Class III Short Lines

With the discovery of new materials and natural resources throughout Virginia, companies built around transporting goods were formed with a purpose of providing cheap and dependable transportation for local communities and establishments. These common carriers were usually only a few miles in length, although some could be as much as 100 Miles long. Usually owned by locals or other, bigger companies, these "short lines" as they were known, usually showcased unique locomotive power and unorthodox operations. Virginia has had it's fair share of interesting and unique short line operations including such companies as the Virginia Blue Ridge Railway, the Chesapeake Western Railway, and the Washington & Old Dominion Railroad. This page with cover all of the history of the Old Dominion's storied short line railroads including maps, photographs, and locomotive rosters.