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Fred and Marshall Bailey were awarded the contract toconstruct 14 and one-half miles of railroad from the Powder Factory to the establishedPennsylvania Railroad junction in White Plains, Md., moving their 30-man crew to Indian Headto begin construction.The railroad opened six months later on Memorial Day, May 29,1919. Despite the opening of therailroad link to White Plains in 1919, the facility remained largely isolated and faced growingconcerns in the coming decade. Low budgets, a restricted demand for powder, the move of theproving ground to Dahlgren, Va., and naval disarmament all plagued Indian Head during the"Roaring 20s."But the community of Indian Head survived despite the challenges nipping at its heels. Whatsurfaced was a tightly knit society with a long-term civilian workforce at its core.
The 15.7 mile Dahlgren Railroad Heritage Trail (DRHT) is a proposed rail trail following the route of the old Dahlgren Branch line, stretching across the community of King George County in Virginia, near the historic town of Fredericksburg. The DRHT plans to be open for non-motorized uses such as cycling, jogging, walking, and skiing.