This abandoned railway line was originally built in the 1870s, under predecessor companies that became part of the Pennsylvania RR. The junction with the national rail network was at Bowie, MD, between Washington, DC and Baltimore.

This segment was abandoned in the 1960s after a new extension and end point was constructed south from Lothair (Faulkner) to serve a power plant near Morgantown, a few miles south of Popes Creek. Both Popes Creek and Morgantown are on the eastern bank of the Potomac River.

The Morgantown power plant is still served by CSX, and can be seen adjacent to US 301 near the Potomac River bridge.