CSX A-Line Bridge

The CSX A-Line Bridge is a railway bridge crossing the James River in Richmond, connecting both banks with two parallel tracks for freight and passenger trains. The structure uses a series of large and small concrete arches to support the weight of passing trains.

An iron truss bridge was first built here in 1889, but the growing demands of rail traffic between Richmond and Washington D.C. required a stronger design. The current concrete arch structure was completed in 1919 to replace the earlier bridge.

The bridge displays a series of large concrete arches arranged in a rhythm that reflects early 20th-century engineering thinking. Walking along the nearby pathways, you can sense how this structure became a visual landmark in the Richmond landscape.

The bridge is best viewed from the riverside walkways and paths on both sides of the James River. Visiting during daytime hours allows you to see the arch details and structure clearly against the sky.

Stone piers from the original 1889 bridge remain visible just beneath the water surface, serving as a physical record of how the old structure was replaced. These submerged remains offer a tangible connection to the earlier engineering that once spanned the river.