City Point Railroad

The City Point Railroad was a nine-mile railroad in eastern Virginia established in 1836 which ran from City Point (now part of the independent City of Hopewell) on the navigable portion of the James River to Petersburg, Virginia. It was reorganized as the Appomattox Railroad in 1847 and acquired by the Southside Railroad in 1854.

This short-line played a crucial role in the US Civil War during the Siege of Petersburg in 1864-1865, and was operated by the United States Military Railroad (USMRR) for more than a year.

After the War, it became part of the Atlantic, Mississippi and Ohio Railroad formed in 1870, and was the oldest portion of the Norfolk and Western when it was formed in 1881.

Today the former City Point Railroad is part of the Norfolk Southern system.