013. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
  19. 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). Retrieved January 27, 2012. Description of planned Baltimore and Ohio (B&O) Railroad branch in Virginia.
  20. "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 from the original (PDF) on October 8, 2013. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
  21. "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 from the original (PDF) on October 8, 2013. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
  22. "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 from the original (PDF) on October 8, 2013. Retrieved January 7, 2015.

References

Further reading

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