Unlike most of the others, my walk on Tuesday morning was a function of necessity. After dropping off my car for a scheduled check up, I decided to take in some of Route 1 on the opposite side of Potomac Yards. Didn’t think I would see much, but surprise, surprise, a reward every time.
First stop was Ruby Tucker Park, cross with Lynhaven Drive. It’s about as small as parks come, but the shade and greenery provides a nice place for those waiting for the bus.
Turns out there is an historical marker there for Tucker (1932-2009). I had never heard of her until seeing her chapter in “Beacons of Light.” As the book says, she “devoted her life to further justice and equality for the African American population in the city of Alexandria.” The marker is very nicely done.
Continuing on past the construction for the new retail convenience center, which is part of the Oakville Triangle re-development, I then approached Custis Avenue. To my right, a short section of chain-link fence caught my eye. I stopped to look, and then could see a grassy berm behind it. Then I noticed a sign - W&OD Greenway.
Putting two and two together, I quickly realized this was a tiny strip of land I had seen on maps. On the maps you see it as the Mount Jefferson Park Trail. As a signal that they plan to improve it, the City officially calls it the Mount Jefferson Park/W&OD Greenway. It runs between homes on the north side of E. Randolph and the warehouses and businesses on the south side of the Oakville triangle. The angle it takes was created by the laying down of the Bluemont Railroad line. I vaguely remembered seeing an aerial photo showing it being connected to Potomac Yard when it was a bustling freight exchange hub.
The trail entrance is not exactly hidden, but it is somewhat secluded. Still I was surprised I had never seen it, given how many times we had been up and down that part of Route 1.
Anyway, my curiosity needle shot into the red zone.
But wait a minute. I’m sure the city put that fence up for a reason. The message seemed to be - stay out.
The gate was shut, but not locked. And there were no do not enter signs.
So I swung the gate open, gingerly proceded up the berm, and picked up the trail. As the noise of Route 1 faded away, I entered another world of sorts.
The dirt trail looked like it had not been touched in ages. At one point, tree roots crossed the path. I felt like a kid again, my imagination running wild and my mind racing back to my childhood when parents let their kids run wild and go wherever they wanted to. We lived in a modern subdivision and liked it but we seemed to be at our happiest when we were plowing down some dirt trail in our bikes.
The berm is a rare remnant of a time when Alexandria clamored with railroad activity. Paradoxically, there is very little left in and around Old Town that reminds us of this aspect of our history.
The trail soon gives way to normalcy, where it continues through the Del Ray neighborhood. An interpretive sign covers some of the history of that part of the W&OD, which took over from the Bluemont Line.
When I got home, I contacted the City (someone actually answered the phone!!). Fortunately, they are working with concerned residents who want to protect the natural elements of the trail, while at the same time, improving the experience by cleaning up the parts that are trashy. They named it W&OD Greenway, as to not confuse with the W&OD Trail, which is the popular bike trail that runs from Alexandria to Purcellville.
I will say that I have mixed feelings about the decision to move the trail part away from the top of the berm. That would certainly be pleasing to the residents who live along it, but that move would change the character of the walk. Still, the good news is it sounds like the berm will be retained.
Notes:
As pointed out by the marker, the Alexandria Loudoun and Hampshire RR was formed in 1847 to carry the agricultural produce of the Shenandoah Valley and coal from western Virginia to the port in Alexandria. Financial struggles meant it never got going further than Bluemont, which lies about a half-dozen miles past Purcellville.
At various times, the line also carried dairy products, mail and some passengers. It went through many changes of ownership before the W&OD took over in 1945. In 1956, the Chesapeake and Ohio RR bought the line and owned it until 1968, the final year of service.
It's interesting to note that in the other direction to the east, a continuation of the rail line ran from Potomac Yard to Union Street. Drivers on the GW Parkway cross the rails just south of the intersection with Slater's Lane.
The other photo on the marker shows where the line crossed over the Washington-Virginia Electric Railway Line (now Commonwealth Ave) at the St. Elmo’s stop. Passengers used the steps to make the switch. This photo shows where the stop used to be.
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