It was built off the Pope's Creek Subdivision from a junction at White Plains, Maryland to aid in the production of smokeless powder (a propellant used in firearms and artillery).

[10] In 2005 the Navy declared the line west of Mattingly Avenue in Indian Head and several rail cars left behind by the tourist railroad excess.

The 13.4 mile long, 160 acre corridor and the rail cars then became the property of the Department of the Interior and in 2006 it was donated to Charles County as part of the Federal Lands-to-Parks program.

[11][12][2] The trail project was briefly held up when, in 2007, Alcoa considered building a 950-megawatt coal-fired plant on the Navy base and using the rail line to deliver coal to it.

[23] The 13.1-mile paved rail trail travels halfway across Charles County from the town of Indian Head on the Potomac River, just outside the gates of the Naval Surface Warfare Center, to the inland community of White Plains.