History of surface transit in Northern Virginia facts for kids
Northern Virginia is a busy area right next to Washington, D.C. in the United States. It has its own way of getting people around, like buses and trains, but it also connects with D.C.'s transportation system. Even though the Potomac River separates Northern Virginia from D.C., many people travel between the two places every day.
Most of the big bus routes in Northern Virginia, especially those that cross the river into D.C., are run by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). This is a large agency that helps people travel all over the Washington area. There are also smaller bus systems owned by different cities or counties in Northern Virginia. When the Washington Metro (the subway system) started running in Virginia, many bus routes began ending at Metro stations. This allows passengers to easily switch from a bus to the subway to continue their journey. Only a few special WMATA Metrobus routes, like Route 38B, still cross the Potomac River directly.
Trolleys: The First Electric Trains
Before modern buses and the Metro, Northern Virginia had trolleys! These were like electric streetcars that ran on tracks in the streets. The first trolley lines in Northern Virginia started in 1892.
- The Washington, Alexandria and Mount Vernon Electric Railway (WA&MV)
This was one of the first trolley companies. It opened an electric trolley line that connected Alexandria to Mount Vernon. Imagine riding an electric train through the countryside!
- The Washington, Arlington and Falls Church Railway (WA&FC)
Another important trolley company was the WA&FC. In 1913, the WA&MV and the WA&FC joined together to form a bigger company called the Washington-Virginia Railway. However, this company faced financial problems and went out of business in 1924.
- The End of an Era
By 1927, the two original trolley systems split up again. The WA&MV was bought by a company that owned buses, and its trolleys stopped running in 1932. The WA&FC became the Arlington and Fairfax Railway and continued to operate until 1939.
- The Washington and Old Dominion Railway (W&OD)
A third system, the Washington and Old Dominion Railway (W&OD), had a longer history. It started way back in the 1850s as a steam railroad (trains powered by steam). In 1912, the W&OD connected its lines to another electric trolley system. Electric trolleys on the W&OD stopped running in 1941. However, the company kept running freight trains (carrying goods) until 1968, and even passenger trains until 1951.
Trolleys were an important part of transportation in Northern Virginia for many years, helping people travel before cars became common and before the modern Metro system was built.
