Near Petersburg in Dinwiddie County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

The Petersburg Railroad

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, April 24, 2007

1. The Petersburg Railroad Marker

Inscription. The Petersburg Railroad, sometimes called the Weldon Railroad, united Petersburg with Weldon, North Carolina. It was one of the first railroads in America, beginning operations in 1833. It carried vast amounts of cargo and passengers to and from Petersburg before and during the Civil War, prompting General Grant to make its capture one of his chief objectives during his assault on the city in the summer of 1864. These iron rails were ploughed up in 1981 two miles southwest of this point by Lewis Walker, III, who donated them to the college. They were probably thrown aside at the time they were replaced by steel rails in the 1870’s.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Railroads & Streetcars • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #18 Ulysses S. Grant series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1833.

Location. 37° 9.361′ N, 77° 23.959′ W. Marker is near Petersburg, Virginia, in Dinwiddie County. It is on Johnson Road, on the right when traveling south. Marker is on the grounds of Richard Bland College, in front of Ernst Hall. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 11301 Johnson Road, Petersburg VA 23805, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Virginia’s Piedmont,

in Southside Virginia,

and specifically in Central Virginia.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

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:

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Hagood’s Brigade (approx. 1.2 miles away); Fight for the Weldon Railroad (approx. 1.2 miles away); Siege of Petersburg—Grant's Fourth Offensive (approx. 1.2 miles away); Fort Wadsworth (approx. 1.2 miles away); The Battle of Jerusalem Plank Road (approx. 1.3 miles away); a different marker also named The Battle of Jerusalem Plank Road (approx. 1.3 miles away); Battles For The Weldon Railroad (approx. 1.7 miles away); a different marker also named Battles For The Weldon Railroad (approx. 1.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Petersburg.

Also see . . .
1. Battle for the Weldon Railroad, August 18-21, 1864. The Petersburg Project (Submitted on May 26, 2008.)

2. The Fight for the Weldon Railroad. American Battlefield Trust (Submitted on November 3, 2022.)

Marker at Richard Bland College image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, April 24, 2007

2. Marker at Richard Bland College

The Weldon Railroad Exhibit is located at Richard Bland College. It was developed by retired Professor William D. Henderson.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on May 26, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 2,097 times since then and 24 times this year. Last updated on November 2, 2022, by James Dean of Chesterfield, Virginia. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 26, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.