Midlothian in Chesterfield County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
First Railroad in Virginia
Photographed By Bernard Fisher, September 19, 2010
1. First Railroad in Virginia Marker
Inscription.
First Railroad in Virginia. . Just south of here are the earthen remains and stone culvert of the Chesterfield Railroad. Chartered by the Virginia General Assembly in 1829, the company in 1831 constructed the first railroad in Virginia, one of the earliest in the United States, to haul coal from the Midlothian mines to Manchester's wharves on the James River. Moncure Robinson (1802-1891), a railroad pioneer, designed the track on which the cars were powered by gravity, horses and mules. It remained in operation until the Richmond and Danville Railroad began providing service to the area in 1851.
Just south of here are the earthen remains and stone culvert of the Chesterfield Railroad. Chartered by the Virginia General Assembly in 1829, the company in 1831 constructed the first railroad in Virginia, one of the earliest in the United States, to haul coal from the Midlothian mines to Manchester's wharves on the James River. Moncure Robinson (1802-1891), a railroad pioneer, designed the track on which the cars were powered by gravity, horses and mules. It remained in operation until the Richmond & Danville Railroad began providing service to the area in 1851.
Erected 2004 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number S-30.)
Location. 37° 30.41′ N, 77° 35.376′ W. Marker is in Midlothian, Virginia, in Chesterfield County. Marker is on Midlothian Turnpike (U.S. 60) 0.2 miles east of Johnston Willis Drive, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Richmond VA 23235, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Bethlehem Baptist Church (approx. 0.9 miles away); Black Heath
Photographed By Bernard Fisher, September 19, 2010
2. Midlothian Tnpke (facing east)
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on September 21, 2010, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,409 times since then and 70 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on September 21, 2010, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.
