Fort Belvoir in Fairfax County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Telegraph Road

January 5, 2019

1. Telegraph Road Marker

Inscription. The Fort Belvoir Military Railroad (FBMRR) was constructed in 1918 when Camp A.A. Humphreys was made a semi-permanent cantonment as the U.S. entered into World War 1. The two main objectives for FBMRR were to bring supplies and troops to camp for its rapid construction and war mobilization and to train engineer troops on the building of railroads, bridges, and other facilities essential to the U.S. war effort in France.

The 4.51-mile, standard gauge railroad was built largely by combat engineers, with some assistance by civilian workers and soldiers from other branches. From January to July of 1918 they laid track from the railhead junction near Newington to the center of the camp.

North of this location, near the railhead, was Newington Station. Dubbed Accotink Station for military purposes, this was the point of arrival and departure for thousands of soldiers beginning in 1918. The Richmond, Fredericksburg, and Potomac Railroad was authorized to close the station in 1971. Though parts of FBMRR were eventually decommissioned, much of the main line remained in use until the last locomotive left the installation in 1993.

Erected 2018 by Fort Belvoir and the Federal Highway Administration.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Forts and Castles

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• Railroads & Streetcars • War, World I. A significant historical year for this entry is 1918.

Location. 38° 43.479′ N, 77° 10.946′ W. Marker is in Fort Belvoir, Virginia, in Fairfax County. It is at the intersection of Telegraph Road (Virginia Route 611) and Fairfax County Parkway ( Route 286), on the left when traveling west on Telegraph Road. Located immediately adjacent to the ramp from Fairfax County Parkway North to Telegraph Road. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Fort Belvoir VA 22060, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area

and in Northern Virginia.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Mount Air (approx. 0.3 miles away); Mount Air Historic Site (approx. 0.4 miles away); Newington (approx. 0.7 miles away); John J. Kingman Road Crossing (approx. 0.9 miles away); Old Telegraph Line (approx. 1.1 miles away); Pohick Church (approx. 1.2 miles away); a different marker also named Old Telegraph Line (approx. 1.2 miles away); a different marker also named Pohick Church (approx. 1.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fort Belvoir.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, November 1, 2025

2. Telegraph Road Marker

Telegraph Road Marker<BR>& The Fairfax County Parkway Trail image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, November 1, 2025

3. Telegraph Road Marker
& The Fairfax County Parkway Trail

Marker and Bicycle Trail sign.

Fort Belvoir image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, November 1, 2025

4. Fort Belvoir

Leaders in Excellence

Credits. This page was last revised on November 3, 2025. It was originally submitted on January 5, 2019. This page has been viewed 761 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on January 5, 2019. 2, 3, 4. submitted on November 3, 2025, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.