Near Midlothian in Chesterfield County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Chesterfield Railroad
By Bernard Fisher, May 10, 2009
1. Chesterfield Railroad Marker
Chesterfield Railroad. . 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.
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.)
Location. 37° 30.371′ N, 77° 34.8′ W. Marker is near Midlothian, Virginia, in Chesterfield County. Marker is 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 is in this post office area: Richmond VA 23235, United States of America.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Bellona Arsenal (a few steps from this marker); Bethlehem Baptist Church
By Bernard Fisher, May 10, 2009
2. Midlothian Turnpike (facing west)
Also see . . . Mid-Lothian Mines & Rail Roads Foundation. (Submitted on May 17, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Mechanicsville, Virginia.)
Categories. • Industry & Commerce • Railroads & Streetcars •
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. This page originally submitted on May 16, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Mechanicsville, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,094 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 16, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Mechanicsville, Virginia.
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