The line is part of the BB's Richmond & Alleghany Division.

It ends at Charlottesville where it once again crosses the Washington District, and the North Mountain Subdivision continues west.

The majority of the line from Charlottesville to Gordonsville was originally constructed by the Virginia Central Railroad in the 1840s.

[4][5] In 2004, the Buckingham Branch Railroad leased the Charlottesville–Gordonsville portion from CSX and subleased the Gordonsville–Orange piece, still owned by Norfolk Southern.

[6] In 2019, the State of Virginia announced it would purchase the entire 186 miles (299 km) line from CSX that includes the Washington Subdivision, in order to use it for passenger service between Norfolk and Roanoke.