Module 2: Transportation
New Markets and Opportunities
In the mid-19th century, travel between Falmouth and Washington, D.C. on horseback took an entire day, and twice that long was needed with a loaded wagon.
The Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad (RF&P) was established in 1834 and completed the rail line from Richmond to the Potomac River at Aquia Landing in Stafford in 1842. From Aquia Landing, rail passengers were transferred to a steamboat service to Washington, D.C.
Adverse weather conditions, which closed Potomac River traffic during the winter of 1867-1868, resulted in calls for a continuous rail line from Richmond to Baltimore. A new line was decided upon in 1870 to run from Stafford’s Brooke Station north to Alexandria. In 1872, the RF&P line extended rail to Quantico and the Potomac Steamboat Company relocated from Aquia Landing to Quantico Creek. Soon after, the Alexandria and Fredericksburg Railroad was completed to Quantico providing a direct link between Richmond, Petersburg, and Norfolk to Washington and destinations north and west. All-rail service was soon preferred, and the steamboat contract was terminated.
Rappahannock, Fredericksburg, & Potomac Steam Engine, c. 1910Sounds of Stafford
Did You Know?
In 1869, Samuel Pierpont Langley used celestial observations made from a transit telescope to create the Allegheny Time System. Precise time measurements were taken at the Allegheny Observatory and transmitted to over 300 telegraph offices, enabling the precise control of rail traffic over 2,500 miles.
By the 1890’s, daily train travel between Richmond and Washington took four hours, with stops at Fredericksburg, Brooke, and Widewater. From Stafford stations, travelers and merchant goods could reach Baltimore in 2 hours, Philadelphia in 5, and New York in 9. The new railroad opened new opportunities for Stafford County residents, particularly in Wide Water. The new Wide Water rail station adjacent to the Clifton Fishery opened Stafford’s fishing industry to customers up the Atlantic seaboard and brought wealthy tourists and sportsman to Stafford’s shores. By 1896, the RF&P advertised 3 daily passenger trains between Richmond and Washington with stops at Fredericksburg, Brooke, Wide Water and Quantico.
Between 1893 and 1903, the railroad would carry secret experimental cargo from the Smithsonian workshop to Quantico Station. Professor Samuel Pierpont Langley utilized the rail line to transport his aerodromes to Chopawamsic Island where, in May 1896, he achieved the first heavier-than-air powered flight in human history in Stafford County.
In October 1894, a brazen train robbery on the RF&P line at Widewater made national news. The thieves, Charles Searcey and Charles Morgan, who made off with over $150,000, were apprehended in Culpeper several days later and sentenced to 8 and 20 years in prison, respectively in February 1895.
Arkendale Railroad Station, Widewater, c.1900
RF&P Train Schedule, 1892
Voices from the Past
“Up to 4 o'clock to-day there was no clue to the identity of the seven masked bandits who "held up" the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac northbound express near Aquia Creek Friday night and robbed the Adams express car. The amount of booty obtained by the bandits is probably between $100,000 and $150,000. After the door of the express car had been partially shattered with dynamite it was opened by the express messenger. One of the robbers then entered the car. He ordered the messengers to open the safes and be quick about it. Murray made a slight protest and Crutchfield said: "It's no use; we may as well give up. They have got the best of us."
During the time the robber was in the car he kept up a running conversation with Crutchfield and was quite bright in his remarks. Once he said, as he pointed to the express books and papers, “I have been in that business," and then he added, as he flourished a revolver, which he held in his right hand, "I have been in this business before, too." In one of the pigeon holes were some loose bills. "Those are mine," said Crutchfield, as the bandit reached for them. "Well, keep them, then, I don't want any of your money."
The man called all hands together and ordered the trainmen to uncouple the locomotive from the train. This was promptly done, then the gang threw the plunder into the cab and piled in upon top of it. They put on steam and started toward Quantico as fast as the engine could carry them.
Being questioned by Major Myers, Mr Gallagher said that twenty shots in all were fired by the robbers as soon as the train came to a standstill; that the whole affair took about twenty minutes, and that the men talked in a quick and jerky fashion, indicating that they were northerners.
"When the robbers departed Captain Birdsong and myself started to walk to Widewater," continued Mr. Gallagher. "When almost there we met No. 7 encoming from Quantico, and, boarding this, we rejoined our train, which was pulled up to Quantico. Some three years or more ago there lived in Stafford county a man named George Carter, who had acquired quite a local celebrity as a crook. He absented himself from home frequently, and on his return was well supplied with money.
Until he abandoned honest work for a life of crime, Carter was a locomotive engineer, and therefore fully equal to the exploit of running the engine. Cool and fearless, every inch of the ground as familiar to him as an open book, it is more than probable that when Carter is caught the full facts of the robbery will be ascertained.
The theory of the authorities of Stafford county that the leader of the train robbers was George Carter was strengthened yesterday when it was stated that, Carter was in this city last week. He is known here, Policeman Grady being among those who could identity him. Carter, it is said, was seen in Weadon Brothers' store looking at some revolvers. Carter’s movements after he left the store are not known.”
The Train Robbery, Alexandria Gazette, October 15, 1894, p2
Primary source for Stafford 1896: “Land of Herrings and Persimmons, People and Places of Upper Stafford County, Virginia,” Jerrilynn Eby MacGregor, Heritage Books, 2015
Discussion Topics
What were the benefits of railroads over other forms of transportation in 1896?
Why do you think telegraph and telephone lines were first installed along railroads?