Kings Dominion, Virginia 1975 – Old Dominion Railroad

This authentic 1970s color photograph, captured in 1975, documents the Old Dominion Line (ODL) railroad at Kings Dominion in Doswell, Virginia, during the park’s inaugural season. The archival image features loco #552 one of two full-size, narrow-gauge steam locomotives built by Crown Metal Products specifically for the park’s opening. The locomotive, painted in a striking blue and black livery with brass accents, is pictured pulling a string of open-air wooden passenger coaches through the wooded “Old Virginia” section of the park.  During this era, the train ride often featured live entertainment, including themed skits and “shootouts” performed by actors along the tracks. While Kings Dominion is still standing and remains a major regional theme park, the Old Dominion Line is no longer standing; it closed in 1994 and the tracks were removed to make way for new attractions like the Xtreme Skyflyer. This locomotive was later sold to Dry Gulch USA, a christian summer camp in Oklahoma. This factual record preserves the nostalgic, old-world charm of the park’s original transportation attraction. All our images are available as royalty-free instant downloads for use in books, media, and creative projects – or make your own prints for home, work, or as a truly unique gift.