Richmond Rails is an enthusiasts group for railfans, historians, authors, photographers, and modelers in Richmond and Petersburg VA and surrounding areas.

The Chesterfield Railroad was the first in VA in 1831. On the James River, Richmond was a natural seaport and north-south link to other communities along the geographic fall line, including Alexandria, Fredericksburg, Petersburg, VA and Weldon NC.

During the Civil War, rail lines through Petersburg proved the key to the fall of Richmond, effectively ending the war. Postbellum, railroads quickly rebuilt and expanded. The area became a crossroads for eastbound coal on the Norfolk and Western and Chesapeake and Ohio Railways, as well as north-south traffic on the Southern, Atlantic Coast Line, and Seaboard Air Line Railways. Guaranteeing Richmond's role as a terminal city, the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac provided bridge service between Richmond and Alexandria, connecting to the Baltimore and Ohio and Pennsylvania Railroads.

Smaller lines included a narrow gauge across Chesterfield County and points west and coal lines in western Henrico. Richmond had the first successful electric streetcar system in 1888, and extensive urban and interurban passenger systems until 1949.

Today, Richmond is an active rail center, hosting CSXT, Norfolk Southern, Amtrak, and Buckingham Branch. Main Street Station is open again, with plans for high speed rail service from DC and to points south and east. we have the world's only 3 level rail crossing, the appropriately named Triple Crossing, Chessie System, Seaboard System and Southern Railway, a collapsed tunnel (with steam locomotive inside), many historic rail buildings, and bridges and 2 museums with rail exhibits. Plans are underway for a small heritage streetcar system.

Group Members are encouraged to share pictures, maps, stories, questions, and web links, anything relating to Richmond Rails. Let's have some fun with the heritage and promise of rail transportation.