Fairfax-Station.org
Title
The Fairfax Station Railroad Museum - Home
Description
The original Fairfax Station was constructed in the mid-1850s by Irish immigrants. Many of these people had recently arrived during the late 1840’s – early 1850’s and were immediately employed by the Orange and Alexandria Railroad Company, which had been chartered by the Virginia General Assembly in 1848 to construct a rail line from Alexandria to Orange County, Virginia. Enterprising businessmen sought a cheaper and more efficient transportation alternative to the turnpikes and stagecoach lines to move farm products to the coastal markets and for export. The line reached present day Manassas (then called Tudor Hall and subsequently Manassas Junction) by October 1851 and was officially completed to Gordonsville in Orange County by March 1854. It was so successful that the rail line was further extended to Lynchburg, Virginia by 1860.
Many of the Irish immigrants who had worked on this rail line ultimately settled in the surrounding area of Fairfax Station helping to create the small community that became the station's namesake. St. Mary’s Church, approximately ¼ mile, away was constructed by 1858 and was the parish for many of these new settlers. Fairfax Station was the railroad station for the town of Fairfax, then known as Fairfax Court House. The rail station purposely was located 2 ½ miles from the town. Many of the local residents did not want these smelly, smoky, noisy, fire breathing contraptions close to the town, and the railroad company was very willing to construct the rail line away from the town where land was cheaper.
Until the Civil War this was a sleepy little rail line taking supplies, freight, and passengers between Northern Virginia and the central portion of downstate Virginia. A normal transportation day on the rail line before the war would include no more than a few trains. During the Civil War this rail line and the station were of great strategic importance. As a main line to Central Virginia, the Orange and Alexandria line was the most direct and easiest way to get troops from Alexandria to Richmond (The O&A intersects the Virginia Central in Gordonsville). With the same track gauge, it would be easy to get to Richmond. Both armies knew this and either planned their attacks or defensive postures accordingly. Consequently, during the first 3 ½ years of the war many battles were fought over and along this rail line. Central to the station's historical significance are the concurrent Civil War battles of Second Manassas and Chantilly.
Contact
- Friends of Fairfax Station
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- Fairfax Station VA
- United States 22039
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- +1.7034259225
