[2] During the American Civil War, the railroad was a vital link between the Confederate capital of Richmond and the rest of the Confederacy.

[4] Construction on the 144.7-mile (232.9 km) line began on January 31, 1848, under the supervision of Col. Andrew Talcott, who was later to become the Richmond and Danville's general manager.

[5] By 1850, the new railroad had reached Coalfield Station, near the coal mines in an area known today as Midlothian in western Chesterfield County.

In 1862, the Richmond and York River Railroad — acquired after the war by the R&D — played a crucial role in George McClellan's Peninsula Campaign.

That state had blocked construction of a rail connection from Greensboro to Danville, fearing that post-war trade from North Carolina's Piedmont would continue to flow to Richmond via the R&D.

Following successful Union attacks on April 1, 1865, Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee abandoned Petersburg and headed west and south in an attempt to join Gen. Joseph Johnston's army in North Carolina.

On reaching Amelia Court House during the morning of April 4, 1865, Lee searched the commissary stores, finding abundant ordnance but no food.

On the morning of April 9, 1865, Palm Sunday, Lee met Grant in the front parlor of Wilmer McLean's home near Appomattox Court House to surrender.

Repair work began on war-damaged tracks, including the bridge across the James River between Manchester and Richmond.

Over the next 20 years, Buford, Richmonder James H. Dooley, and other leaders extended the railroad's trackage to 3,000 miles through construction and acquisition.

In 1871, the Southern Railway Security Company acquired the 60 percent stake in the railroad held by the state of Virginia.

[11][12] In 1881, the Richmond and West Point Terminal Railway and Warehouse Company was organized to develop and expand the R&D, whose charter limited its control of connecting railroads.

[18] The Southern Railway Company, incorporated in Virginia on the same date, June 18, 1894,[18] controlled over 4,000 miles (6,400 km) of line at its inception.