Northern Virginia trolleys

Northern Virginia trolleys
Operation
Began operation 1892
Ended operation January 18, 1932
Technical
Track gauge (?)
Minimum radius of curvature (?)
Electrification (?)
Diagram of electric railroad routes near the Potomac River, showing the "Great Falls Electric Railroad" (the Great Falls and Old Dominion Railroad), the East Arlington branch and the Washington-Mount Vernon line of the Washington, Alexandria, and Mount Vernon Electric Railway and the "Glen Echo Electric Railroad" (the Washington and Great Falls Electric Railway)
Enlargeable diagram of Washington area trolley lines. Orange = Washington, Arlington & Mount Vernon Electric Railway. Blue = Washington, Arlington & Falls Church Railway (WA&FC). Yellow = Nauck (Fort Myer) line of WA&FC. Light green = W&OD Bluemont Division. Dark green = W&OD Great Falls Division

The earliest electric railway, or streetcar line, in Northern Virginia opened in 1892. At their peak, when merged into a single interurban system (the Washington-Virginia Railway), the successors of this and several other lines ran between downtown Washington, D.C., Rosslyn and Arlington Junction in present day Crystal City and out to Mount Vernon, Fairfax City and Nauck (in Arlington County).[1] Electric trolleys also went west from Georgetown and Rosslyn on the Washington and Old Dominion Railway's (W&OD's) Bluemont Division via Leesburg to the town of Bluemont at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains. In addition, electric trolleys of the W&OD's Great Falls Division traveled from Georgetown and Rosslyn via Cherrydale and McLean to Great Falls Park (see: Great Falls and Old Dominion Railroad). Despite early success, the streetcars were unable to compete with the automobile and with each other, and, plagued with management and financial problems, ceased operations in the 1930s and 1940s.

Northern Virginia's trolleys were originally operated by three different companies that all planned to operate within the District of Columbia and were never integrated into the Washington streetcar network (see: Streetcars in Washington, D.C.). Their tracks were laid when most of Northern Virginia was undeveloped and had few streets and roads. As a result, the trolleys mostly operated on private rights-of-way that their companies leased or owned. After they began operating, a number of communities developed along their routes.

The major lines of the Washington-Virginia Railway converged at Arlington Junction. The Railway's trolleys then crossed the Potomac River near the site of the present 14th Street bridges over the Long Bridge and, beginning in 1906, the Highway Bridge. The trolleys then traveled to a terminal in downtown Washington located along Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, and D Street, NW, between 12th and 13 1/2 Streets, NW, on a site that is now near the Federal Triangle Metrorail Station and the Old Post Office building within the Federal Triangle. The W&OD Railway terminated in Georgetown at a station on the west side of the Georgetown Car Barn after crossing the Potomac River from Rosslyn over the Aqueduct Bridge.

The Washington-Virginia Railway and the W&OD Railway also had adjacent stations in Rosslyn near the present location of the Key Bridge Marriott Hotel. After the Francis Scott Key Bridge replaced the Aqueduct Bridge in 1923, none of the Virginia lines terminated in Georgetown. Instead, Washington streetcars crossed the river on the new bridge and entered a turnaround loop within Rosslyn. There, passengers could transfer between trolleys whose lines separately served Washington and Northern Virginia.

Washington-Virginia Railway

Washington, Alexandria, and Mount Vernon Electric Railway

Washington-Mount Vernon line

The Washington, Alexandria, and Mount Vernon Electric Railway began operating between Alexandria and Mount Vernon in 1892. On August 23, 1894, it was given permission to enter the District of Columbia using a boat or barge. However, the railroad never actually used any such watercraft.[2]

The railroad completed its tracks in 1896 and began serving a waiting station at 14th Street NW and B Street NW. From the waiting station it used the Belt Line Street Railway Company's tracks on 14th Street NW to reach the Long Bridge, a combined road and rail crossing of the Potomac River.[2] In 1906, the Long Bridge's road and streetcar tracks were relocated to a new truss bridge (the Highway Bridge), immediately west of the older bridge.[2][3] This span was removed in 1967.[4]

In 1902, the railroad moved its station, as the Belt Line's tracks were circling the block containing the site of a planned new District Building (now the John A. Wilson Building). The new station (address: 1204 N. Pennsylvania Avenue) extended along Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, and D Street, NW, from 12th Street, NW, to 13 1/2 Street, NW, near the site of the present Federal Triangle Metro station and on the opposite side of 12th Street from the Post Office building.[2][5][6][7]

After crossing the Potomac River, the streetcars entered Arlington to run near and along the present routes of Interstate 395 (I-395) and S. Eads Street, travelling largely on the grade of a towpath on the west side of the defunct Alexandria Canal.[8] Near Arlington's southern border, the railroad and its affiliates constructed an amusement park (Luna Park) and a rail yard containing a car barn and a power plant.[8]

After crossing Four Mile Run into Alexandria, the streetcars ran along the present route of Commonwealth Avenue until reaching the city's Old Town area at King Street. The St. Elmo station (located on the present route of Commonwealth Avenue in the Del Ray neighborhood of Alexandria) allowed passenger transfers with the Bluemont branch of the Southern Railway and later, with the Bluemont Division of the W&OD Railway, which crossed over the Mount Vernon line on a bridge near the station.

At Mount Vernon, when the electric railway began service, the estate's proprietors insisted that only a modest terminal be constructed next to the trolley turnaround. They were afraid that the dignity of the site would be marred by unrestricted commercial development and persuaded financier Jay Gould to purchase and donate thirty-three acres outside the main gate for protection.

By 1906, the railway had transported 1,743,734 passengers along its routes with 92 daily trains. During World War I, the line was extended to Camp Humphreys (now Fort Belvoir).

In 1913, the Washington, Alexandria, and Mount Vernon Electric Railway merged with the Washington, Arlington & Falls Church Railway to form the Washington-Virginia Railway. The trolley company went into receivership in 1923 when buses became the dominant form of local public transportation (see: History of surface transit in Northern Virginia).

In 1927, the two railways were separated and sold at auction. The last trolleys of the line ran on January 18, 1932. Later that year the tracks were removed when some of the right-of-way was used for the George Washington Memorial Parkway. The path of the trolley turnaround at Mount Vernon remains as a traffic circle at the south end of the Parkway, while the former rail yard in southern Arlington now serves as a Metrobus yard.

Stations

The stations on the Washington-Mount Vernon Line of the Washington, Alexandria, and Mount Vernon Electric Railway (Alexandria-Mount Vernon Branch of the Washington-Virginia Railway)[9] were (with locations of sites in 2008):

Washington, Alexandria, and Mount Vernon Electric Railway near Dyke Marsh with station in background. 1930
Station Location[10] Jurisdiction Miles from
Washington Terminal[6]
Notes Coordinates
Camp Humphreys Fort Belvoir Fairfax County
Mount Vernon[6] South side of traffic circle at Mount Vernon Estate Fairfax County 15.8 38°42′39″N 77°05′12″W / 38.71078°N 77.086591°W / 38.71078; -77.086591 (Mount Vernon Station (Washington-Virginia Railway))
Deenwood Fairfax County
Miller Fairfax County
Riverside[6] Wittington Boulevard Fairfax County 14.7 38°43′16″N 77°04′08″W / 38.721245°N 77.068856°W / 38.721245; -77.068856 (Riverside Station (Washington-Virginia Railway))
Hunter[6] Fairfax County 14.2
North Mount Vernon Fairfax County
Grassymead[6] Fairfax County 13.1
Snowden[6] East Boulevard Drive Fairfax County 13.1
Herbert Springs[6] East Boulevard Drive and Herbert Springs Road Fairfax County 12.9 38°44′07″N 77°02′48″W / 38.735281°N 77.046615°W / 38.735281; -77.046615 (Herbert Springs Station (Washington-Virginia Railway))
Arcturus[6] East Boulevard Drive and Arcturus Lane Fairfax County 12.8 38°44′14″N 77°02′48″W / 38.737289°N 77.046669°W / 38.737289; -77.046669 (Arcturus Station (Washington-Virginia Railway))
Wellington[6] East Boulevard Drive Fairfax County 12.5 38°44′30″N 77°02′52″W / 38.741724°N 77.047693°W / 38.741724; -77.047693 (Wellington Station (Washington-Virginia Railway))
Bellmont[6] George Washington Memorial Parkway Fairfax County 12.1 38°44′48″N 77°02′56″W / 38.746699°N 77.048863°W / 38.746699; -77.048863 (Bellmont Station (Washington-Virginia Railway))
Happy Home Fairfax County
Warwick Fairfax County
Dyke[6] George Washington Memorial Parkway Fairfax County 11.3 38°45′33″N 77°02′56″W / 38.759304°N 77.049002°W / 38.759304; -77.049002 (Dyke Station (Washington-Virginia Railway))
Oaks Fairfax County
New Alexandria[6] Potomac Avenue Fairfax County 9.6 38°46′36″N 77°03′25″W / 38.776735°N 77.056842°W / 38.776735; -77.056842 (New Alexandria Station (Washington-Virginia Railway))
Alexandria[6][9] Prince and Royal Streets City of Alexandria 7.7 38°48′13″N 77°02′38″W / 38.803503°N 77.043868°W / 38.803503; -77.043868 (Alexandria Station (Washington-Virginia Railway))
Spring Park (later Union Station)[6] King Street and Commonwealth Avenue City of Alexandria 6.7 38°48′24″N 77°03′35″W / 38.806683°N 77.059763°W / 38.806683; -77.059763 (Spring Park Station (Washington-Virginia Railway))
Rosemont Rosemont Avenue and Commonwealth Avenue City of Alexandria 38°48′36″N 77°03′39″W / 38.809874°N 77.060828°W / 38.809874; -77.060828 (Rosemont Station (Washington-Virginia Railway))
North Rosemont Walnut Street and Commonwealth Avenue City of Alexandria 38°48′44″N 77°03′42″W / 38.812159°N 77.061598°W / 38.812159; -77.061598 (Rosemont Station (Washington-Virginia Railway))
Braddock[6][9] Braddock Road and Commonwealth Avenue City of Alexandria 6.0 38°48′59″N 77°03′45″W / 38.816288°N 77.062526°W / 38.816288; -77.062526 (Braddock Station (Washington-Virginia Railway))
North Braddock[9] Commonwealth Avenue City of Alexandria
Lloyd[6][9] Windsor Avenue and Commonwealth Avenue City of Alexandria 5.7 38°49′27″N 77°03′45″W / 38.824263°N 77.062633°W / 38.824263; -77.062633 (Lloyds Station (Washington-Virginia Railway))
Del Ray[6][9] Del Ray Avenue and Commonwealth Avenue City of Alexandria 5.6 38°49′33″N 77°03′43″W / 38.825834°N 77.061946°W / 38.825834; -77.061946 (Del Ray Station (Washington-Virginia Railway))
Mount Ida[9] Mount Ida Avenue and Commonwealth Avenue City of Alexandria Historical marker near site of station: The Electric Railway[11][12] 38°49′42″N 77°03′39″W / 38.828266°N 77.060764°W / 38.828266; -77.060764 (Mount Ida Station (Washington-Virginia Railway))
St. Asaph[6] Commonwealth Avenue, between Forrest St. and Ancell St. City of Alexandria 5.6 Served St. Asaph racetrack. (1894–1905)[13]
Historical marker near site of station: St. Asaph Racetrack[13][14]
38°49′47″N 77°03′36″W / 38.829712°N 77.059929°W / 38.829712; -77.059929 (St. Asaph Station (Washington-Virginia Railway))
Hume[9] Intersection of Hume Avenue, Mount Vernon Avenue and Commonwealth Avenue City of Alexandria Historical marker near site of station: Mount Vernon Avenue[15][16] 38°49′51″N 77°03′35″W / 38.830749°N 77.059586°W / 38.830749; -77.059586 (Hume Station (Washington-Virginia Railway))
St. Elmo[6][9] Commonwealth Avenue near Ashby St. City of Alexandria 4.8 Crossing of W&OD Railway's Bluemont Division
Historical marker near site of station: The Bluemont Line[17][18]
38°49′59″N 77°03′32″W / 38.833103°N 77.058795°W / 38.833103; -77.058795 (St. Elmo Station (Washington-Virginia Railway))
Four Mile Run[6][9] Near present intersection of S. Glebe Road and S. Eads St. Arlington County 4.1 Historical marker near site of station: Transportation[8][19] 38°50′33″N 77°03′17″W / 38.842482°N 77.054822°W / 38.842482; -77.054822 (Four Mile Run Station (Washington-Virginia Railway))
Car Barn In bus yard east of S. Eads St. Arlington County Formerly in rail yard[8] 38°50′43″N 77°03′14″W / 38.8452272°N 77.0539266°W / 38.8452272; -77.0539266 (Car Barn (Washington-Virginia Railway))
Luna Park West side of Eads St. Arlington County Adjacent to amusement park in present site of sewage treatment plant[8] 38°50′43″N 77°03′14″W / 38.8452449°N 77.0539132°W / 38.8452449; -77.0539132 (Luna Park Station (Washington-Virginia Railway))
Aurora Hills[9] S. Eads St. Arlington County
Virginia Highlands[9] 22nd St. S. and S. Eads St. Arlington County 38°51′15″N 77°03′12″W / 38.854163°N 77.053229°W / 38.854163; -77.053229 (Virginia Highlands Station (Washington-Virginia Railway))
Addison[6][9] 18th St. S. and S. Eads St. Arlington County 3.2 38°51′27″N 77°03′11″W / 38.8574133°N 77.0530951°W / 38.8574133; -77.0530951 (Addison Station (Washington-Virginia Railway))
Arlington Junction[6][9] Between Army-Navy Drive and 12th St. S and between S. Eads St. and Jefferson Davis Highway (U.S. Route 1) Arlington County 2.7 Junction with South Arlington branch of Washington, Arlington & Falls Church Railway and East Arlington Branch of Washington, Alexandria, and Mount Vernon Railway 38°51′50″N 77°03′12″W / 38.86393°N 77.053444°W / 38.86393; -77.053444 (Arlington Junction Station (Washington-Virginia Railway))
South Washington Near I-395 Arlington County 38°52′00″N 77°02′56″W / 38.866762°N 77.048879°W / 38.866762; -77.048879 (South Washington Station (Washington-Virginia Railway))
Alexander Island[6][9] Near I-395 between Boundary Channel Drive and George Washington Memorial Parkway Arlington County 2.1 38°52′15″N 77°02′40″W / 38.870788°N 77.044458°W / 38.870788; -77.044458 (Alexander Island Station (Washington-Virginia Railway))
Washington Terminal[9] 1204 N. Pennsylvania Avenue[5]
West side of 12th Street, NW, between Federal Triangle Metro Station and Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
District of Columbia 0 At corner of 13 & 1/2 Street, NW, and Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, in 1902.[6] 38°53′41″N 77°01′42″W / 38.894603°N 77.02830°W / 38.894603; -77.02830 (Washington Terminal (Washington-Virginia Railway))
Remnants of the Washington-Mount Vernon Line

East Arlington branch

The Washington, Alexandria, and Mount Vernon Railway constructed a branch line that traveled to the Virginia end of the Aqueduct Bridge in Rosslyn from a point named Arlington Junction on the railroad's Alexandria-Mount Vernon line. Along most of its route, the branch traveled along a section of Arlington Ridge Road that is now within Arlington National Cemetery.[5]

Construction of this branch permitted visitors from Washington, D.C., to reach the Cemetery by rail for the first time. However, after leaving the trolley at the Cemetery's Sheridan Gate, the visitors needed to ascend a steep hill to reach most of the Cemetery's well-known features and burial sites.

Stations

The stations of the East Arlington branch were (with locations of sites in 2008):

Station Location[10] Jurisdiction Notes Coordinates
Rosslyn[9] N. Lynn St. near Key Bridge Marriott Hotel Arlington County East of W&OD Railway station. 1925 photo[20] 38°53′59″N 77°04′15″W / 38.899598°N 77.070934°W / 38.899598; -77.070934 (Rossyln Station (Washington-Virginia Railway))
Arlington Arlington National Cemetery Arlington County Outside of former Sheridan Gate of Arlington National Cemetery (location now inside of cemetery)[21] 38°53′05″N 77°04′01″W / 38.884657°N 77.067037°W / 38.884657; -77.067037 (Arlington Station (Washington-Virginia Railway))
Queen City Arlington National Cemetery Arlington County 38°52′31″N 77°04′00″W / 38.875148°N 77.066774°W / 38.875148; -77.066774 (Queen City Station (Washington-Virginia Railway))
Mount Vernon Junction[9] Near present east crossing of Columbia Pike (State Route 244) and Washington Boulevard (State Route 27) Arlington County Junction with South Arlington branch of Washington, Arlington & Falls Church Railway 38°52′11″N 77°03′42″W / 38.869639°N 77.06179°W / 38.869639; -77.06179 (Mount Vernon Junction (Washington-Virginia Railway))
Relee[9] I-395 between S. Fern St. and S. Eads St. Arlington County 38°51′56″N 77°03′20″W / 38.865642°N 77.055531°W / 38.865642; -77.055531 (Releee Station (Washington-Virginia Railway))
Arlington Junction[9] Between Army-Navy Drive and 12th St. S and between S. Eads St. and Jefferson Davis Highway (U.S. Route 1) Arlington County Junction with Washington-Mount Vernon line 38°51′50″N 77°03′12″W / 38.86393°N 77.053444°W / 38.86393; -77.053444 (Arlington Junction (Washington-Virginia Railway))

Washington, Arlington & Falls Church Railway

During its forty years of life, this interurban trolley company operated under a variety of names, as it repeatedly expanded, reorganized or contracted (voluntarily or involuntarily).

Washington & Arlington — 1892–1896

On February 28, 1891, the United States Congress enacted a statute that incorporated the Washington and Arlington Railway Company in the District of Columbia, with authorization to reach Fort Myer and the northwest entrance of Arlington National Cemetery (the Cemetery's Fort Myer Gate) by crossing the Potomac River on a new bridge that the company would construct at or near the "Three Sisters" islets.[22] The system started in 1892, as a horsecar line with tracks from Rosslyn up the hill to Fort Myer. In late 1895, the system was electrified. However, no bridge was built at the "Three Sisters" (see Three Sisters Bridge).

Washington, Arlington & Falls Church — 1896–1913

In 1896, track was laid from Rosslyn through Clarendon and Ballston to Falls Church and the name was changed to the Washington, Arlington & Falls Church (WA&FC). The track though Fort Myer was extended past the northwest entrance to Arlington National Cemetery to reach Penrose in 1900 and Nauck, just north of Four Mile Run, in 1901. That same year saw the opening of about a mile of additional track, extending from East Falls Church to West Falls Church. Work on a far more ambitious extension began at West Falls Church in 1903, bringing the line through Dunn Loring and Vienna in 1904 to reach the Fairfax County Courthouse in Fairfax City.[23]

Washington - Virginia — 1913–1927

In 1913, the WA&FC and Washington, Alexandria & Mt. Vernon were merged to form the Washington - Virginia (W-V) Railway, whereupon the WA&FC became the W-V's Falls Church Division.[7] The company fell upon hard times and in 1924 declared bankruptcy. In 1927, the two companies were split and sold at auction.

Arlington & Fairfax freight motor trolley

Arlington & Fairfax — 1927–1936

The Arlington & Fairfax was organized by local governments to take control of the WA&FC line after the W-V went bankrupt. In 1932, the company lost the right to travel into D.C., and, on January 17, 1932, the last Arlington & Fairfax streetcar departed from 12th & D Streets, NW, abandoning all service in Washington, D.C.

Arlington & Fairfax Auto Railroad — 1936–1939

In 1936, the company was sold to Detroit's Evans Products Company, an innovative railway and automotive industry supplier that had developed the first version of the present hy-rail system called auto-railers, small buses that can run on rails on flanged wheels or on roads with rubber. In 1937, Evans replaced the trolleys with auto-railers. On rail, they went to Rosslyn where they were intended to switch to tires and cross the Key Bridge into Georgetown, eliminating the change in Rosslyn, but Capital Transit prevented that service by objecting that its franchise gave it exclusive service across the bridge. The auto-railers last ran in September 1939.

Nauck line (Fort Myer line)

The Nauck line (Fort Myer line) ran south from Rosslyn through Fort Myer to an originally undeveloped area in South Arlington near Four Mile Run. After leaving the railroad's Rosslyn terminal near the Aqueduct Bridge, the line travelled south along the present routes of N. Lynn Street and N. Meade Street to reach the Fort. The line then turned to the southwest and entered the Fort near today’s Wright Gate. Within the Fort, trolleys on the line climbed a hill along the present route of McNair Road near the western wall of Arlington National Cemetery to reach a station (Arlington Fort Myer) located within the Fort at the present intersection of McNair Road and Lee Avenue, near the Cemetery's Fort Myer Gate (Chapel Gate of Fort Myer).

After disembarking at the Arlington Fort Myer station, visitors could enter the Cemetery at its highest elevation, thus avoiding the ascent required when entering the Cemetery through the Sheridan Gate from the East Arlington branch. After the East Arlington branch discontinued service in 1921, the Nauck line continued to carry visitors to the Cemetery.

The line then continued through Fort Myer, exiting the Fort a short distance north of the Fort's Hatfield Gate. When crossing the present path of Washington Boulevard (State Route 27) south of Arlington Boulevard (U.S. Route 50), the line met at its Hatfield station (Hatfield Junction) the South Arlington branch of the railroad's Fairfax line.

After leaving Hatfield, the Nauck line followed the present routes of S. Uhle Street and Walter Reed Drive before travelling downhill on S. Kenmore Street to end at a railway turntable at 24th Road S. and S. Kenmore Street. The line terminated a short distance north of the Cowdon station of the Southern Railway, and later, of the W&OD Railway's Bluemont Division.

Stations

The stations of the Nauck line (Fort Myer-Arlington Branch of the Washington Virginia Railway)[9] were (with locations of sites in 2008):

Arlington Fort Myer trolley station. Post hospital at left.
Station[9] Location[10] Jurisdiction Notes Coordinates
Rosslyn N. Lynn St. near Key Bridge Marriott Hotel Arlington County East of W&OD Railway station 38°53′59″N 77°04′15″W / 38.899598°N 77.070934°W / 38.899598; -77.070934 (Rosslyn Station (Washington-Virginia Railway))
Fort Myer Junction N. Lynn Street and 17th Street N. Arlngton County 38°53′39″N 77°04′15″W / 38.894198°N 77.070873°W / 38.894198; -77.070873 (Fort Myer Junction (Washington-Virginia Railway))
Grinder Arlington County
Mount Washington Arlington County
Radnor Heights N. Meade Street and 14th Street N. (southwest side) Arlington County 38°53′25″N 77°04′17″W / 38.890157°N 77.071526°W / 38.890157; -77.071526 (Radnor Heights Station (Washington-Virginia Railway))
Signal Corps N. Meade Street immediately west of the Netherlands Carillon Arlington County 38°53′16″N 77°04′18″W / 38.88791°N 77.071731°W / 38.88791; -77.071731 (Signal Corps Station (Washington-Virginia Railway))
Fort Myer Steps Marshall Drive and Stewart Road, Fort Myer Arlington County 38°53′10″N 77°04′31″W / 38.886006°N 77.075229°W / 38.886006; -77.075229 (Fort Myer Steps Station (Washington-Virginia Railway))
Arlington Fort Myer (Cemetery) McNair Road and Lee Avenue, Fort Myer Arlington County Near Fort Myer Gate of Arlington National Cemetery (Chapel Gate of Fort Myer) 38°52′50″N 77°04′45″W / 38.880602°N 77.0791018°W / 38.880602; -77.0791018 (Arlington Fort Myer Station (Washington-Virginia Railway))
Hatfield (Hatfield Junction) Washington Blvd. (State Route 27) near S. Uhle St. and Arlington Blvd. (U.S. Route 50) Arlington County Junction with South Arlington branch 38°52′26″N 77°04′55″W / 38.873895°N 77.081838°W / 38.873895; -77.081838 (Hatfield Junction (Washington-Virginia Railway))
Hunter S. Uhle St. and S. Walter Reed Drive, near S. Courthouse Road Arlington County 38°52′22″N 77°04′58″W / 38.872903°N 77.082656°W / 38.872903; -77.082656 (Hunter Station (Washington-Virginia Railway))
Penrose 2312 2nd St. S. (2nd St. S. and S. Uhle St.) Arlington County 38°52′17″N 77°05′02″W / 38.871502°N 77.084021°W / 38.871502; -77.084021 (Penrose Station (Washington-Virginia Railway))
Fulcher Near S. Barton St. and 3rd St. S. Arlington County 38°52′13″N 77°05′07″W / 38.870203°N 77.085389°W / 38.870203; -77.085389 (Fulcher Station (Washington-Virginia Railway))
Munson (Bailey) Near S. Cleveland St. and 5th St. S. Arlington County 38°52′09″N 77°05′11″W / 38.869034°N 77.086515°W / 38.869034; -77.086515 (Munson Station (Washington-Virginia Railway))
Bradbury Near S. Walter Reed Drive and S. Filmore St. Arlington County 38°52′04″N 77°05′16″W / 38.867797°N 77.087824°W / 38.867797; -77.087824 (Bradbury Station (Washington-Virginia Railway))
Arlington Columbia S. Walter Reed Drive and Columbia Pike Arlington County 38°51′45″N 77°05′13″W / 38.862555°N 77.087025°W / 38.862555; -77.087025 (Arlington Columbia Station (Washington-Virginia Railway))
Petty S. Walter Reed Drive Arlington County
Fox S. Walter Reed Dr. and 16th Road S. (near S. Glebe Road (State Route 120)) Arlington County 38°51′21″N 77°05′19″W / 38.855851°N 77.088591°W / 38.855851; -77.088591 (Fox Station (Washington-Virginia Railway))
Fort Berry S. Kenmore St. and 19th St. S. Arlington County 38°51′12″N 77°05′17″W / 38.853376°N 77.08795°W / 38.853376; -77.08795 (Fort Berry Station (Washington-Virginia Railway))
Corbett S. Kenmore St. Arlington County 38°51′05″N 77°05′12″W / 38.851506°N 77.086687°W / 38.851506; -77.086687 (Corbett Station (Washington-Virginia Railway))
Peyton S. Kenmore St. and 22 St. S. Arlington County 38°50′59″N 77°05′08″W / 38.849835°N 77.085657°W / 38.849835; -77.085657 (Peyton Station (Washington-Virginia Railway))
Nauck Arlington County
Green Valley S. Kenmore St. and 24th Road S. Arlington County Historical marker near site of station: Nauck: A Neighborhood History[24] 38°50′54″N 77°05′05″W / 38.848469°N 77.084791°W / 38.848469; -77.084791 (Nauck/Green Valley Station (Washington-Virginia Railway)
Remnants of the Nauck line

Fairfax line

The Fairfax line traveled from a terminus in front of the Fairfax County Courthouse[25][26] in Fairfax City through Oakton, Vienna, Dunn Loring, Falls Church and Ballston to downtown Washington, D.C., and Rosslyn by way of Clarendon.[23]

Trolleys of the Fairfax line began their trips at the old Courthouse, located at the southwest corner of Chain Bridge Road (now part of State Route 123) and Main Street (now part of State Route 236). The cars first ran westward along Main Street and then turned north at the site of the Fairfax Electric Depot (the terminus of the line until the depot burned in 1907) onto the present route of Railroad Avenue.[27] After crossing the present route of Lee Highway (U.S. Routes 50 and 29), the line crossed Chain Bridge Road. The line then traveled northeast through Fairfax County a short distance east of Chain Bridge Road, passed through Oakton, and reached the town of Vienna.

The line continued northeast in Vienna about a block southeast of Maple Avenue W. Trolleys on the line crossed Center Avenue S, turned to the northwest on a wye and crossed Maple Avenue E. After leaving the wye, the trolleys stopped at the line's Vienna station.

The Fairfax line's Vienna station was located in the center of town on the southeast side of Church Street NE, a short distance southeast of the tracks of the Southern Railway's Bluemont Branch, which became the W&OD Railway's Bluemont Division in 1912. The Southern's Vienna station (which remains intact on the southwest side of the W&OD Trail) was a block northwest of the Fairfax line's station.

As the Fairfax line's tracks ended near Church Street, trolleys left their station by reversing direction. They then recrossed Maple Avenue E and traveled southeast through a second leg of the wye that paralleled the Southern's tracks, with which there was an interchange. Freight and work cars usually bypassed the station and avoided reversing by turning from the northeast to the southeast on the third leg of the wye.[28]

After leaving the wye, the line continued east in Vienna on Ninovan Road, paralleling the Southern's route. The line then crossed the Southern's tracks on a bridge built in 1904. After the crossing, the line traveled east along the present routes of Electric Avenue, Railroad Street and Helena Drive in Fairfax County until it reached the City of Falls Church.

The line continued eastward through Falls Church, following the present route of Lincoln Avenue until it reached the present Arlington County (formerly named Alexandria County). In Arlington, the line traveled eastward along the route of Fairfax Drive, which Interstate 66 (I-66) has partially replaced. Between 1912 and its closing, the line traveled under a plate girder bridge at Waycroft that the W&OD Railway constructed near the west end of Ballston for its Thrifton-Bluemont Junction connecting line.[29]

The line then passed a complex containing a car barn, rail yard, workshops, electrical substation and general office that the Washington, Arlington and Falls Church Railway had built in 1910 at Lacey near the present intersection of North Glebe Road and Fairfax Drive in Ballston.[29] After traveling eastward through Ballston on the present route of Fairfax Drive, the line reached Clarendon, where it branched.

The North Arlington branch continued to follow the route of Fairfax Drive (now partially replaced by Clarendon Boulevard) through and past Clarendon. The branch then traveled downhill on the present route of Fairfax Drive along the north side of Rocky Run, which U.S. Route 50 now covers. Approaching Rosslyn, the branch turned north when meeting the Nauck line at N. Lynn Street, joined the East Arlington branch, and ended near the Aqueduct Bridge at the railroad's Rosslyn terminal.

Beginning in 1906, the North and East Arlington branches and the Nauck line connected at the Rosslyn terminal to the Great Falls and Old Dominion Railroad (later the Great Falls Division of the W&OD Railway), which crossed the Potomac River into Georgetown on the Aqueduct Bridge. In its later years, the North Arlington branch connected in Rosslyn to the streetcars of the Capital Traction and (later) Capital Transit Companies, which crossed the Potomac on the Francis Scott Key Bridge.

After leaving Clarendon, the South Arlington branch followed Washington Boulevard and Southgate Drive, meeting the Nauck line at Hatfield Junction, the East Arlington branch at Mount Vernon Junction (which received its name because the East Arlington branch was a part of the Washington, Alexandria, and Mount Vernon Railway when the South Arlington branch first reached it), and the Washington-Alexandria-Mount Vernon main line at Arlington Junction. After entering the tracks of the Washington-Alexandria-Mount Vernon line, trolleys of the South Arlington branch (some of which had originated in Fairfax City) crossed the Potomac River on the Long Bridge and, later, on the Highway Bridge to terminate in downtown Washington, D.C. at a station located at 1204 N. Pennsylvania Avenue that extended along Pennsylvania Avenue NW and D Street NW from 12th Street, NW, to 13 1/2 Street, NW, near the site of the present Federal Triangle Metro station and on the opposite side of 12th Street from the Post Office building.[2][5][23]

I-66 and the Custis Trail now travel from Lee Highway (U.S. Route 29) in East Falls Church to Ballston on or near the Fairfax line's right of way along the former route of Fairfax Drive. Metrorail's Orange Line now follows the route of Fairfax line and its North Arlington branch from Lee Highway in East Falls Church to N. Lynn Street in Rosslyn.

Stations

The stations of the Fairfax line were (with locations of sites in 2008):

1915 United States Geological Survey map of Fairfax, Vienna and Herndon showing the routes of the "Electric RR" (the Fairfax line of the Washington-Virginia Railway) and the Washington and Old Dominion Railway
Station Location[10] Jurisdiction Notes Coordinates
Fairfax Courthouse Main St. (State Route 236) and Chain Bridge Road (State Route 123) City of Fairfax After 1907 38°50′47″N 77°18′25″W / 38.846355°N 77.30702°W / 38.846355; -77.30702 (Fairfax Courthouse Station (Washington-Virginia Railway))
Fairfax Electric Depot Main St. (State Route 236) and Railroad Avenue City of Fairfax 1904–1907 38°50′54″N 77°18′46″W / 38.848409°N 77.312698°W / 38.848409; -77.312698 (Fairfax Electric Depot (Washington-Virginia Railway))
Cedar Avenue Cedar Avenue City of Fairfax 38°51′13″N 77°18′36″W / 38.853512°N 77.310083°W / 38.853512; -77.310083 (Cedar Avenue Station (Washington-Virginia Railway))
Wiley
Martinique
Blake Blake Lane Fairfax County 38°52′37″N 77°18′02″W / 38.876935°N 77.30047°W / 38.876935; -77.30047 (Blake Station (Washington-Virginia Railway))
Sanger Fairfax County
Oakton 2923 Gray St. (between Pine St. and Oakton Drive) Fairfax County Contained a post office and general store. Built in 1905. Preserved by Northern Virginia Conservation Trust.[30] Station listed on National Register of Historic Places in 1995.[31] 38°52′46″N 77°17′49″W / 38.8794724°N 77.2968167°W / 38.8794724; -77.2968167 (Oakton Station (Washington-Virginia Railway))
Edgelea Edgelea Road and Courthouse Road Fairfax County 38°52′57″N 77°17′22″W / 38.882481°N 77.289548°W / 38.882481; -77.289548 (Edgelea Station (Washington-Virginia Railway))
Shockey Hidden Road Fairfax County 38°53′04″N 77°17′08″W / 38.884385°N 77.285643°W / 38.884385; -77.285643 (Shockey Station (Washington-Virginia Railway))
Five Oaks Sutton Road Fairfax County 38°53′13″N 77°16′55″W / 38.886874°N 77.28207°W / 38.886874; -77.28207 (Five Oaks Station (Washington-Virginia Railway))
Bothwell Fairfax County
Lewis Street Wade Hampton Drive SW and Millwood Court SW Town of Vienna 38°53′43″N 77°16′17″W / 38.895308°N 77.271373°W / 38.895308; -77.271373 (Lewis Street Station (Washington-Virginia Railway))
Library Library Lane SW Town of Vienna 38°53′49″N 77°16′10″W / 38.897012°N 77.269421°W / 38.897012; -77.269421 (Library Station (Washington-Virginia Railway))
Courthouse Road Courthouse Road SW Town of Vienna 38°53′56″N 77°16′01″W / 38.898865°N 77.266953°W / 38.898865; -77.266953 (Courthouse Road Station (Washington-Virginia Railway))
Vienna Near Dominion Road NE and Church St. NE Town of Vienna Undated Photo[32] 38°54′11″N 77°15′56″W / 38.903057°N 77.265429°W / 38.903057; -77.265429 (Vienna Station (Washington-Virginia Railway))
Park Street Park St. SE and Ninovan Road SE Town of Vienna 38°54′03″N 77°15′34″W / 38.90075°N 77.259378°W / 38.90075; -77.259378 (Park Street Station (Washington-Virginia Railway))
Tydidi (?) Name uncertain
Franklin Near crossing of W&OD Railway's Bluemont Division
Woodford Electric Avenue and Woodford Road Fairfax County 38°54′06″N 77°14′21″W / 38.901754°N 77.239251°W / 38.901754; -77.239251 (Woodford Station (Washington-Virginia Railway))
East Woodford Electric Avenue Fairfax County
Wedderburn Heights Electric Avenue Fairfax County
Enola Electric Avenue and Cedar Lane Fairfax County 38°53′55″N 77°13′43″W / 38.898515°N 77.228651°W / 38.898515; -77.228651 (Enola Station (Washington-Virginia Railway))
Dunn Loring Railroad St. and Gallows Road Fairfax County 38°53′52″N 77°13′28″W / 38.89788°N 77.224467°W / 38.89788; -77.224467 (Dun Loring Station (Washington-Virginia Railway))
Robey Fairfax County
Burr Fairfax County
Antrum
West Falls Church (West End) 1101 West Broad St. (Virginia State Route 7) and Falls Avenue City of Falls Church Station at stationmaster's residence.Undated photo[33] 38°53′32″N 77°11′12″W / 38.892194°N 77.186583°W / 38.892194; -77.186583 (West Falls Church (West End) Station (Washington-Virginia Railway))
East Falls Church[9] Lee Highway (U.S. Route 29) and Fairfax Drive Arlington County Ticket depot and post office in grocery store. Undated photo.[34] 38°53′15″N 77°09′43″W / 38.887467°N 77.162079°W / 38.887467; -77.162079 (East Falls Church Station (Washington-Virginia Railway))
Ashdale N. Roosevelt St. and I-66 Arlington County 38°53′07″N 77°09′16″W / 38.885221°N 77.154536°W / 38.885221; -77.154536 (Ashdale Station (Washington-Virginia Railway))
Hyson I-66 near N. Quesada St. Arlington County 38°53′03″N 77°09′07″W / 38.884302°N 77.151854°W / 38.884302; -77.151854 (Hyson Station (Washington-Virginia Railway))
Heights I-66 between N. Quantico and N. Potomac St. Arlington County 38°53′02″N 77°09′01″W / 38.883851°N 77.150373°W / 38.883851; -77.150373 (Heights Station (Washington-Virginia Railway))
Highland Park I-66 near N. Powhattan St. Arlington County 38°52′59″N 77°08′53″W / 38.883032°N 77.14812°W / 38.883032; -77.14812 (Highland Park Station (Washington-Virginia Railway))
Upton N. Ohio St. and I-66 Arlington County Near Fostoria Station of W&OD Railway's Bluemont Division 38°52′57″N 77°08′46″W / 38.882414°N 77.146211°W / 38.882414; -77.146211 (Upton Station (Washington-Virginia Railway))
Kearney N. Kennesaw St. and I-66 Arlington County 38°52′47″N 77°08′17″W / 38.879658°N 77.137971°W / 38.879658; -77.137971 (Kearney Station (Washington-Virginia Railway))
Torreyson I-66 Arlington County 38°52′47″N 77°08′17″W / 38.879658°N 77.137971°W / 38.879658; -77.137971 (Torreyson Station (Washington-Virginia Railway))
Veitch Summit[9] N. Jefferson St. and Fairfax Drive Arlington County 38°52′48″N 77°07′53″W / 38.879875°N 77.131405°W / 38.879875; -77.131405 (Veitch Station (Washington-Virginia Railway))
Mulhall N. Harrison St. and Fairfax Drive Arlington County 38°52′48″N 77°07′42″W / 38.880009°N 77.128229°W / 38.880009; -77.128229 (Mulhall Station (Washington-Virginia Railway))
Sunnyside N. Edison St. and Fairfax Drive Arlington County 38°52′51″N 77°07′24″W / 38.880861°N 77.123302°W / 38.880861; -77.123302 (Sunnyside Station (Washington-Virginia Railway))
Burch I-66 Arlington County
Waycroft N. Buchanan St. and I-66 Arlington County Crossing of Thrifton-Bluemont Junction connecting line of W&OD Railway’s Bluemont Division 38°52′54″N 77°07′10″W / 38.881796°N 77.119496°W / 38.881796; -77.119496 (Waycroft Station (Washington-Virginia Railway))
Lacey Car Barn[35] 907 N. Glebe Road Arlington County In rail yard.
Historical marker at site: Lacey Car Barn[29]
Present site of Marymount University Ballston Center
38°52′57″N 77°07′00″W / 38.882615°N 77.116567°W / 38.882615; -77.116567 (Lacey Car Barn (Washington-Virginia Railway))
Lacey[9] N. Glebe Road (State Route 120) (west side) and Fairfax Drive (south side) Arlington County 38°52′55″N 77°06′58″W / 38.882026°N 77.115979°W / 38.882026; -77.115979 (Lacey Station (Washington-Virginia Railway))
Ballston[9] N. Stuart St. (east side) and Fairfax Drive (north side) Arlington County Opposite side of Fairfax Drive from Ballston Metro Station entrance.
Historical marker near site: Ballston[36][37]
38°52′57″N 77°06′42″W / 38.882381°N 77.111707°W / 38.882381; -77.111707 (Ballston Station (Washington-Virginia Railway))
Bolivar N. Pollard St. and Fairfax Drive Arlington County 38°52′57″N 77°06′24″W / 38.882398°N 77.106686°W / 38.882398; -77.106686 (Bolivar Station (Washington-Virginia Railway))
Belaire Fairfax Drive Arlington County
Clarendon[9] N. Washington Boulevard and Clarendon Boulevard Arlington County Junction with North Arlington branch and South Arlington branch 38°53′10″N 77°05′46″W / 38.886139°N 77.096043°W / 38.886139; -77.096043 (Clarendon Station (Washington-Virginia Railway))
Remnants of the Fairfax line

North Arlington branch

Stations

The stations of the North Arlington branch (Clarendon-Fairfax branch of Washington-Virginia Railway)[9] were (with locations of sites in 2008):

Station[9] Location[10] Jurisdiction Notes Coordinates
Clarendon[9] N. Washington Boulevard and Clarendon Boulevard Arlington County Junction with Fairfax line and South Arlington branch 38°53′10″N 77°05′46″W / 38.886139°N 77.096043°W / 38.886139; -77.096043 (Clarendon Station (Washington-Virginia Railway))
Spruce Street Clarendon Boulevard and N. Fillmore Street (northeast side) Arlington County 38°53′17″N 77°05′35″W / 38.887960°N 77.093075°W / 38.887960; -77.093075 (Spruce Street Station (Washington-Virginia Railway))
Oak Street Clarendon Boulevard and N. Edgewood Street (northeast side) Arlington County 38°53′18″N 77°05′30″W / 38.888463°N 77.091641°W / 38.888463; -77.091641 (Oak Street Station (Washington-Virginia Railway))
Walnut Street Fairfax Drive and N. Cleveland Street Arlington County 38°53′18″N 77°05′22″W / 38.888342°N 77.089419°W / 38.888342; -77.089419 (Walnut Street Station (Washington-Virginia Railway))
Chestnut Street Fairfax Drive an N. Barton Street (southeast side) Arlington County 38°53′16″N 77°05′18″W / 38.887801°N 77.088211°W / 38.887801; -77.088211 (Chestnut Street Station (Washington-Virginia Railway))
Courtlands Arlington County
Courthouse Fairfax Drive (U.S. Route 50 service road) and N. Courthouse Road (northeast side) Arlington County 38°53′12″N 77°04′59″W / 38.886797°N 77.083144°W / 38.886797; -77.083144 (Courthouse Station (Washington-Virginia Railway))
Murphy Fairfax Drive (U.S. Route 50 service road) between N. Rhodes St. and N. Rolfe St., Arlington Arlington County 38°53′21″N 77°04′45″W / 38.889095°N 77.079048°W / 38.889095; -77.079048 (Murphy Station (Washington-Virginia Railway))
McCombs Fairfax Drive (U.S. Route 50 service road) Arlington County
Baltimore Street Fairfax Drive (U.S. Route 50 service road) and N. Quinn Street Arlington County 38°53′24″N 77°04′41″W / 38.890002°N 77.078099°W / 38.890002; -77.078099 (Baltimore Street Station (Washington-Virginia Railway))
Walz (Woltz) Fairfax Drive (U.S. Route 50 service road) and N. Queen Street Arlington County 38°53′27″N 77°04′38″W / 38.890732°N 77.077246°W / 38.890732; -77.077246 (Walz Station (Washington-Virginia Railway))
Military Road Fairfax Drive and Fort Myer Drive Arlington County 38°53′35″N 77°04′19″W / 38.893129°N 77.071999°W / 38.893129; -77.071999 (Military Road Station (Washington-Virginia Railway))
Heights Arlington County
Fort Myer Junction N. Lynn Street and 17th Street N. Arlngton County 38°53′39″N 77°04′15″W / 38.894198°N 77.070873°W / 38.894198; -77.070873 (Fort Myer Junction (Washington-Virginia Railway))
Rosslyn N. Lynn St. near Key Bridge Marriott Hotel Arlington County East of W&OD Railway station 38°53′59″N 77°04′15″W / 38.899598°N 77.070934°W / 38.899598; -77.070934 (Rosslyn Station (Washington-Virginia Railway))
Remnants of North Arlington branch

South Arlington branch

Stations

The stations of the South Arlington branch (Clarendon Fairfax Branch of Washington-Virginia Railway)[9] with locations of sites in 2008) were:

Station Location[10] Jurisdiction Notes Coordinates
Clarendon N. Washington Boulevard and Clarendon Boulevard Arlington County Junction with Fairfax line and North Arlington branch 38°53′10″N 77°05′46″W / 38.886139°N 77.096043°W / 38.886139; -77.096043 (Clarendon Station (Washington-Virginia Railway))
South Spruce Street N. Washington Boulevard Arlington County
Vinson (Lyon Park) Washington Blvd. and N. Pershing Drive Arlington County 38°52′51″N 77°05′26″W / 38.880811°N 77.090464°W / 38.880811; -77.090464 (Vinson Station (Washington-Virginia Railway))
Hatfield (Hatfield Junction) Washington Blvd. (State Route 120) near S. Uhle St. and Arlington Blvd. (U.S. Route 50) Arlington County Junction with Nauck branch 38°52′26″N 77°04′55″W / 38.873895°N 77.081838°W / 38.873895; -77.081838 (Hatfield Junction(Washington-Virginia Railway))
St. John In Fort Myer Arlington County 38°52′21″N 77°04′48″W / 38.872592°N 77.080035°W / 38.872592; -77.080035 (St. John Station (Washington-Virginia Railway))
Radio Near Hobson Dr. and Fort Myer Drive Arlington County In Fort Myer 38°52′11″N 77°04′33″W / 38.869785°N 77.075915°W / 38.869785; -77.075915 (Radio Station (Washington-Virginia Railway))
Syphax Southgate Road and S. Oak St. Arlington County 38°52′08″N 77°04′15″W / 38.868984°N 77.070959°W / 38.868984; -77.070959 (Syphax Station (Washington-Virginia Railway))
Clark Southgate Road Arlington County
Mount Vernon Junction Near present east crossing of Columbia Pike (State Route 244) and Washington Boulevard (State Route 27) Arlington County Junction with East Arlington branch of Washington, Alexandria, and Mount Vernon Railway 38°52′11″N 77°03′42″W / 38.869639°N 77.06179°W / 38.869639; -77.06179 (Mount Vernon Junction (Washington-Virginia Railway))
Relee I-395 between S. Fern St. and S. Eads St. Arlington County 38°51′56″N 77°03′20″W / 38.865642°N 77.055531°W / 38.865642; -77.055531 (Relee Station (Washington-Virginia Railway))
Arlington Junction Between Army-Navy Drive and 12th St. S and between S. Eads St. and Jefferson Davis Highway (U.S. Route 1) Arlington County Junction with Washington-Mount Vernon line of Washington, Alexandria, and Mount Vernon Railway 38°51′50″N 77°03′12″W / 38.86393°N 77.053444°W / 38.86393; -77.053444 (Arlington Junction (Washington-Virginia Railway))
Remnant of South Arlington branch

Washington and Old Dominion Railroad

See also

Notes

  1. (1) "Figure 18: Map of Washington-Virginia Railway Company". South Railroad Street Park Master Plan: General Management Plan and Conceptual Development Plan. Fairfax County Park Authority. September 27, 2006. p. 19. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 13, 2013. Retrieved January 13, 2013. External link in |publisher= (help)
    (2) "Map of electric railroads,steam railroads and streets in Washington and vicinity". Rand McNally & Co.'s Pictorial Guide to Washington. New York and Chicago: Rand McNally & Company. 1904. Retrieved January 13, 2013. at Google Books
    (3) Reynolds, Charles A. (1907). "Map of Arlington and vicinity". Washington: The Nation's Capital. New York: Foster & Reynolds. p. 141. Retrieved January 13, 2013. at Google Books
    (4) 1938 Alexander Gross street and rail map of Arlington and vicinity in J. A. Weyraugh Document Collection in website of Washington & Old Dominion Railroad Yahoo group Accessed April 24, 2009.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Tindall, Dr. William (1918). "Beginning of Street Railways in the National Capital". Records of the Columbia Historical Society, Washington, D.C. (Washington, D.C.: Columbia Historical Society) 21: 46–47. Retrieved 2014-02-02. At Google Books.
  3. William H. Rehnquist, William H. (2001-04-27). "Remarks at the Arlington Historical Society Banquet". United States Supreme Court. Archived from the original on 2014-02-03. Retrieved 2014-02-03.
  4. Cohen, Robert (2003). "History of the Long Railroad Bridge Crossing Across the Potomac River". Washington, D.C. Chapter: National Railway Historical Society. Archived from the original on 2014-02-03. Retrieved 2014-02-03. External link in |publisher= (help)
  5. 1 2 3 4 Through the Most Historic Section of Virginia: Quickest, Most Convenient and Interesting Route to Mt. Vernon, Alexandria, Arlington .. National Cemetery .. via the Washington, Arlington & Mt. Vernon Railway. Advertisement in Industrial and Historical Sketch of Fairfax County, Virginia (Fairfax County Board of Supervisors). 1907. p. 90. Retrieved 2014-02-02. At Google Books.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Snowden, William H. (1902). Washington City to Mount Vernon: Stations And Distances. Some Old Historic Landmarks of Virginia and Maryland, Described in a Hand-book for the Tourist Over the Washington, Alexandria and Mount Vernon Electric Railway (3rd ed.) (Alexandria, Virginia: G.H. Ramey & Son). p. 5. OCLC 6234650. Retrieved January 13, 2013. External link in |work= (help) At Google Books.
  7. 1 2 Washington-Virginia Railway Co. timetable in Victorian Society at Falls Church (2007). "6. An Era Ends: 1901-1915". Images of America: Victorian Falls Church. Charleston SC, Chicago IL, Portsmouth NH, San Francisco CA: Arcadia Publishing. p. 102. ISBN 978-0-7385-5250-7. At Google Books.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 ""Transportation" marker". HMdb.org: The Historical Marker Database. 2009-09-15. Retrieved 2012-02-05. Near this point the Alexandria Canal crossed Four Mile Run, connecting Alexandria docks and railyards to Georgetown and western Maryland from 1843 to 1886. To the east were the turnpike and railroad. In 1896 the Washington, Alexandria and Mount Vernon Railway began to run electric trolleys beside the abandoned canal in this area, where it also built a car barn, repair shops and a power house. In 1906 the trolley line opened and operated Luna Park west of the tracks, providing a ballroom, roller coaster, water slide and other amusements. Parts of this complex survived until 1993, when the trolley barn was torn down after serving as a bus garage since the 1930s. Eads Street traces the canal and trolley line. External link in |publisher= (help)
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Washington-Virginia Railway: Geographical List of Railway Stations in Arlington County. The Arlington County Directory (1924), p. 50.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Locations of stations in 2008, from comparison of contemporary and 2008 street maps
  11. Image of "The Electric Railway" historical marker near site of Mount Ida station in Ness, Leland (2008). "The Electric Railway historical marker" (PDF). Del Ray and the Town of Potomac: Del Ray Interpretive Signs. City of Alexandria, Virginia. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-09-16. Retrieved 2016-01-23.
  12. "Electric Railway" historical marker near site of Mount Ida station (location and partial text of marker) in alsdmf (2010-05-19). "Del Ray Interpretive Markers". Retrieved 2011-05-23.
  13. 1 2 Image of "St. Asaph Racetrack" historical marker near site of St. Asaph station in Ness, Leland (2008). "St. Asaph Racetrack historical marker" (PDF). Del Ray and the Town of Potomac: Del Ray Interpretive Signs. City of Alexandria, Virginia. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-09-19. Retrieved 2016-01-23.
  14. "St. Asaph Racetrack" historical marker near site of St. Asaph station (location and partial text of marker) in alsdmf (2010-05-19). "Del Ray Interpretive Markers". Retrieved 2011-05-23.
  15. Image of "Mount Vernon Avenue" historical marker near site of Hume station in Ness, Leland (2008). "Mount Vernon Avenue" (PDF). Del Ray and the Town of Potomac: Del Ray Interpretive Signs. City of Alexandria, Virginia. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-10-01. Retrieved 2011-05-23. External link in |publisher=, |work= (help)
  16. "Mount Vernon Avenue" historical marker near site of Hume station (location and partial text of marker) in alsdmf (2010-05-19). "Del Ray Interpretive Markers". Retrieved 2011-05-23.
  17. Image of "The Bluemont Line" historical marker near site of St. Elmo station in Ness, Leland (2008). "The Bluemont Line historical marker" (PDF). Del Ray and the Town of Potomac: Del Ray Interpretive Signs. City of Alexandria, Virginia. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-12-25. Retrieved 2011-05-23.
  18. "Bluemont Line" historical marker near site of St. Elmo station (location and partial text of marker) in alsdmf (2010-05-19). "Del Ray Interpretive Markers". Retrieved 2011-05-23.
  19. Coordinates of "Transportation" historical marker: 38°50′34″N 77°03′16″W / 38.8428977°N 77.0545435°W
  20. 1925 photo of Rosslyn. Accessed March 12, 2008. From "Washington, D.C., Past and Present", Oneonta Press website, Peter R. Penczer, Arlington, VA. Accessed March 12, 2008.
  21. Office of the Depot Quartermaster General (1912-08-14). "Enlargeable map of Arlington National Cemetery showing original location of Sheridan Gate and Arlington station (lower right)". At Schara, Mark (2012). "Map - Arlington National Cemetery, Sheridan Gate, Arlington, Arlington County, VA". Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division. Archived from the original on 2015-12-30. Retrieved 2015-12-30.
  22. "Washington and Arlington Railway Company". Laws Relating to Street-Railway Franchises in the District of Columbia. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office. 1896. pp. 157–164. Retrieved 2014-01-31. At Google Books.
  23. 1 2 3 Washington, Arlington and Falls Church Ry. Advertisement in Industrial and Historical Sketch of Fairfax County, Virginia (Fairfax County Board of Supervisors). 1907. p. 88. Retrieved 2014-02-02. At Google Books.
  24. Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority. ""Nauck: A Neighborhood History" marker". HMdb.org: The Historical Marker Database. Retrieved 2012-02-05. ..... It was the electric railway, which came to Nauck in 1898 that spurred development of the neighborhood. The Nauck line of the Washington, Arlington, and Fairfax Railway ran parallel to what is now South Kenmore Street and there was a station located south of what is now the intersection of 19th Street South and South Kenmore Street. ...... External link in |publisher= (help) Marker is at the trailhead of the Washington & Old Dominion Railroad Trail at S. Shirlington Road near S. Four Mile Run Dr.
  25. The Fairfax County Courthouse: A Brief History (Official Fairfax County government site) Accessed Jan. 15, 2008
  26. Photograph of Historic Fairfax County Courthouse by George Petropol, Manassas, Virginia Accessed Jan. 15, 2008
  27. Johnson, WP II, "The Fairfax Electric Depot & Mill Managers Home" in The Fare Facs Gazette: The Newsletter of Historic Fairfax City, Inc., Vol. 1, Issue 4, Fall 2003 Accessed Jan. 15, 2008
  28. Stuntz, pp. 245,246,264
  29. 1 2 3 ""Lacey Car Barn" marker". HMdb.org: The Historical Marker Database. Archived from the original on March 1, 2014. Retrieved February 28, 2014. In 1896, the Washington, Arlington & Falls Church Railway began running electric trolleys from Rosslyn to Falls Church on the present routes of Fairfax Drive and I-66. By 1907, the line linked downtown Washington to Ballston, Vienna, and the Town of Fairfax. In 1910, the railway built at this location a car barn, rail yard, workshop, electrical substation, and general office. In 1912, the rival Washington & Old Dominion Railway began crossing the tracks on a bridge 200 yards west of here, traveling the present route of I-66 from Rosslyn. The line to Fairfax closed in 1939, but Metrorail’s Orange Line follows its route through Arlington. External link in |publisher= (help)
  30. 1 2 (1) Trompeter, Brian (July 22, 2011). "Owner Offers Conservation Easement for Former Trolley Station in Oakton". Sun Gazette. Retrieved February 1, 2012.
    (2) "NVCT Preserves the Historic Oakton Trolley Station". Northern Virginia Conservation Trust. July 14, 2011. Retrieved February 1, 2012. External link in |publisher= (help)
    (3) "Oakton Historic Trolley Line Preserved" (PDF). Connection (Connection Newspapers). August 17, 2011. p. 4. Retrieved January 13, 2012. External link in |publisher= (help)
  31. (1) "Oakton Trolley Station". Virginia-Fairfax County. National Register of Historic Places.com. Retrieved January 13, 2012. External link in |publisher= (help)
    (2) "Weekly List of Actions Taken on Properties (National Register of Historic Places): 2/06/95 through 2/10/95" (PDF). Washington, D.C.: National Park Service, United States Department of the Interior. February 17, 1995. Retrieved February 1, 2012.
    (3) Stefan, Adrienne; Macklin, Tom (July 11, 1994). "Oakton Trolley Station" (pdf). United States Department of the Interior: National Park Service: National Register of Historic Places Registration Form. Richmond, Virginia: Virginia Department of Historic Resources. Retrieved February 1, 2012. External link in |publisher= (help)
  32. Undated photo of Vienna station of Washington-Virginia Railway, Vienna, Virginia. Accessed March 12, 2008. From McCray, P., Washington & Old Dominion Railroad: 1847 to 1968. A Photographic History. Accessed March 12, 2008.
  33. Taylor, Cathy. "Undated photo of Washington-Virginia Railway Co. station at Shephard House, at 1101 West Broad Street, on the West End". Images of America: Historic Falls Church. Charleston, South Carolina: Arcadia Publishing. p. 56. ISBN 9780738592626. OCLC 792878886. Shephard House, at 1101 West Broad Street, served as both a station and stationmaster's residence on the West End. By 1903, real estate agents, subdivision developers, and potential residents of Falls Church were using the trolley services extensively, seeing development and promotional opportunities with the service providing flexible access to previously remote locales. At Google Books.
  34. Taylor, Cathy. "Undated photo of electric railway station at Wm. B. Thompson Groceries in East Falls Church". Images of America: Historic Falls Church. Charleston, South Carolina: Arcadia Publishing. p. 55. ISBN 9780738592626. OCLC 792878886. The trains were still slow and cumbersome with the junction change at Alexandria, but electric railway tracks were laid parallel to the train tracks in town, reaching East Falls Church in 1897 and extending along Lincoln Avenue to West End by 1901. Wm. B. Thompson Groceries also housed the electric railway ticket depot and post office. At Google Books.
  35. Templeman, Eleanor Lee (1958-12-13). "N. Va. Trolley Era Stirs Last Echo: Landmark Bows to Fire, Wreckers". Northern Virginia Sun.
  36. ""Ballston" marker". HMdb.org: The Historical Marker Database. Archived from the original on 2014-03-01. Retrieved 2014-02-28. By 1900 a well-defined village called Central Ballston had developed in the area bounded by the present Wilson Boulevard, Taylor Street, Washington Boulevard, and Pollard Street. More diffuse settlement extended westward to Lubber Run and southward along Glebe Road to Henderson Road. The track of the Washington, Arlington, and Falls Church Electric Railroad ran along what is now Fairfax Drive; the Ballston Station was at Ballston Avenue, now Stuart Street. Here Clements Avenue, now Stafford Street, divided to pass on either side of an old Ball family graveyard. External link in |publisher= (help)
  37. Coordinates of Ballston historical marker: 38°52′57″N 77°06′38″W / 38.882471°N 77.110587°W
  38. Coordinates of Oakton Trolley Station: 38°52′46″N 77°17′49″W / 38.8794724°N 77.2968167°W
  39. Neville, Ashley M., National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Washington & Old Dominion Railroad Historic District (Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) No. 053-0276), Gray & Pape, Inc., Richmond, Virginia, July 25, 2000, Section 7, Page 5, in Appendix J of NORTHERN VIRGINIA REGIONAL PARK AUTHORITY - PRE-FILED DIRECT TESTIMONY OF MR. HAFNER, MR. MCRAY AND MR. SIMMONS, November 30, 2005 (Part 4 of 5, pages 1-46); obtained in Case Docket Search for documents in Case No. PUE-2005-00018 on official website of the Commonwealth of Virginia State Corporation Commission. Accessed March 24, 2008
  40. Photographs of unpaved trails and trolley cut in Figures 14 and 20 in South Railroad Street Park Master Plan: General Management Plan and Conceptual Development Plan, pages 15 and 20. Approved by Fairfax County Park Authority, September 27, 2006 in Fairfax County Park Authority official website. Accessed July 29, 2008.

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