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Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac
RR
The Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac RR has long been a
key element in the nation's rail network. Growing out of the ashes of a
Civil War era short line, its double track, high speed line runs 117 miles
to connect the capital of the Confederacy to the Capital of the Union.
If you want to travel from the East to Florida, your train must pass
over the R. F. & P. Leaving the Pennsy or B & O at Washington, D.
C., Florida bound trains pass through the tunnel from the lower level of
Washington Union Station, under Capitol Hill, to the Potomac River Bridge,
to the massive Potomac Yard in Alexandria, Va. There, your train leaves
the Washington Union Terminal RR and rolls swiftly south on the R.
F. & P.
As you approach
Richmond, you are treated to a similarly impressive railroading display.
Entering a special loop track of the Richmond Terminal Company, your
train rolls over a massive elevated right of way to Broad Street Station,
an imposing Doric columned Italiante monument bearing a resemblance to the
Jefferson Memorial. The loop track is designed so that trains from north
or south always enter in the same direction - with the exception of Johnny-come-lately
Seaboard, whose trackage forces a switchback move to enter the loop!
By the late 19th century, the R. F. & P. was dominated by the Atlantic
Coast Line - a kinship that lasted into the streamliner period when
the road adopted ACL's purple lettering scheme. However, after protracted
legal wrangling, ownership was divided up among the connecting roads, including
PRR, ACL, Seaboard, Southern, B & O and C & O, to
insure access to all.
Richmond, Fredericksburg &
Potomac
|
| Richmond times |
|
Effective 6/35
|
|
B=Broad St / M=Main St |
| |
|
Wash DC |
Fred'burg |
Richmond |
OP Comfort |
Norfolk |
Notes: |
| NY & Fla Ltd |
192 |
3.55 |
2.31 |
< 12.56 |
|
|
M: from Venice Fla |
| Robt E. Lee |
95 |
> 10.10 |
11.31 |
1.00 |
|
|
M: to Columbus Ga |
| Robt E. Lee |
96 |
6.35 |
5.17 |
< 3.45 |
|
|
M: from Columbus Ga |
| Palmetto Ltd |
82 |
6.45 |
5.04 |
< 3.45 |
|
|
B: from Savannah |
| NY & Fla Ltd |
191 |
> 3.00 |
4.21 |
5.55 |
|
|
M: to Venice Fla |
| Havana Special |
75 |
> 3.25 |
4.50 |
6.10 |
|
|
B: to Key West (see note) |
| #2 |
** |
8.15 |
< 6.20 |
|
|
|
all-stops local ex Su |
| #10 |
** |
9.55 |
8.23 |
< 6.45 |
|
|
B: |
| #22 |
** |
10.30 |
9.06 |
< 7.35 |
|
|
BM: |
| #75 connection |
** |
|
|
> 8.30 |
|
10.50 |
B: via N&W |
| Tamiami |
74 |
11.25 |
9.58 |
< 8.45 |
|
|
B: from Tampa |
| #75 connection |
** |
|
|
> 9.00 |
11.20 |
via ferry |
B: via C&O, ferry |
| Cotton / So States |
108 |
12.35 |
11.13 |
< 9.40 |
|
|
M: from Columbus Ga |
| Florida Mail |
89 |
> 8.00 |
9.32 |
11.00 |
|
|
B: to Jacksonville |
| #14 connection |
** |
|
|
11.25 |
< 9.15 |
via ferry |
B: via C&O, ferry |
| #14 |
** |
2.40 |
1.21 |
11.50 |
|
< 8.45 |
B: |
| #93 |
** |
> 9.05 |
10.26 |
11.50 |
|
|
BM: all-stops below DC |
| #89-93 |
** |
|
|
> 2.00 |
4.15 |
via ferry |
M: via C&O, ferry |
| #89-93 |
** |
|
|
> 2.00 |
|
4.30 |
B: via N&W |
| #15 |
** |
> 12.01 |
1.23 |
2.45 |
|
|
B: ex Su |
| #25 |
** |
> 1.30 |
3.10 |
|
|
|
all-stops local Sa only |
| #16 |
** |
6.20 |
5.01 |
3.50 |
|
< 1.15 |
B: |
| Cotton / So States |
107 |
> 2.00 |
3.19 |
4.45 |
|
|
M: to Columbus Ga |
| #80-94 |
** |
|
|
4.50 |
< 2.20 |
via ferry |
M: via C&O |
| Tamiami |
71 |
> 3.05 |
4.24 |
5.45 |
|
|
B: to Tampa |
| #31 |
** |
> 3.30 |
5.12 |
|
|
|
all-stops local ex Sa Su |
| #94 |
** |
9.20 |
7.40 |
< 6.00 |
|
|
BM: all-stops below DC |
| #71-107 |
** |
|
|
> 7.00 |
9.20 |
via ferry |
B: via C&O |
| Florida Mail |
80 |
10.45 |
9.14 |
< 7.45 |
|
|
B: from Jacksonville |
| #29 |
** |
> 5.25 |
7.05 |
8.45 |
|
|
B: |
| #76 connection |
** |
|
|
9.30 |
< 7.10 |
via ferry |
B: via C&O |
| #21 |
** |
> 6.40 |
8.02 |
9.35 |
|
|
BM: |
| #76 connection |
** |
|
|
9.35 |
|
< 7.15 |
B: via N&W |
| Palmetto Ltd |
83 |
> 7.20 |
8.42 |
10.00 |
|
|
B: to Savannah |
| Havana Special |
76 |
1.25 |
11.56 |
< 10.35 |
|
|
B: from Key West (note) |
NOTE: refer to The Glossary
for a summary of how to interpret the train listings below.
Through Services
- Cotton States Special
/ Southern States Special -
- PRR / B&O / RF&P / SAL / CofGa (SAL)(trains #107 / #108)
- (NYCity) Wash DC to Richmond (Columbus, Ga), A/C, daily.
- sleeper- parlor- coach- diner- sleeper obs
- #107 (s) lv Wash DC 2.00 pm - Fredericksburg
3.19 pm - arr Richmond 4.45 pm.
- #108 (n) lv Richmond 9.40 am - Fredericksburg
11.13 am - Wash DC 12.35 pm.
- Notes: parlor and dining car service north of
Richmond. Stops at Main Street, Richmond. Connection to
Old Point Comfort via C&O.
-
- PRR / B&O / RF&P / ACL (ACL)(trains #80 / #89)(NYCity)
Wash DC to Richmond (Jacksonville), daily.
- sleeper- coach
- #80 (n) lv Richmond 7.45 pm - Fredericksburg
9.14 pm - arr Wash DC 10.45 pm.
- #89 (s) lv Wash DC 8.00 am - Fredericksburg 9.32
am - arr Richmond 11.00 am.
- Notes: this consist greatly reduced in the off
season and carries mostly head end. Stops at Broad Street, Richmond. Diner
added below Richmond. Connections to both Norfolk and Old Point Comfort.
- PRR / B&O / RF&P / ACL (ACL)(trains #75 / #76)(NYCity)
Wash DC to Richmond (Key West), daily.
- sleeper- coach- diner- sleeper obs
- #75 (s) lv Wash DC 3.25 am - Fredericksburg 4.50
am - arr Richmond 6.10 am.
- #76 (n) lv Richmond 10.35 pm - Fredericksburg
11.56 pm - arr Wash DC 1.25 am.
- Notes: present equipment not air conditioned.
Stops at Broad Street, Richmond. Connections to both Norfolk and Old Point
Comfort. Service to Key West has been suspended due to hurricane damage
to FEC trackage. Key West section presently terminates at Miami, Fla.
-
- New York and Florida
Limited -
- PRR / B&O / RF&P / SAL (SAL)(trains #191 / #192)
- (NYCity) Wash DC to Richmond (Venice, Fla), A/C, daily.
- sleeper- parlor- coach- diner- sleeper obs
- #191 (s) lv Wash DC 3.00 am - Fredericksburg
4.21 - arr Richmond 5.55 am.
- #192 (n) lv Richmond 12.56 am - Fredericksburg
2.31 am - arr Wash DC 3.55 am.
- Notes: stops at Main Street, Richmond.
-
- PRR / B&O / RF&P / ACL (ACL)(trains #82 / #83) (NYCity)
Wash DC to Richmond (Savannah), daily.
- sleeper- coach- diner
- #82 (n) lv Richmond 3.45 am - Fredericksburg
5.04 am - arr Wash DC 6.35 am.
- #83 (s) lv Wash DC 7.20 pm - Fredericksburg 8.42
pm - arr Richmond 10.00 pm.
- Notes: stops at Broad Street, Richmond.
- PRR / B&O / RF&P / SAL / CofGa (SAL)(trains #95 / #96)
- (NYCity) Wash DC to Richmond (Columbus, Ga), A/C, daily.
- sleeper- parlor- coach- diner- sleeper obs
- #95 (s) lv Wash DC 10.10 pm - Fredericksburg
11.31 pm - arr Richmond 1.00 am.
- #96 (n) lv Richmond 3.45 am - Fredericksburg
5.04 am - arr Wash DC 6.35 am.
- Notes: parlor and dining car service north of
Richmond. Stops at Main Street, Richmond.
-
- PRR / B&O / RF&P / ACL (ACL)(trains #71 / #74)(NYCity)
Wash DC to Richmond (Tampa), part- A/C, daily.
- sleeper- parlor- coach- diner- sleeper obs
- #71 (s) lv Wash DC 3.05 pm - Fredericksburg 4.24
pm - arr Richmond 5.45.
- #74 (n) lv Richmond 8.45 am - Fredericksburg
9.58 am - arr Wash DC 11.25 am.
- Notes: connection to Norfolk via N&W. Stops
at Broad Street, Richmond.
-
- PRR / B&O / RF&P / SAL (SAL)(NYCity) Wash DC to Richmond
(St Petersburg), daily.
- sleeper- parlor coach- parlor diner- sleeper obs
- #21 (s) lv Wash DC 6.40 pm - Fredericksburg 8.02
pm - arr Richmond 9.35 pm.
- #22 (n) lv Richmond 7.35 am - Fredericksburg
9.06 am - arr Wash DC 10.30 am.
- Notes: stops at both Broad Street and Main Street,
Richmond. No extra fare for deluxe "parlor-coach" service.
- PRR / B&O / RF&P / SAL / CofGa (SAL)
- (NYCity) Wash DC to Richmond (Columbus, Ga), part-A/C, daily.
- sleeper- parlor coach- coach- diner- sleeper obs
- #93 (s) lv Wash DC 9.05 am - Fredericksburg 10.26
am - arr Richmond 11.50 am.
- #94 (n) lv Richmond 6.00 pm - Fredericksburg
7.40 pm - arr Wash DC 9.20 pm.
- Notes: connection to Norfolk via N&W route.
"Parlor-coach" (deluxe A/C coach) Wash DC to Richmond, no extra
fare. Stops at both Main Street and Broad Street, Richmond. Runs all-stops
Washington to Richmond.
-
General Notes:
Almost all long haul trains forward sleepers, parlors or coaches beyond
Washington via PRR (Penn Station) and B&O (Jersey City). On PRR, only
"Havana Special" provides
service to Philadelphia. All B&O trains provide Philadelphia service.
Regional Services
Washington to Norfolk via N&W
- PRR / B&O / RF&P / N&W (RF&P)(Norfolk) Richmond
to Wash DC (NYCity), daily.
- coach
- #14 (s) lv Norfolk 8.45 am - Richmond 11.50 am
- Fredericksburg 1.21 pm - arr Wash DC 2.40 pm.
- Notes: stops at Broad Street, Richmond. No extra
fare for deluxe "parlor-coach" service.
-
- PRR / B&O / RF&P / N&W (RF&P)(Norfolk) Richmond
to Wash DC (NYCity), A/C, daily.
- parlor coach
- #16 (s) lv Richmond 3.50 pm - Fredericksburg
5.01 pm - arr Wash DC 6.20 pm -
- Notes: stops at Broad Street, Richmond. No extra
fare for deluxe "parlor-coach" service.
-
- #75 / #76 (connection
from "Havana Special") -
- RF&P / N&W (N&W) Richmond to Norfolk, part-A/C,
daily.
- parlor coach- coach
- #75 (e) lv Richmond 8.30 am - arr Norfolk 10.50
am.
- #76 (w) lv Norfolk 7.15 pm - arr Richmond 9.35
pm.
- Notes: stops at Broad Street, Richmond.
- #89-93 (connection from #93 and "Florida
Mail") -
- RF&P / N&W (N&W) Richmond to Norfolk, part-A/C,
daily.
- coach
- #89-93 (e) lv Richmond 2.00 pm - arr Norfolk
4.30 pm.
- Notes: stops at Broad Street, Richmond.
Washington to Old Point Comfort via C&O
Ferry to Norfolk
- #14 - (connection
from #14)
- RF&P / C&O (C&O) (boat from Norfolk) Old Point Comfort
to Richmond, part-A/C, daily.
- parlor coach- coach
- #14 (w) lv Old Point Comfort 9.15 am - arr Richmond
11.25 am.
- Notes: stops at Broad Street, Richmond.
-
- #71-107 (connection
from "Tamiami" and "So States Special") -
- RF&P / C&O (C&O) Richmond to Old Point Comfort (boat
to Norfolk), part-A/C, daily.
- coach
- #71-107 (e) lv Richmond 7.00 pm - arr Old Point
Comfort 9.20 pm.
- Notes: departs Broad Street, Richmond.
- #75 / #76 (connection from "Havana Special")
-
- RF&P / C&O (C&O) Richmond to Old Point Comfort (boat
to Norfolk), part-A/C, daily.
- coach
- #75 (e) lv Richmond 9.00 am - arr Old Point Comfort
11.20 am.
- #76 (w) lv Old Point Comfort 7.10 pm - arr Richmond
9.30 pm.
- Notes: stops at Broad Street, Richmond.
-
- #80-94 / #89-93
(connection from #93 / #94 and "Florida Mail") -
- RF&P / C&O (C&O) Richmond to Old Point Comfort (boat
to Norfolk), part-A/C, daily.
- coach
- #80-94 (w) lv Old Point Comfort 2.35 pm - arr
Richmond 4.50 pm
- #89-93 (e) lv Richmond 2.00 pm - arr Old Point
Comfort 4.15 pm.
- Notes: stops at Main Street, Richmond.
-
Local Services
- RF&P Fredericksburg to Wash DC (NYCity), ex-Su.
- coach
- #2 (n) lv Fredericksburg 6.20 am - arr Wash DC
8.15 am.
- Notes: all-stops local.
- RF&P Richmond to Wash DC (NYCity), daily
- coach
- #10 (n) lv Richmond 6.45 am - Fredericksburg
8.23 am - arr Wash DC 9.55 am.
- Notes: departs Broad Street, Richmond.
-
- RF&P Richmond to Wash DC (NYCity), daily.
- coach
- #14 (n) lv Richmond 12.10 pm - Fredericksburg
1.21 pm - arr Wash DC 2.40 pm.
- Notes: departs Broad Street, Richmond.
-
- RF&P (NYCity) Wash DC to Richmond, ex- Su.
- coach
- #15 (s) lv Wash DC 12.01 pm - Fredericksburg
1.23 pm - arr Richmond 2.45 pm.
- Notes: B&O service from Philadelphia only.
Stops at Broad Street, Richmond.
-
- RF&P Wash DC to Fredericksburg, Sa only
- coach
- #25 (s) lv Wash DC 1.30 pm - arr Fredericksburg
3.10 pm.
- Notes: all-stops local.
- RF&P (NYCity) Wash DC to Richmond, daily.
- coach
- #29 (s) lv Wash DC 5.25 pm - Fredericksburg 7.05
pm - arr Richmond 8.45 pm.
- Notes: all-stops local. Stops at Broad Street,
Richmond.
-
- RF&P (NYCity) Wash DC to Fredericksburg, ex- Sa, Su
- coach
- #31 (s) lv Wash DC 3.30 pm - arr Fredericksburg
5.12 pm.
- Notes: all-stops local.
-
General Notes:
These local services make connections to PRR and B&O trains at Washington.
Some Notes On RF&P Passenger
Service
Motive Power
The R. F. & P. has long been a scene of big time railroading and
the road's passenger power includes the handsome "Governor", "General"
and "Statesman" class 4-8-4s, each bearing the name of a famous
Virginian. The road has also been an early purchaser of EMD's passenger
E Unit diesels, which are dressed in a stately blue-and-gray scheme.
Rolling Stock
As part of the "equalization" of the Florida passenger fleet,
the R. F. & P. purchased long distance coaches from Budd, a sleeper
and sleeper-lounge from ACF, and coaches, sleepers, a sleeper-lounge and
a diner from Pullman - all part of the massive joint order for lightweight
rolling stock that reequipped the trains after the war.
Topics:
North East Rails © Clint Chamberlin.
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