Gambles Hill in Richmond, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

The Richmond-Petersburg Railroad Bridge

Photographed By Bernard Fisher, November 3, 2009

1. The Richmond-Petersburg Railroad Bridge Marker

Inscription. The expansion of railroads in the 1830s fueled the growth of iron works like Tredegar, and by the Civil War, five railroads had come into Richmond. The Richmond-Petersburg was the first railroad bridge in the city. It was built by Moncure Robinson, a Virginia native who engineered many early American railroad lines. Completed to Manchester, now part of Richmond, in 1838, the structure was 2,844 feet in length and stood 60 feet above the James River. Constructed primarily out of pine planks, the bridge seemed “air built,” and perhaps dangerous to many Richmonders.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Railroads & Streetcars • War, US Civil. A significant historical year for this entry is 1838.

Location. 37° 32.176′ N, 77° 26.723′ W. Marker is in Richmond, Virginia. It is in Gambles Hill. Marker can be reached from Tredegar Street, 0.1 miles west of South 5th Street. This marker is located outside the Civil War Visitor Center at Tredegar Iron Works. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 470 Tredegar Street, Richmond VA 23219, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Company Store (within shouting distance of this marker); Cupolas from the Virginia State Penitentiary (within shouting distance of this marker); Rutherfoord’s Mill (within

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shouting distance of this marker); Tredegar Iron Works (within shouting distance of this marker); Tredegar Spike Mill (within shouting distance of this marker); Raceways (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); a different marker also named The Tredegar Iron Works (about 300 feet away); The Cupola Furnace and Foundry (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Richmond.

More about this marker. On the left and center are images of the R&P Railroad Bridge with the caption, "The first bridge burned during the evacuation fire in 1865. You can see its large stone pilings in the viewer. The 1873 photograph to the right shows the rebuilt bridge, looking back toward Richmond."

In the center are two smaller photographs with the caption, "Sparks from a passing locomotive caused the bridge to burn again in 1882, and a steel structure was erected on the stone piers. The fourth and final bridge was built in the early 1900s on the smaller concrete pilings just beside the original location, which also can be seen through the viewer."

On the right are a portrait of Moncure Robinson and