The Southside Railroad was formed in Virginia in 1846. Construction was begun in 1849 and completed in 1854.[1][2] The 5 ft (1,524 mm) gauge[3] railroad connected City Point, a port on the James River with the farm country south and west of Petersburg, Virginia, to Lynchburg, Virginia, a distance of about 132 miles (212 km).
Overview | |
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Headquarters | Petersburg, Virginia |
Locale | Virginia |
Dates of operation | 1854–1870 |
Successor | Atlantic, Mississippi and Ohio Railroad |
Technical | |
Track gauge | 5 ft (1,524 mm) gauge[3] |
Length | 132 miles (212 km) |
The Southside Railroad was important to the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War (1861–1865). Ravaged by the war, it was rebuilt and later became an important part of Norfolk and Western and Norfolk Southern's coal route from the mountains to port at Hampton Roads. In addition to coal, most of the route is in active use in the 20th century for intermodal container and automobile parts and completed vehicle shipments.