The railroad was used for prisoner transport as well as freight for hauling coal to prison-industry sites and removal of finished products and waste.
Prisoners were transported to and from the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad line at Pohick Creek, and between sites within the Lorton Reformatory grounds, especially between the workhouse and the brickyard and other prison-industry facilities.
The railroad maintained two civilian employees to operate the line — an engineer and a track manager — as well as 19 prison inmate workers.
Sewage was also hauled out of the prison by trains prior to the extension of sewer facilities to Lorton by the Fairfax County Water Authority.
In 1977, the railroad ended service as road transport became cheaper than the costs of maintaining and operating the specialized Lorton and Occoquan line.