Norfolk Southern Six Mile Bridge No. 58
Also known as: VDHR File No. 15-352
Why it's listed
Six Mile Bridge carries a former railroad line over the James River about six miles east of Lynchburg, linking Amherst and Campbell counties. Begun in 1853 for the South Side Railroad, it opened in 1854 with wooden trusses on tall stone piers. Confederate forces burned it in 1865, and it was rebuilt in wood, then raised and fitted with wrought-iron Fink trusses after a flood in 1870. Steel Pratt trusses replaced those in 1899, with a third truss per span added in 1920. Concrete footings followed in 1934, and the east span was lengthened in the late 1950s to make room for a road. The bridge now measures about 680 feet with seven spans. It served freight and passenger trains until the line was abandoned in 1972. Its stone piers, original to 1854, have survived major floods, including the one in 1985. The bridge is recognized for its place in Virginia rail history and its record of changing bridge technology.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the bridge is significant under Criterion A for its role in Virginia transportation history. It carried freight and passenger traffic on the Petersburg-Lynchburg line from 1854 until abandonment in 1972, and it was strategically important during the Civil War. Its successive rebuilds, from wood to Fink iron trusses to steel Pratt trusses, illustrate the evolution of railroad bridge design.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 95001175, listed October 12, 1995. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Over James R. W of jct. of VA 726 and Norfolk & Western RR tracks, Lynchburg |
|---|---|
| County | Amherst County |
| Listed | October 12, 1995 |
| Reference number | 95001175 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1854-1945 |
| Architect / builder | unknown |
| Architectural style | Other: Pratt Truss |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Transportation |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Not in use; rails were removed after abandonment in 1972 and the wooden deck has deteriorated, though the superstructure is in good structural condition and the stone piers are undamaged. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 37.39317, -79.06136 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 95001175.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14712968
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.