The Unfinished Railroad

Stonewall Jackson set up his defensive line along a two mile section of these cuts and fills, which were originally grading for the Independent Line of the Manassas Gap Railroad. The railroad, begun in the 1850’s, ran out of money after the roadbed had been built from Gainsville, 5 miles to the west, to Alexandria, 25 miles to the east. The coming of the war stopped whatever plans had been made to complete it. No track was ever laid over the grade.