(Update: it was the only triple crossing until 2004 when a flyover was built in Kansas City, Kansas City now also has a triple crossing.)
At ground level is the Southern Railroad with an east/west route that soon crosses the James River to the West. In the middle is the SAL with a north/south route that crosses the river here. On top is the C&O east/west route that continues along the river.
I keep seeing this photo on Facebook. I'm going to post this occurance so that I can find it again. The commentary is:
An issue with getting this view today is that there is now interstate ramps in the background. Satellite view.
Steve's text for the comment:
Also, Bill Neill shared
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| Image: Virginia Commonwealth University Libraries Richard Halmi commented on a post |
This unique photograph presents to view the only point in the world where three trunk line trains cross each other, at the same time and over their separate tracks. At the top is shown a train of the C. & O. Railway leaving Richmond for the upper James River Valley just beneath it a train of the S.A.L. Railway leaving the Main Street (Union) Deport for the South, and on the ground a train of the Southern Railway coming into Richmond from West Point on the York River.One of the comments was particularly interesting:
Gary Sprandel Robert Richmond VA. Larry the last one I saw of the triple meet was Railfan magazine in the early 80's with Chessie Systems SD50's,Seaboard System GP50 and Southern E's or F's (IIRC). I've heard staging another triple meet has been rendered near impossible due to flood wall construction that limits the ability to line up the entire crossing.Stephen Messer commented on a posting and Thomas Dorman added:
September 1, 1949 – a Thursday, at 12:01 pm, photographer Herbert Wilburn.•Chesapeake & Ohio Alco Richmond K-3A 2-8-2 #2327, standard freight engine on the James River line, a steam locomotive capable of hauling about 160 coal cars.•Seaboard Air Line EMD E7A #3048 3,000-horsepower Diesel unit like the ones used to pull the Silver Meteor, Orange Blossom Special and other streamliners.
•Southern Alco RS3 #2106 1500-horsepower, multi-purpose roadswitcher, a powerful Diesel electric unit.•Southern Alco RS3 #2106 1500-horsepower, multi-purpose roadswitcher, a powerful Diesel electric unit.
A different reindentation of the colors.
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| Thomas Bilheimer posted This unique photograph presents to view the only point in the world where three trunk line trains cross each other, at the same time and over their separate tracks. At the top is shown a passenger train of the C. & O. Railway leaving Richmond for the upper James River Valley just beneath it a train of the S.A.L. Railway leaving the Main Street (Union) Deport for the South and on the ground a train of the Southern Railway coming into Richmond from West Point on the York River. Richmond, Virginia Date: 1949 Albert McFadyen: The top C&O train is clearly hauling coal cars and is not a passenger train.Alex Peterson shared I Love Trains posted photo courtesy of Michael Wray - Another view of the triple crossing |
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| I Love Trains posted Photo courtesy of Jeff Wilson - tri fecta, Richmond VA |
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| Scott Rae posted Famous picture of the triple crossing at Richmond Va. it was taken by Doug Lilly in 1983. I was hired in 1981, to the Railroad on the top! |
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| NS Locomotives , Equipment and its Predecessors posted Vintage shot made at the triple crossing @ Richmond , Va in 1966. Bill Lane: Are all tracks still currently in service? Joey Gattuso: Bill Lane Yes, under CSX (the top and middle lines) and NS (bottom line) ownership today. NS only sees around 2 trains a day, I think the middle gets around 6-8, and the top gets around 16-20 I think. Jonathan Vanover: Joey Gattuso The top line is likely the only one here that can handle double-stacks due to the clearance of the other two so that makes sense the top would see the most trains. Brian Aldridge: Jonathan Vanover Nah, the top line doesnt see any stack trains, that's CSX's main from Clifton Forge to Hampton Roads. Mostly sees coal, ethanol, grain, and other stuff like the local from RVA to CF. The middle line is CSX's A line bypass, the A line currently only sees 4 stack trains a day, 2 of which are a mixed domestic intermodal/manifest which runs from Cumberland MD to Rocky Mount NC and vice versa (plus CSX's daily Hampton Roads - Chicago intermodal. Bottom line only sees the NS daily local which runs to West Point and back and even that has been reduced to overnight runs as of late. Top line might get 10 trains a day (if that), middle maybe gets 3-5 if there is a westbound coming from the south that is going to take the BB west to Clifton Forge, and the bottom is down to 2. |
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| Larry Jenkins posted |
At first, I thought this was a drone shot. But it is taken from the balcony of his condo.
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| Larry Jenkins posted Caught this today [Mar 2, 2022] at the triple crossing in Richmond. Two CSX and 1 Norfolk Southern Railroad. The 1776 is what I was going for, the other two was pure luck. Randall Hampton shared |
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| Steve Bolte added as a comment to the above Facebook posting |
This was the night photo session in 1983. NRHS national convention was in Richmond. Arranged by Jim Boyd of Railfan Mag.Stephen Messer commented on a posting and Thomas Dorman added:
July 19, 1983 –National Railway Historical Society pre-Convention night photo session hosted by the Old Dominion Chapter. Photographer Sanford T. Terry.•Chessie System C&O GE B30-7 #8295•Seaboard (Norfolk Southern) EMD GP40 #6719•Southern EMD FP7s #6143 #6141
Also, Bill Neill shared
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| Jerry M Murphy commented on a posting This is the very first one, I believe |
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| Jerry M Murphy commented on a posting This is the last one, as far as I know. This was taken from atop the City of Richmond floodwall. Seija Gynther also posted Allen Dial: Rivanna jct .richmond va..top track is csx (rivanna sub) middle track csx (bellwood sub ) bottom is ns Jose Vicente Sendin also posted Oh, trains can fly ? ( well this is a train FLY OVER !!! ) Thomas Dorman: October 21?, 1994 – to mark the completion of the James River flood wall, on which the photographer was standing, which now blocks the best photographic views of the triple crossing. •CSX GE C40-9W #9044 •CSX GE C40-9W #9045 •Norfolk Southern EMD GP50 #7027 Becky Whiting: Not a whole lot of clearance for the three routes. No HIGH WIDE loads for sure. Steve Hartz shared Lisa Pennell posted Janet Simonsen: The top train is 9044 and the middle train is 9045. Consecutive numbers! Vincent Rogers posted Triple Crossing in Richmond VA: 1994 Photo by Ken Soper, VDOT. When constructed, it was the only place in North America where three Class 1 Railroads crossed at different levels in the same place: Southern Railway on grade, Seaboard Line on the middle level, and Chesapeake and Ohio on the top level. Dean Freeman: No stack trains on the lower 2. [There are some comments about the relatively new triple crossing in Kansas City, MO.] Ed Poltera posted A video of the above photo-op being staged I Love Trains posted photo courtesy of Leonardo San Martin Ojeda I Love Trains posted Photo courtesy of Tom Nank Handle Bars: Not much clearance,they can't be hauling double stacked seacans Jerry Owen: Handle Bars 16' 10" clearance center track to upper. Not only no double stacks but no Hi cubes. Even regular boxcars don't need to be rocking too much. |
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| Fred Fisher commented on I Love Train's post, cropped What it looks like from the street and without any trains. |
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| Raiford Wilson commented on Poltera's post |
A different colorization of the above. And no one standing on the side of the lowest locomotive.
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| I Love Trains posted Photo courtesy of Jack Glover - Triple Crossing 1919 - Wikipedia |
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| Bev Smith commented on the post |
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| Bev commented on her comment |
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| Jerry M Murphy posted Here is the Triple Crossing from the cab on the top bridge. |
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Jenevieve Marie shared Heritage Railway Magazine postingHaddy NiaziTriple Railroad crossing in Richmond, Virginia (hand painted 1926) |
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| Carl Venzke posted I thought this only existed in model railroading until I saw this; C&O on top, SAL in the middle and Southern on the bottom. Richmond, VA c1939 [So how can a 1939 photo be hand painted in 1926?] Randall Hampton shared |
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| Michael Wray commented on a post Not color but nice all steam photo from the early 30s. [This looks like a different exposure of the same photo.] |
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| Steve Bolte commented on the above sharing This was the last staged one at the James River Flood Wall dedication 10/21/94 |
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| Andrew Keeney shared Triple crossing reenactment, 1966? Walt Gay collection |
Curtis Nicolaisen posted two photos with the comment: "Triple Crossing in Richmond Virginia. Only place in North America(?) where 3 railroads cross over each other. A 1919 archive photo for perspective."
[After a new flyover was finished in Sep 2004, Kansas City, MO, now also has a triple crossing.]
Dale Hokanson No floodwall or freeway!
Dale Hokanson No floodwall or freeway!
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| Norfolk Southern Corp posted
Three trains meet at the famous "Triple Crossing" in Richmond, Virginia. CSX coal train N89530 on the upper level (former Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad), CSX coal train T44230 on the middle level (former Seaboard Air Line Railroad), and Norfolk Southern mixed freight V24 on the lower level (former Southern Railway).
Norfolk Southern recently completed a clearance project on the lower level to allow high capacity box cars to clear the middle bridge, allowing for more shipping opportunities along the line, which serves industries between Richmond and West Point.
Disclaimer: This image is a compilation of three separate images taken within a short timeframe to achieve the "Triple Crossing" result.#OhYesWeDid
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| Larry Jenkins posted Tonight on June 6th a single CSX engine pulling a short train came through the triple crossing heading east. Then at the end, I spotted this caboose. I grabbed my camera as the train was going under the 95 bridge. I wish it was a better photo. [Taken from the 12th floor of the Vistas. The comments agree it is a DODX move] |
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| 3D Satellite |
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| Larry Jenkins posted Living next to the Triple Crossing in RVA I hear train traffic 24/7. I was cooking dinner and heard a train going by and then a minute later I heard the air horns of another train. I looked out the balcony door and was surprised to see a train on each level. I didn't have my good camera ready and this was taken from a phone. I've only seen three trains crossing here 3 times. [According to some comments, NS runs about 10 trains a day on the lowest level, but they are 10-car locals "from the yard on the south side of the river to the north side."] |
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| Virgil Fitzpatrick posted Ever wonder what it's like to be on the ground for a major derailment? Here's your chance from my personal perspective. April of 2006 finds us again in downtown Richmond VA but this time the Seaboard Air Line bridge (middle track in the triple crossing) has collapsed with a fully loaded Virginia Power Coal Train on it. This is just one of many photos in this album so here's the link for the rest: http://csxt163.rrpicturearchives.net/archiveThumbs.aspx... |
Vintage Postcard with Flickr comments
Joe Garnett looking down the Southern tracks
A video of the trains pulling into position and doing a lot of honking
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