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A history of Caroline county, Virginia

from its formation in 1727 to 1924
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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THE RICHMOND, FREDERICKSBURG AND POTOMAC RAILROAD
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34

Page 34

THE RICHMOND, FREDERICKSBURG AND POTOMAC
RAILROAD

The Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad is a
grand trunk line connecting the transportation lines of the North
with the South. It is operated in connection with the Pennsylvania
system to the North and all of the great passenger trains
of the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad and the Seaboard Air Line
Railroad pass over the entire length of its trackage. This road
passes through the entire length of the county from North to
South, a distance of about thirty miles and more than a score of
passenger trains pass over it daily. No station in Caroline is
more than two hours from Washington or four hours from Baltimore.
Richmond is one hour, Philadelphia five hours, and New
York seven hours from the heart of the county. Fruit and
vegetables may be gathered ripe in the late afternoon and put on
the early markets in New York City fresh the next morning.
By the Rappahannock River Boat Lines Caroline is two days
from Baltimore and two days from Norfolk. The Chesapeake
and Ohio Railroad which traverses the Southern and Southwestern
boundaries of the county gives convenient shipping facilities to
all Western points.

The stations on the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac
Railroad in Caroline are, reading from South to North, as follows:
Chandler, Ruther Glen, Coleman's Mill, George, Penola, Kenbrook
Dairy Farm, Milford, Bowling Green Park, Rixey, Collins,
Woodford and Guinea. Chandler was named for A. B. Chandler,
who was for many years attorney for the road; Ruther Glen,
formerly Chesterfield Station, was named for an ancient town in
Scotland; Coleman's Mill was named for a mill near the station
owned by Emmett M. Coleman, of Penola; George was named
for the George family of Penola; Penola was named for the celebrated
John Penn; Bowling Green Park was named for the
county seat; Rixey was named for the Rixey family which had
its seat near by; Collins was named for the Collins family of the
county; Woodford was named for the distinguished revolutionary
general; and Guinea was named for a colonial family of the name
of Guiney, which lived near where the station now stands.

The President of the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac
Railroad, Mr. Eppa Hunton, Jr., under date of June 28, 1923,
wrote the author as follows: "Our records give the following dates
as to the opening of the several sections of line in Caroline county:

"Line opened to North Anna River, February 5, 1836.


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Page 35

"Line opened to Ruther Glen, June 15, 1836.

Line opened to Mattaponi River, August 2, 1836.

Line opened to Milford, September 15, 1836.

Line opened to Woodford (formerly Woodslane), Oct. 26, 1836.

Line opened to Hazel Run, December 23, 1836."

illustration

Fac simile of first Time Table of R., F. & P. R. R.