Lorton and Occoquan Railroad
| Company type | Railroad |
|---|---|
| Industry | Rail transport |
| Founded | 1911 |
| Defunct | 1977 |
| Headquarters | Lorton, Virginia , United States |
| Products | Freight and prisoner transport |
The Lorton and Occoquan Railroad (L&O) was a seven-mile railroad route linking the District of Columbia-managed Lorton Reformatory located in Lorton, Virginia to the dock at Occoquan, Virginia. This connection spanned the Occoquan River, which forms the boundary between Fairfax County and Prince William County. Functioning from 1911 until 1977, the railroad utilized cable, steam, and diesel locomotion at various periods.
History
The principal track measured approximately four miles in length and was extended to seven miles by adding four branch lines. The L&O facilitated the transport of inmates as well as freight, such as coal supplied to prison manufacturing facilities and the shipment of completed products and waste materials. Prisoner transfers occurred between the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad at Pohick Creek and multiple correctional sites including the workhouse and brick production area. Although trains could carry up to 60 prisoners per trip, firearms were prohibited on board, and no security incidents were reported. The workforce comprised two civilian employees—a railroad engineer and a track supervisor—along with nineteen inmate laborers.
Freight services involved delivering coal to the prison’s brickyard and exporting finished bricks. Additionally, trains were responsible for removing sewage before the installation of sewer systems by the Fairfax County Water Authority.
In 1970, facing overcrowding issues, the District of Columbia procured ten surplus hospital railcars from the United States Army to provide temporary prisoner housing on a siding. However, these cars were quickly abandoned due to vandalism and security difficulties.
The railroad discontinued operations in 1977 as trucking became a more economical transportation method. By 1980, its locomotives were sold off; one was restored in Alabama and continues to operate on a tourist railway in West Virginia. While most tracks were either paved over or dismantled, remnants remain visible near Lorton.
During the 1980s expansion of I-95 HOV lanes, the railroad tunnel beneath I-95 and above Pohick Creek was removed and sealed.
In 2005, more than two miles of the former rail corridor were transformed into the Gerry Connolly Cross County Trail, with other segments developed into additional trails. The trail’s bridge spanning Giles Run incorporates original railroad abutments, preserving historical infrastructure within a recreational setting.