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the top of the gap were placed in operation by the
Virginia Central as early as 1854. This line enabled the Virginia Central to offer rail service over its entire length, which had reached a western point around Jackson's River Station, near present-day Clifton Forge, by 1857. Due to the extreme
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at the top of the pass, then one of the longest tunnels in the world. The tunnel was 'holed-through' on
December 29, 1856, and was less than six inches off perfect alignment, as construction had proceeded from either end. Rail service didn't begin until April 1858, although temporary tracks over
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then incorporated and financed the Blue Ridge
Railroad to accomplish the hard and expensive task of crossing the Blue Ridge mountain barrier to the west. Rather than attempting the more formidable Swift Run Gap, the Blue Ridge Railroad built over the mountains at the next gap to the south,
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After the completion of the tunnels, the Blue Ridge
Railroad was operated by the Virginia Central Railroad (which paid annual fees to the Commonwealth of Virginia for its use) until it was bought by and incorporated into the Virginia Central's successor road, the
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in the state's transportation infrastructure. The Louisa
Railroad Company (renamed Virginia Central in 1850) was chartered by the Commonwealth in 1836 and had reached a western point around Mechum's River by 1852. This railroad, which was planned to link the
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At least three hundred enslaved
African Americans were used to construct the Blue Ridge Railroad, either directly in the construction or indirectly making materials such as bricks. These slaves were generally hired from owners in the locality.
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of the temporary tracks (approximately 5.6%), the first train to cross over the mountain wrecked on its return journey eastwards the following day. The completion of the Blue Ridge Tunnel eliminated this grade.
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project. The $ 1.6 million project is planned to turn the main Blue Ridge Tunnel into a "dark, chilly and 'mystical' hiking and biking trail".
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308:. Over 50 years later, still passable in the early 21st century, portions of the old tunnels and route were included in a
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in
Virginia were privately owned, but often received partial state-funding through investments by the
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Three of the original four tunnels were either replaced by newer ones or eliminated around
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After the Civil War, the
Virginia Central and former Blue Ridge Railroads became part of
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Annual Report of the
Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad Company to the Stockholders 1868-1877
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213:
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Slave Labor on
Virginia’s Blue Ridge Rail Road, Mary E. Lyons, The History Press, 2020
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The Blue Ridge Railroad and the former Virginia Central Railroad are both now part of
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and helped complete Virginia's longtime dream of linking its navigable rivers of the
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near Afton Mountain, from an eastern point around Blair Park to a western point near
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233:, the tunnels on the Blue Ridge Railroad were utilized as part of the so-called
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382:"DailyProgress.com | Trail plan gives new life to Blue Ridge tunnel"
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in March 1849 to provide a state-financed crossing of the
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To protect its investment and enable transportation, the
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Greenwood Tunnel constructed by the Blue Ridge Railroad
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Things in the United States that were built by slaves
177:and points west, had found a planned crossing at
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442:Predecessors of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway
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237:movements of the Confederate troops of General
148:, which it became a part of after completion.
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333:The Chesapeake & Ohio Railway directory
197:. Under the leadership of the great early
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405:Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad Company.
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216:, Little Rock Tunnel, and the 4,273-foot
452:Railway companies disestablished in 1870
412:Enquirer and Examiner Steam Print, 1869.
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136:was incorporated by the Commonwealth of
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330:Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Company.
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447:Railway companies established in 1849
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367:. Richmond, VA. January 1, 1857.
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457:1849 establishments in Virginia
388:from the original on 2006-10-23
361:"A Hole Through the Blue Ridge"
181:to be financially unfeasible.
18:Blue Ridge Railroad (1849-1870)
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348:Charter of the Louisa Railroad
162:Virginia Board of Public Works
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1:
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346:Virginia General Assembly.
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247:Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad
84:Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad
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272:Chesapeake and Ohio Railway
171:Piedmont region of Virginia
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478:
437:Defunct Virginia railroads
299:Buckingham Branch Railroad
204:, the railroad bored four
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186:Virginia General Assembly
146:Virginia Central Railroad
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208:, from east to west:
166:internal improvements
268:Collis P. Huntington
142:Blue Ridge Mountains
282:, which led to the
278:watershed with the
134:Blue Ridge Railroad
29:
28:Blue Ridge Railroad
365:The Daily Dispatch
295:CSX Transportation
231:American Civil War
214:Brooksville Tunnel
72:Dates of operation
56: –
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284:Mississippi River
239:Stonewall Jackson
218:Blue Ridge Tunnel
175:Shenandoah Valley
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16:(Redirected from
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202:Claudius Crozet
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101:4 ft
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75:1849–1870
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276:Chesapeake Bay
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199:civil engineer
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124:standard gauge
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66:Augusta County
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253:Use of Slaves
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119:1,435 mm
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62:Nelson County
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390:. Retrieved
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306:World War II
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235:foot cavalry
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191:Rockfish Gap
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249:, in 1870.
229:During the
96:Track gauge
431:Categories
392:2006-10-23
316:References
310:rail trail
280:Ohio River
195:Waynesboro
156:The early
262:Aftermath
173:with the
158:railroads
90:Technical
80:Successor
386:Archived
286:and the
144:for the
138:Virginia
115: in
54:Virginia
45:Overview
206:tunnels
152:History
110:⁄
350:. 1849
50:Locale
337:1882.
223:grade
132:The
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270:'s
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373:^
363:.
323:^
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117:(
112:2
108:1
105:+
103:8
20:)
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