Trolleys History of surface transit in Northern Virginia

northern virginia did not have street railways until 1892, when washington, alexandria , mount vernon electric railway (wa&mv) opened electric trolley line between alexandria , mount vernon. merged washington, arlington , falls church railway (wa&fc) in 1913 form washington-virginia railway. company entered bankruptcy in 1924, , in 1927 2 former systems split. wa&mv bought owner of alexandria, barcroft , washington rapid transit company, competing line of buses, , last ran in 1932; wa&fc reorganized arlington , fairfax railway , operated until 1939. third system, washington , old dominion railway (w&od), began in 1850s alexandria, loudoun , hampshire railroad, steam railroad. leased newly formed w&od, in 1912 connected line electrified great falls , old dominion railroad. electric trolleys last ran in 1941, company continued operate freight trains (and passenger trains until 1951) until 1968.