Lorraine, Virginia facts for kids

Lorraine was a small, unnamed community in Henrico County, Virginia. It was a place without its own local government, meaning it was part of the larger county.

The Man Behind the Name

The community of Lorraine was named after a very important person: Edward Lorraine. He was a skilled engineer who lived in the 1800s. Edward Lorraine was the chief engineer for a big project called the James River and Kanawha Canal.

Edward Lorraine was born in 1818. He started his long career in 1842, working on the James River and Kanawha Canal. His first job was as a "rod man," which meant he helped with surveying the land. This was a crucial step in building the canal.

Over more than 30 years, Edward Lorraine worked his way up. He became an assistant engineer and then the chief engineer of the canal. He took over this important role from another engineer named Walter Gwynn. Edward Lorraine continued to serve as chief engineer until he passed away in December 1872.

Lorraine's Railway Connection

Later, in the 1880s, the community of Lorraine became a stop on a new railway line. This railway was called the Richmond and Allegheny Railroad. It was built along the path of the old canal, which was no longer in use. This path is known as a "right-of-way."

Soon after it was built, the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway bought the Richmond and Allegheny Railroad. This railway became very important for moving coal. It carried coal from southern West Virginia all the way to the coal pier in Hampton Roads. This pier was located in Newport News.

The railway line later became known as the James River line of CSX Transportation. It continued to be used for transporting coal towards the east.

A Quiet Stop

For a while, Lorraine was a busy place. It served as a station where both passengers and goods could get on and off the train. However, in the middle of the 1900s, the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway stopped using Lorraine as a station. Over time, the community became less active.