Leesburg in Loudoun County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

The Great Falls Line

Photographed By Craig Swain, July 14, 2007

1. The Great Falls Line Marker

Inscription. The Bluemont Branch of the Washington & Old Dominion was not the railroad’s only line. The Great Falls & Old Dominion Railroad arose in 1906 from the vision of two prominent men. Sen. Stephen B. Elkins of West Virginia had prospered through coal, lumber, and railroads in his home state. John R. McLean was involved in several businesses and owned The Washington Post. Elkins and McLean bought land on the Virginia side of the Potomac River at Great Falls. They turned it into a resort, complete with a carousel, dance pavilion, and an electrified trolley line to bring the crowds from Washington. The largely undeveloped land along the line was idea for residential communities, including one named after McLean.

Erected by The Washington & Old Dominion Railroad Regional Park - Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Railroads & Streetcars. In addition, it is included in the NOVA Parks, and the Washington and Old Dominion (W&OD) Railroad series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1906.

Location. 39° 6.727′ N, 77° 34.795′ W. Marker is in Leesburg, Virginia, in Loudoun County. Marker can be reached from Catoctin Circle Northwest, on the right when traveling

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north. Located about 100 yards west of Catoctin Circle along the Washington & Old Dominion Railroad Trail, at the juncture of the Foxridge Community Park walking trail. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Leesburg VA 20175, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Electric Trains on the W&OD (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Rust Manor House (approx. 0.7 miles away); Leesburg Passenger Station (approx. ¾ mile away); Leesburg (approx. ¾ mile away); 1862 Antietam Campaign (approx. ¾ mile away); The W&OD Railway and Jim Crow Laws (approx. ¾ mile away); Old Stone Church Site (approx. ¾ mile away); a different marker also named Leesburg (approx. 0.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Leesburg.

More about this marker. The background of the marker is a picture of a train on the Great Falls Line captioned, “A small steam locomotive stops at Cherrydale in Arlington, along GF&OD around 1908.” The marker also has portraits of John R. McLean and Sen. Stephen Elkins. A small inset reproduces an advertisement used for the W&OD describing services to Great Falls.

This marker is one of a standard set used along the trail, and is duplicated elsewhere.

Also see . . .
1. The Great Falls and Old Dominion Line. Wikipedia entry,

The Great Falls Line Marker Next to the Trail Juncture image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, July 14, 2007

2. The Great Falls Line Marker Next to the Trail Juncture

with a rather detailed listing of stops along the line. The railroad seems to have been converted to the present day Old Dominion Drive. (Submitted on August 17, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)

2. Stephen B Elkins Biography. (Submitted on August 17, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)
3. John R. McLean Biography. (Submitted on August 17, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)
4. The Washington and Old Dominion Railroad. Book by Ames Williams available on Amazon.com (Submitted on May 7, 2008, by Tom Fuchs of Greenbelt, Maryland.) This website may earn income if you use this link to make a purchase on Amazon.com.

5. Rails to the Blue Ridge: The Washington and Old Dominion Railroad, 1847 - 1968. Book by Herbert Harwood available on Amazon.com (Submitted on May 7, 2008, by Tom Fuchs of Greenbelt, Maryland.) This website may earn income if you use this link to make a purchase on Amazon.com.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on August 17, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,944 times since then and 45 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 17, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. • J. J. Prats was the editor who published this page.