Nostalgia & History > RF&P football special 1980'a

Back in the 80's RFP ran a passenger special from Richmond VA to Washington DC transporting 
passengers to Washington Redskins football game,   Here's RFP127 leading special northbound 
approaching Alexandria VA passenger station.,  After the game, the special would deliver passengers
back to Richmond.  

Does anyone remember if passengers were dropped off at Alexandria or taken to Union Station?

photo by me

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Passengers were dropped at Alexandria Union Station, then took a van to RFK. The train proceeded to Potomac Yard and waited for the game to end.

Nice photo.

Really cool photograph! I have two questions: Who won the game? And was it a rolling party train both to and from the game? Inquiring rascal minds wanna know… 😛

Posted from iPhone

First-class rare photo.
Bob

Great shot.  These trains were a regular sight when the Washington Redskins played home games at RFK Stadium.  The RF&P had season tickets at RFK, and the passengers were RF&P officials and customers.  As already noted, the trains operated only as far as Alexandria VA, with the attendees using vans between the Alexandria station and the stadium.  That way, RF&P had full control and avoided the fees and the congestion of using Washington Union Station.  I once saw the passengers making the transfer at Alexandria, passengers were well dressed and groomed.  The RF&P was a straight-laced outfit, so I would guess that would also apply to the football trains.  I'm not sure when this operation ended, but it lasted at least into 1985. 

As to who won the game, the original post does not have a date, but if in the early to mid 80's, Washington was the likely winner.  The Washington Redskins had winning records from 1982 to 1987, including Super Bowl wins in 1982 and 1987.  

Steve Salamon
Valley City, OH   



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 03/20/25 06:54 by cr7998.

santafe199 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Really cool photograph! I have two questions: Who
> won the game? And was it a rolling party train
> both to and from the game? Inquiring rascal minds
> wanna know… 😛
>
> Posted from iPhone

This was not a quite a rolling party train (it may have been, but the times I witnessed the train at Alexandria Union Station everybody appeared sober), but a Director's Special. The RF&P owned a block of tickets at RFK Stadium. The passengers were normally RF&P executives, plus several regular employees selected as part of a reward for service initiative.

Splendid! I don't think I have ever came across a photo of a dirty RF&P geep. Officer train or not.