Lorton and Occoquan Railroad
Encyclopedia
The Lorton and Occoquan Railroad (L&O) was a seven-mile railroad line running between the District of Columbia-operated prison
(see also Lorton Reformatory
) at Lorton, Virginia
and the wharf at Occoquan, Virginia
across the Occoquan River
separating Fairfax County
and Prince William County
. The line operated from 1911 until it was decommissioned in 1977, and most of the rolling stock was sold in 1980, and was powered at various times by cable, steam, and diesel.
to and from the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad
line at Pohick Creek
, and between sites within the Lorton Reformatory
grounds—primarily between the workhouse and the brickyard and other prison-industry facilities. Although as many as 60 prisoners at a time were aboard trains running along the prison line, no guns were permitted aboard and no shots were ever fired from the train. The railroad maintained two civilian employees to operate the line—an engineer
and a track manager—as well as 19 prison inmate workers.
, even sewage was hauled by trains out of the prison.
and parked them on a spur, in order to house additional prisoners without building permanent facilities; however, the hospital cars were heavily vandalized and security was difficult to maintain in the cars, leading to their abandonment only months after they were placed in use.
In 1977 the railroad ended service as road transport became cheaper than the costs of maintaining and operating the specialized Lorton and Occoquan line. When the engines were sold in 1980, a company in Alabama
refurbished them and one remains in service on a tourist line in West Virginia
. The trackage was mostly covered by pavement or recycled for scrap, but portions remain visible along various areas of Lorton.
Prison
A prison is a place in which people are physically confined and, usually, deprived of a range of personal freedoms. Imprisonment or incarceration is a legal penalty that may be imposed by the state for the commission of a crime...
(see also Lorton Reformatory
Lorton Reformatory
The Lorton Reformatory was a prison built for the District of Columbia, United States. It was operated by the District of Columbia Department of Corrections.-History:...
) at Lorton, Virginia
Lorton, Virginia
Lorton is a census-designated place in Fairfax County, Virginia, United States. The population is 27,709 as of the 2008 census estimate.-History:...
and the wharf at Occoquan, Virginia
Occoquan, Virginia
Occoquan is a town in Prince William County in the U.S. state of Virginia. The population was 759 at the 2000 census, but as of the census of 2010, there were 934 people residing in the town of Occoquan. The town is a suburb of Washington, D.C. and is adjacent to Woodbridge...
across the Occoquan River
Occoquan River
The Occoquan River is a tributary of the Potomac River in northern Virginia, in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States. The river is long, and its watershed covers about . It is formed by the confluence of Broad Run and Cedar Run in Prince William County; Bull Run enters it east-southeast of...
separating Fairfax County
Fairfax County, Virginia
Fairfax County is a county in Virginia, in the United States. Per the 2010 Census, the population of the county is 1,081,726, making it the most populous jurisdiction in the Commonwealth of Virginia, with 13.5% of Virginia's population...
and Prince William County
Prince William County, Virginia
-National protected areas:* Featherstone National Wildlife Refuge* Manassas National Battlefield Park* Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge* Prince William Forest Park-Government and politics:...
. The line operated from 1911 until it was decommissioned in 1977, and most of the rolling stock was sold in 1980, and was powered at various times by cable, steam, and diesel.
Uses
The L&O was used variously for prisoner transport, as well as freight for hauling coal to prison-industry sites and removal of finished products and waste.Prisoner transport
Prior to decommissioning, the Lorton and Occoquan Railroad was used to transport prisonersPrisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
to and from the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad
Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad
The Richmond, Fredericksburg, and Potomac Railroad was a railroad connecting Richmond, Virginia, to Washington, D.C. It is now a portion of the CSX Transportation system....
line at Pohick Creek
Pohick Creek
Pohick Creek is a tributary stream of the Potomac River in Fairfax County in the U.S. state of Virginia. It takes its name from the Pohick Native American tribe once prevalent in the area....
, and between sites within the Lorton Reformatory
Lorton Reformatory
The Lorton Reformatory was a prison built for the District of Columbia, United States. It was operated by the District of Columbia Department of Corrections.-History:...
grounds—primarily between the workhouse and the brickyard and other prison-industry facilities. Although as many as 60 prisoners at a time were aboard trains running along the prison line, no guns were permitted aboard and no shots were ever fired from the train. The railroad maintained two civilian employees to operate the line—an engineer
Railroad engineer
A railroad engineer, locomotive engineer, train operator, train driver or engine driver is a person who drives a train on a railroad...
and a track manager—as well as 19 prison inmate workers.
Freight transport
In addition to prisoners, the railroad was used to haul coal to the prison brickyard and to transport finished brick out of the prison. Also, prior to the extension of sewer facilities to Lorton by the Fairfax County Water AuthorityFairfax County Water Authority
Fairfax County Water Authority is the main water company in the Northern Virginia region of the United States, and one of the three major water providers in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area...
, even sewage was hauled by trains out of the prison.
Trackage and rolling stock
The main stretch of railroad was only about four miles long, but four spurs increased the overall length to approximately seven miles in total. In response to prison overcrowding, the District of Columbia purchased ten hospital cars in 1970 that were surplused by the United States ArmyUnited States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
and parked them on a spur, in order to house additional prisoners without building permanent facilities; however, the hospital cars were heavily vandalized and security was difficult to maintain in the cars, leading to their abandonment only months after they were placed in use.
In 1977 the railroad ended service as road transport became cheaper than the costs of maintaining and operating the specialized Lorton and Occoquan line. When the engines were sold in 1980, a company in Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
refurbished them and one remains in service on a tourist line in West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
. The trackage was mostly covered by pavement or recycled for scrap, but portions remain visible along various areas of Lorton.