Explore SR/NS Alexandria Yard

This video is part of the historical record of images from the former Southern Railway (SR) and Norfolk Southern (NS) yard in Alexandria, VA. Scenes show the yard in operation (in 1988 and 1989) and during its dismantling (in 1990). After the yard was closed, operations were transferred to the NS yard in Manassas, VA.

[@ramongoodwin8667]

I've always wondered what Alexandria years looked like in the past. This us amazing video, thank you for sharing!

[@billloffler8637]

Thanks for recording this. There is nothing left now but new buildings and traffic.

[@tomt9543]

This was the end of a great era of railroading in Alexandria/DC! I was laid off from Linwood yard in the mid 80’s and worked Alexandria shop for a year. Tons of memories there and the high priority activity at the Van adorn street piggyback yard! Sad……

[@rawingo]

Memories there, my Dad was Engineer out of there and I visited many times as a kid from 68-83

[@DavidSmith-mn8ew]

amazing. So cool this was documented.

[@pmcaloon]

Brings back memories!

[@805Hrowell]

Fruit Growers Express used to have a facility near there , I believe on Duke Street.

[@paulw.woodring7304]

I believe that the Southern Ry. Railway Post Office car near the end of this clip belonged to the late SR/NS steam excursion operations manager Jim Bistline. It was used as the model for the scale replica in the Postal Museum across the street from Washington Union Station. I think it went to the Gaithersburg, MD station museum for awhile, but I don't know where it is now.

[@jeffsrailjourneys]

It's at the North Carolina Transportation Museum in Spencer, N.C.

[@hmitchell8618]

NS also uses the Robinson Terminal with boxcars, centerbeams and refrigerator car

[@TonyBrooks-xh7xh]

Yeah Sundays were the best . No crews working, but ever now and then a special agent was around. But if they saw you were not there causing any problems, they really wouldn't say anything. Plus me and a buddy of mine was cool with the clerk that use to work there. I think her name was Sam.

[@hmitchell8618]

In Alexandria, there is a yard but NS barely uses it. There's a yard in Van Dorn and NS uses it for tank trains.

[@troynolen6448]

That's a different yard. That's Van Dorn Street yard, never used for classification. It was used as a pig ramp for a while and also tank transload.

[@hmitchell8618]

@@troynolen6448 I know but I’m saying that north of van dorn is the small remains of Alexandria yard. NS just stores the end on tank cars in that yard

[@trainsontape6531]

I hate how not much info or pictures are available of the yard online

[@markquiswest6607]

I love the Ole Southern! Ain't their M.O.W Trucks were yellow at the time?

[@peteyblack8890]

When and why did this yard close, and how close is Potomac yard from this one

[@troynolen6448]

This yard didn't serve any purpose once Potomac Yard was scheduled to close, which happened a couple years later.