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CSX RF&P Subdivision

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CSXT RF&P Subdivision


CSXT Virginia Network
Typical traffic and volume
Timetable
Listening in
Photos
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map not available Virginia's first railroad retained its operational independence and the name Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac from its founding in the 1830s until 1992, when it was folded into CSX Transportation. Almost from the beginning, the road carried bridge traffic and inter-road passenger trains. It was as a vital link between north and south, connecting the Pennsylvania Railroad and B&O of the north with the Atlantic Coast Line and Seaboard Air Line of the south. Both ends of the property had major yards. Richmond's Acca Yard is still a major CSX hub and maintenance facility. Potomac Yard in Alexandria is completely abandoned.

The line is heavy duty construction: two main tracks over its entire length, except for the bridge at Quantico. Note: this bridge is scheduled to be upgraded with the additional of a parallel double-track structure. Federal BESTEA funding will pay for the work. Frequently spaced crossovers allow for easy bi-directional movement. VRE has funded the construction of an additional set of crossovers at Featherstone. Wayside signals are coupled to a cab signal and automatic train control system between RO, just south of the Potomac and Greendale, at the north end of Richmond's Acca Yard. Audible defect detectors are shown at left as red dots. Other defect detectors on the line are tied to the signal system.

Scenic highlights of the line include a series of bridges which carry the tracks over inlets from the Potomac. These include Neabsco, Quantico and Aquia Creek bridge. Below Fredericksburg the line enters the gently rolling countryside of the Virginia Piedmont, reaching the its highest point at Summit. At the southern end of the line, Milford, Doswell and Ashland afford easy access to the tracks. The RF&P bisects the town of Ashland.


Typical traffic types and volume

Traffic densities on the line are the heaviest in the state. The line hosts ten long-distance Amtrak trains per day (Silver Service trains, the Carolinian and Autotrain) as well as Amtrak's Northeast Direct Service to Richmond and Newport News. Added to this mix are hot intermodal trains of owner CSXT and well as the road's lesser drag freights. Virginia Railway Express operates rush hour commuter service north of Fredericksburg. Upwards of forty trains per day run over the line south of Fredericksburg. C&O Business Unit coal trains operate over the line to Virginia Power's Possum Point plant as well as to customers north of Washington. Most empties turn west at Doswell to return to the coal fields. Cumberland Coal Business Unit trains travel south to customers in Virginia and the Carolinas. See chart below for typical trains.

RF&P Subdivision Trains
SymbolTypeOriginDestinationDays of Oper.Notes
Passenger
P052AutotrainSanford, Fla.LortonDailyArrives Lorton 9am
P053AutotrainLortonSanford, Fla.DailyDeparts Lorton 4:30pm
P066"Twilight Shoreliner"Newport NewsBostonDaily5:45pm at Richmond
Amtrak symbol for this train is 76 on Fri. & Sat. It remains P066 on CSX on those days.
P067"Twilight Shoreliner"BostonNewport NewsDaily9:05am at Richmond
P079"Carolinian"New YorkCharlotteDaily12:27pm at Richmond
P080"Carolinian"CharlotteNew YorkDaily3:50pm at Richmond
P084"Virginian"RichmondBostonDaily, ex. Sun.6:25am at Richmond
P085"Colonial"BostonRichmondDaily10:22pm at Richmond
P086"Colonial"RichmondBostonDaily7:45am at Richmond
P089"Silver Palm"New YorkMiamiDaily2:26pm at Richmond
P090"Silver Palm"MiamiNew YorkDaily1:58pm at Richmond
P091"Silver Star"New YorkMiamiDaily6:31pm at Richmond
P092"Silver Star"MiamiNew YorkDaily9:18am at Richmond
P093"Virginian"BostonRichmondMon.-Thu.7:47pm at Richmond
P094"Old Dominion"Newport NewsBostonEx. Sat.10:25am at Richmond
P095"Old Dominion"BostonNewport NewsEx. Sun.5:16pm at Richmond
P097"Silver Meteor"New YorkMiamiDaily12:57am at Richmond
P098"Silver Meteor"MiamiNew YorkDaily3:39am at Richmond
P099"Virginian"BostonNewport NewsFri., Sun.7:47pm at Richmond
P194"Old Dominion"Newport NewsNew YorkSat.10:25am at Richmond
P195"Old Dominion"New YorkRichmondSun.5:16pm at Richmond
Amtrak schedule effective October 26, 1997
Intermodal
Q173TOFC/single level COFCKearny NJ (CR)JacksonvilleDaily ex. Mon.arr. Acca Yd. 1615, operates as L173 on Mon.
Q174TOFC/single level COFCJacksonvilleKearny NJ (CR)Daily ex. Sun.dep. Acca Yd. 0420, operates as L174 on Sun.
Q175TOFC/single level COFCPhiladelphiaJacksonvilleDaily ex. Mon.arr. Acca Yd. 1730
Q176TOFC/single level COFCJacksonvillePhiladelphiaDaily ex. Sun.dep. Acca Yd. 1330
Manifest
Q400MixedHamlet NCCumberland MDDaily8-12 Mid.
Q401MixedCumberland MDHamlet NCDaily3-7PM
Q405MixedPhiladelphiaHamlet NCDaily5-9AM
Q406MixedHamlet NCPhiladelphiaDaily10AM-2PM
Q409MixedBaltimore (Mt. Clare)TampaDaily1-3PM
Q410MixedWaycross GABaltimore (Bay View)Daily1-5AM
Q412MerchandiseJacksonvillePhiladelphiaDaily8-12Noon
Q413MerchandiseBaltimore (Mt. Clare)Rocky MountDaily10-1PM
Q414MixedRichmondCumberlandDaily2-6AM
Q415MixedCumberlandRichmondDaily10-3AM
Other
D726LocalFredericksburg--Local serving Fredericksburg and Sealston
K275Solid wasteSealstonAnnapolis Jct., Md.Mon, Wed., Fri.Trash train serves Sealston on the Dahlgren Industrial Track. Empties depart at 1800 and return at 0430
K650Tropicana JuiceBradenton, FLKearny, NJAs neededempties return on other trains.
Note: times shown for freight trains are approximate and may vary widely

Timetable

Baltimore Service Lane--RF&P Subdivision

Alexandria to Richmond--Southward
M.P.StationsTracksNotes
110.0
RO (Rosslyn)........

2MT
CTC
Begin CSX, end Conrail
109.0 
SRO (South Rosslyn).

3MT*
CTC
*No. 1 track is "Potomac"
DTC block
106.5
Slater's Lane DD
105.7
North Alexandria....

2MT
CTC
104.3
AF..................
103.9
Seminary............
NS Washington Dist.
 96.7
Ravensworth.........
 84.6
Neabsco DD
 81.3
North Possum Point..

3MT
CTC
Siding is No. 1 track
 79.7
Possum Point........

CTC
Single track bridge
 79.1
Quantico............

2MT
CTC
 66.6
Ross DD
 61.1
Dahlgren Jct........
Dahlgren Ind. Track
 58.5
Fredericksburg......

3MT
CTC
15875' siding is No. 1 track
 55.1
Hamilton............

2MT
CTC
 53.2
XR..................
VRE layover yard lead
 51.5
Summit DD
 37.8
Milford.............
3800' siding
 35.8
South Milford.......
 34.2
Plesant Hill DD
 23.1
North Doswell.......

3MT
CTC
2880' siding is No. 4 track
 21.8
Doswell.............

2MT
CTC
Piedmont SD
 19.6
Taylorsville DD
  4.8
Greendale...........

North end of Acca Yd.


Listening in

96    Road Channel        161.550
20    Dispatcher          160.410
45    Maintenance of Way  160.785
88/16 PBX (Richmond)      161.430/160.350
77/19 PBX (Summit)        161.265/160.395
Jacksonville AE Dispatcher (CQ Desk M-F 1st and 2nd tricks)

Photographs from the RF&P Subdivision
Click on the thumbnail for a larger image.

1
2
3
Milford
Doswell
Doswell


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Page last updated November 7, 1997.
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