Broad Street Station
Broad Street Station in Richmond was operated by Richmond Fredericksburg & Potomac, and also used by Atlantic Coast Line. At AY Tower, 1 mile northwest of the station, was a wye with the RF&P main line north to Washington, the ACL main line south to Tampa, and the RF&P line serving the station. Many ACL trains operated through between Washington and points south. JR Tower controlled the station, and at the east end of the station was a loop track eliminating the need of trains backing up. Immediately north of the station was Seaboard Jct., where the Seaboard Air Line main line diverged from RF&P, and proceeded southeast to Main Street Station. In 1959, SAL trains began instead serving Broad Street Station, which involved a backup move. Amtrak used Broad Street Station until 1975, when trains between New York and Florida began switching directly at AY Tower between RF&P and ACL. By then, all former SAL trains had been switched to the ACL line south of Richmond.
Main Street Station
Main Street Station in Richmond was located between the paralleling Chesapeake & Ohio on the east side, and Seaboard Air Line on the west side. Many SAL trains operated through between Washington and points south, operating via Richmond Fredericksburg & Potomac north of Seaboard Jct. Seaboard Jct. was located immediately northwest of Broad Street Station, 4 miles northwest of Main Street Station. In 1959, SAL trains began instead serving Broad Street Station. The SAL main line continued south to Miami. C&O extended west from the Hampton Roads area through Charlottesville to Cincinnati and Detroit. C&O also operated a primarily freight alternate route west through Lynchburg, rejoining the main line at Clifton Forge. This line diverged from the main line at Rivanna Jct., a short distance south of the station, and its trains presumably required a backup move. Main Street Station went unused from 1972 until 2004, when Amtrak began stopping trains there, except for trains between New York and Florida. Trains stopping there include trains between New York and Newport News. Trains actually began operating over this route in 1976, using a new connecting track constructed north of Main Street Station, between the C&O and SAL lines.
Hull Street Station
Hull Street Station in Richmond was located on the Southern Railway branch from Richmond to Danville VA, which was on the SR main line from Washington to Atlanta and New Orleans. In earlier years, trains also served Main Street Station, possibly connecting with Seaboard Air Line at South Yard, 1 mile south of Main Street Station.