Near Midlothian in Chesterfield County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Chesterfield Railroad

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, May 10, 2009

1. Chesterfield Railroad Marker

Inscription. In 1829 the Virginia General Assembly chartered the Chesterfield Rail Road Company, which built the first railroad in Virginia. Moncure Robinson (1802-1891), a railroad pioneer, designed the track, which once passed by here. In 1831, the company began hauling coal 13 miles from the Midlothian mines to the Manchester wharves on the James River. Horses and mules towed the loaded cars on some sections. Gravity propelled them on down hill grades and in one area the weight of the cars tugged the empty ones (connected to the full ones by ropes and drums) back toward the mines. This railroad functioned until 1851, when the locomotive-operated Richmond & Danville Railroad provided service to Chesterfield.

Erected 2002 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number O-64.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Railroads & Streetcars. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1829.

Location. Marker has been reported missing. It was located near 37° 30.371′ N, 77° 34.8′ W.

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Marker was near Midlothian, Virginia, in Chesterfield County. It was at the intersection of Midlothian Turnpike (U.S. 60) and Robious Road, on the right when traveling west on Midlothian Turnpike. Touch for map. Marker was in this post office area: Richmond VA 23235, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker was in Virginia’s Piedmont,

in Central Virginia,

and in the Richmond Metropolitan Area.

It was also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it was in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it found 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 4 miles of this location, measured as the crow flies: A different marker also named Bethlehem Baptist Church (approx. 0.4 miles away); First Railroad in Virginia (approx. half a mile away); Black Heath (approx. 1.9 miles

Midlothian Turnpike (facing west) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, May 10, 2009

2. Midlothian Turnpike (facing west)

away); Huguenot Settlement (approx. 2 miles away); Providence United Methodist Church (approx. 2.2 miles away); Trabue's Tavern (approx. 2.3 miles away); Lt. Gen. Ambrose Powell Hill, CSA (approx. 3 miles away); Mid-Lothian Mines and Rail Roads (approx. 3½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Midlothian.

Other markers no longer nearby. Bellona Arsenal (was a few steps from this marker but has been confirmed missing); Bethlehem Baptist Church (was approx. 0.4 miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Also see . . . Mid-Lothian Mines & Rail Roads Foundation. (Submitted on May 17, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.)

Credits. This page was last revised on November 10, 2019. It was originally submitted on May 16, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,786 times since then and 41 times this year. Last updated on November 8, 2019, by H of Richmond, Virginia. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 16, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.