Purcellville Train Station

From the mid-1870s to after World War II, Purcellville was a key railroad transportation hub in western Loudoun County. The Purcellville Train Station, which was built in 1904, represents the critical role railroads played in the development of Purcellville and the county. It has been restored and features public restrooms and rooms available for small meetings and gatherings. It is located next to the Washington and Old Dominion Trail.

Even before railroads arrived in Purcellville, the town was an important stop on the Leesburg Turnpike (now Highway 7), which ran from Washington D.C. to the Shenandoah Valley and traversed what was then a productive agricultural region. In 1874, the Washington and Ohio railroad built a line to Purcellville and separate freight and passenger depots. It was reported that a fire in 1882 destroyed both buildings, which indicates that the present depot was the third one built on the property. In 1894, the Washington and Ohio was acquired by the Southern Railway, which was established that year and had become one of the largest railroad companies in the country. In the coming years, passenger service increased considerably, especially after the rail line was extended to the towns of Round Hill and Bluemont in 1900.

The Southern Railway built the Purcellville depot in 1904 and this time combined freight and passenger operations in one building. Passenger rooms were segregated; the "whites only" room was bigger than the "colored" room and each had separate entrances. Agricultural products constituted the majority of the freight traffic stored and shipped from the freight room, which was large at 18 by 50 feet.

The economic activity brought on by the railroad increased Purcellville's importance and enabled the town to incorporate in 1908. Data from the period reflect this growth. In 1900, Loudoun County was the third-most cultivated area in the state, had the most dairy cows and produced the most milk. County farmers supplied the demand for agricultural products from Washington and nearby cities. In addition to shipping products, the railroad allowed passengers to easily travel as well.

In 1912, the Washington and Old Dominion Railway was established and took over operations of the depot. It ended passenger service in 1941 but restarted that in 1943 as a result of increased demand during World War II. Passenger service finally ended in 1951, coinciding with the emergence of personal automobiles. Limited freight service continued until 1968. The railroad tracks were removed between 1969 to 1972. In the late 1990s, an organization called the Purcellville Preservation Association restored the depot. The town of Purcellville acquired it in 2004. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2010.

Kalbian, Maral S. "Purcellville Train Station." National Park Service - National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form. May 28, 2010. https://catalog.archives.gov/id/41681667.

"Purcellville Train Station." Visit Loudoun. Accessed May 26, 2023. https://www.visitloudoun.org/listing/purcellville-train-station/1499.