Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad
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Overview | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Headquarters | 1664 Main Street/Route 303, Peninsula, Summit County, Ohio | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Reporting mark | CVSR | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Locale | Cuyahoga Valley National Park from Independence to Akron OH | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dates of operation | 1975–Present | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Predecessor | Chessie System | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Technical | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Track gauge | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Length | 26 miles (42 km) leased from National Park Service[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Website | https://www.cvsr.org/ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad is a Class III railroad[2] operating diesel-electric and steam-powered[3] excursion trips through Peninsula, Ohio in the Cuyahoga Valley, primarily through the scenic Cuyahoga Valley National Park.[4]
History[]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3f/Brecksville-Northfield_High_Level_Bridge.jpg/220px-Brecksville-Northfield_High_Level_Bridge.jpg)
Based on a track bed and rails originally laid down around 1880, right-of-way ownership transitioned over the years from Valley Railway to Cleveland Terminal & Valley Railroad (CT&V), to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, to the Chessie System. Currently,[when?] the National Park Service own the rails and right-of-way within Cuyahoga Valley National Park. CVSR co-operates with Wheeling and Lake Erie Railway (WLE) on operation of the railroad track south of CUVA to Canton. Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad operates their excursion trains in co-operation with both the NPS & WLE.[5][6]
The history of trains in the Cuyahoga Valley stretches back more than 100 years. In 1880, the Valley Railway began operations, transporting coal to Cleveland, Akron, and Canton from the Tuscarawas River Valley and providing passenger service along the way. After a decade of operation, the Valley Railway became part of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. In the 20th century, competition from automobiles, trucks, and buses caused the decline of both freight and passenger service. Interest in the line was renewed in 1972 as a scenic excursion route and the Cuyahoga Valley Preservation and Scenic Railway Association was born.
Today[]
Originally known as the Cuyahoga Valley Line, the scenic railroad now operates as Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad (CVSR).
From the current CVSR Rockside station, (other railroads') existing tracks follow the West Bank of the Cuyahoga River to along: Valley Belt Road, Bradley Road, Jennings Road, Steelyard Drive, Holmden Avenue, Quigley Road; Crossing over the Cuyahoga River on the railroad draw bridge near Quigley and West 3rd, then follow the east bank of the Cuyahoga River to Canal Road near Commercial Road, ending up along Canal Road between Ontario Avenue and West 2nd Street.
Future[]
Several Ohio and Erie Canal-oriented organizations in Cleveland, Cuyahoga County and Summit County are pushing for extension of CVSR operations farther North along the Canal corridor into Cleveland. Some other organizations have been researching the feasibility of commuter rail operations between Akron-Canton and Cleveland.
One of the big issues to be resolved would be scheduling and controlling access since the tracks through Cleveland and Newburgh Heights are used by freight train traffic, and much of the route above is single track with limited sidings.
Accidents[]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/09/CVSR365-CantonLincoln.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9c/CVSR-NVaughn-Flood.jpg/220px-CVSR-NVaughn-Flood.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fe/CVSR-Bike.jpg)
The CVSR has had a few accidents in recent history including most recently hitting a car at a crossing. A person died in 2004 after being hit by train 1822 during a Polar Express excursion.[7][8]
On June 18, 2009, an automobile collided with a weekday train at an ungated crossing with no warning lights. The driver of the car was not expecting the train as he thought it only ran at weekends.[9]
On July 13, 2012, a southbound CVSR train struck an eastbound car at the Portage St. crossing in northern Stark County. The elderly female driver was killed.
On November 1, 2015 a pedestrian was killed by the train in a collision in Peninsula, OH.[10]
Schedule[]
CVSR's schedule varies with seasonal demands. Currently, CVSR operates on Saturdays in January–February, Saturdays and Sundays in March–April, Fridays-Sundays in May and Tuesdays-Sundays in June through October. In November, the scenic train runs on weekends only due to The Polar Express. One train makes daily round-trips from Independence to Akron, which takes about 3 hours (1½ hours one-way).
Operations[]
CVSR offers a variety of trips throughout the year.
National Park Scenic[]
National Park Scenic excursions allow passengers to ride throughout the entire route as well as get on and off at various stations along the way.[11]
Steam in the Valley[]
Typically each year CVSR hosts visiting steam-powered equipment. Examples of such equipment include Ohio Central No. 1293, Viscose No. 6, and Nickel Plate Road No. 765.[12]
The Polar Express[]
Around mid-November and continuing through mid-December, the CVSR provides special Polar Express themed excursions both during the day as matinees and in the evenings. The excursions are only offered out of Rockside and Akron Northside stations. Children (and even adults) are encouraged to ride in their pajamas. Elves greet passengers at the door and help them find their seats. While underway, the elves read the story of The Polar Express, serve hot chocolate and cookies, play games, and sing Christmas songs. Both trains eventually end up at the "North Pole". On the return trip, each child gets a surprise visit from a very important jolly fellow.
Bike Aboard[]
For $5 a bicyclist may ride the train one way from any one of CVSR's nine stations. The bike is loaded onto a re-purposed baggage car and bikers are seated in a car directly following it. Similar programs are in place for hikers, runners and passengers with kayaks for a slightly different price. The Bike Aboard program is only offered from May through October.[13]
Train to Canton[]
In summer 2003, CVSR began service between Akron and Canton. CVSR provided service between Akron Northside Station and Canton Lincoln Highway Station until 2013.[14] Canton service ended due to lack of ridership and poor track conditions.
Stations[]
Stations |
Address [15][16] |
Elevation[A] | Nearby[B] Points of Interest | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|
Rockside | 7900 Old Rockside Road, Independence, Ohio 44131 | 598 feet (182 m) | GCRTA Routes 51C (Rockside Rd) and 77F (Brecksville Rd) bus connection; Eleven Mile Lock 39; Thornburg Station (food) | ![]() |
Canal Exploration Center | Canal Road & Hillside Road, Valley View, Ohio 44125 | 611 feet (186 m) | Canal Visitor Center, Twelve Mile Lock 38 | ![]() |
Brecksville | 13512 Station Road, Brecksville, Ohio 44141 | 635 feet (194 m) | Station Road Bridge; Pinery Dam & Feeder, and Lock 36; Whiskey Lock 35 | ![]() |
Boston Mill | 7100 Riverview Road, Peninsula, Ohio 44264 | 663 feet (202 m) | Boston Store Visitor Center, Boston Lock 32, Lonesome Lock 31, Wallace Lock 33, Boston Mills Ski Resort, food | ![]() |
Peninsula Depot | 1630 West Mill Street, Peninsula, Ohio 44264 | 693 feet (211 m) | Peninsula Visitor Center, Peninsula Lock 29, Peninsula Feeder Lock 30, Deep Lock 28 and Quarry, food | ![]() |
Indigo Lake | Riverview Road, Peninsula, Ohio 44264 [17] | 739 feet (225 m) | Hunt Farm Visitor Center, Beaver Marsh, Pancake Lock 26, Johnny Cake Lock 27 | ![]() |
Howe Meadow stop[18] | 4040 Riverview Road, Peninsula, Ohio 44264 | 741 feet (226 m) | Hunt Farm Visitor Center, Everett Road Covered Bridge | |
Botzum | 2912 Riverview Road, Akron, Ohio 44313 | 754 feet (230 m) | Niles Lock 24, Mudcatcher Lock 25 (Station located in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio) | ![]() |
Big Bend | 1337 Merriman Road, Akron, Ohio 44313 | 782 feet (238 m) | ![]() | |
Akron Northside | 27 Ridge Street, Akron, Ohio 44308 | 885 feet (270 m) | Mustill Store, Quaker Square, National Inventors Hall of Fame a.k.a. Inventure Place | ![]() |
Canton Lincoln Highway | 1315 Tuscarawas Street West, Canton, Ohio 44702 | 1,029 feet (314 m) | McKinley Memorial Mausoleum, Canton Museum of Art, First Ladies National Historic Site |
Equipment[]
Locomotives[]
Manufacturer |
Model |
Description |
Road Numbers |
Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
ALCO American Locomotive Company | Alco C420 | Road/Switcher | 365 | |
Budd Company | RDC-1 | Rail Diesel Car | M-3, 9801, 9802 | M-3 is in Service for Special Events and 9801 and 9802 are out of Service |
RDC-9 | Rail Diesel Car | 6003 | Currently out of service. | |
MLW Montreal Locomotive Works | MLW C-424 | Road/Switcher | 4241 | |
MLW FPA-4 | Passenger | 800, 6771, 6777 | 800 painted in Baltimore & Ohio colors | |
RS-18 | Road/Switcher | 1822 |
Retired Locomotives[]
Manufacturer |
Model |
Description |
Road Numbers |
Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
MLW Montreal Locomotive Works | MLW FPA-4 | Passenger | 6767 | Used as parts, cab roof cut off in February 2021 for use in restoration of ATSF 59L |
Budd Company | RDC-1 | Passenger | 6146 | Scrapped for Parts. Ex Boston and Maine |
Cars[]
Number |
Name |
Type |
Heritage |
Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | St. Lucie Sound | Observation/bar/sleeping/lounge car | ex-Florida East Coast Railway | Acquired 1995. |
105 | Coach/ADA car | née-Boston and Maine Railroad | Demotorized Budd Rail Diesel Car RDC-3 combine. Acquired 2008 and used for handicapped accessibility. | |
110–112 | Lightweight coaches | ex-Cedar Rapids and Iowa City Railway, exx-New Jersey Transit Rail Operations, exxx-Penn Central Transportation Company, née-Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway | Built 1939 Budd Company. Acquired 1994. | |
161 | Steven W. Wait | Dining car | ex-MARC Train, née-Pennsylvania Railroad | Converted to dining car in early 2019.[20] |
8283 | Sharon Inn | Edu-trainment car | ex-MARC Train, née-Pennsylvania Railroad | Converted to educational car for kids. [21] Re-lettered and re-numbered in 2020.[19] |
163 | Siegfried F. Buerling | Coach | ex-MARC Train, née-Pennsylvania Railroad | |
164 | R.T. Green Family | Coaches | ex-MARC Train, née-Pennsylvania Railroad | |
165 | George Washington Cooper | Coach | ex-MARC Train, née-Pennsylvania Railroad | Renamed in 2018.[22] |
8260 | Greensburg Inn | Coach | ex-MARC Train, née-Pennsylvania Railroad | Preserved in honor of Ruth Renner Percy, re-lettered and re-numbered in 2020.[23] |
167 | Simon Perkins | Coach | ex-MARC Train, née-Pennsylvania Railroad | |
8243 | Astabula Inn | Coach | ex-MARC Train, née-Pennsylvania Railroad | Preserved by the Clarence Reinberger Foundation, re-lettered and re-numbered in 2020.[24] |
169 | Spirit of Summit | Coach | ex-MARC Train, née-Pennsylvania Railroad | |
357 | Head end power car | née-US Army | Acquired 2018. | |
377 | Silver Solarium | Dome/Observation car | née-Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad | Built 1948. Acquired 2018.[25] |
450 | Silver Peak | Baggage car | née-Chicago, Burlington and Quincy | Built 1940 by Budd. |
688 | Head end power car | ex-Amtrak, née-US Army | Rebuilt by Amtrak from a 1951 troop kitchen. | |
727 | Fort Mitchell | Combine car/ADA car | née-Central of Georgia Railway | Acquired 1995. Used for handicapped accessibility. |
1105 | Silver Bronco | Dome car | ex-Rio Grande Zephyr née-Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad | Acquired 2011. |
1129 | Baggage car | née-Northern Pacific | Built 1947. Acquired 2009. Upgraded for Bike Aboard program.[26] | |
2914 | A.A. Augustus | Coach | née-New York Central Railroad | Built 1948 by Budd Company. Converted to dining car in 2018.[20] |
3126 | Cuyahoga Inn | Dining car | ex-Amtrak, née-Pennsylvania Railroad | Acquired 2006. |
3450 | Baggage car | née-Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway | Built 1940s Budd Company. | |
4718 | Silver Lariat | Dome car | née-Burlington Northern Railway | Built 1948 by Budd. Acquired 2018. |
6217 | Coach | née-Seaboard Coast Line Railroad | Built 1947 by Budd Company. Acquired 1996. Renovated as a premium coach in 2019.[27] | |
8449 | Silver Rapids | 10-6 Sleeper car | née-Pennsylvania Railroad | Built 1948 by Budd. Acquired 2018. |
8700 | Cafe car | ex-Amtrak, née-Southern Pacific Transportation Company | Built 1950. Used on the Auto Train. Acquired 2002. | |
8704 | Furnace Run | Cafe car | ex-Amtrak, née-Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad | Acquired 2007. |
79896 | Caboose | ex-Adirondack Scenic Railroad, née-Canadian National | Built 1977. Acquired 2016. |
Management[]
As of 2021 the railroad's management consists of:[28]
- Joe Mazur, President/CEO
- Bobby Dinkins, Vice President of Development and Marketing
- Greg Domzalski, Director of Finance
- Jeremy Schroeder, Director of Operations
- Kelly Koehler, Director of Events
See also[]
- ABC Railway
- ALCO RSD-5
- Heritage railway
- Cleveland railroad history
- List of crossings of the Cuyahoga River
- List of heritage railroads in the United States
- List of Ohio railroads
- List of Ohio train stations
- Ohio and Erie Canal
Notes[]
^ A: Elevation or Altitude approximations obtained through Wiki ToolServer GeoHack link to United States Geological Survey National Elevation Dataset:
Where "-Longitude" is the degrees in decimal with the "W" suffix replaced by a "-" prefix
"Latitude" is the degrees in decimal without the "N" suffix.
^ B: "Nearby" means within a mile walk or so, one-way.
References[]
- ^ "2019 - 2021 Strategic Plan" (PDF). Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad.
- ^ "Roster of Equipment". Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad. Archived from the original on 2008-05-09.[non-primary source needed]
- ^ "Experience a Trip Back in Time Aboard Steam Engine No. 765". Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad. July 11, 2019. Retrieved May 13, 2021.
- ^ "CVSR". Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad.
- ^ "Recreation - CVSR". Cuyahoga Valley National Park, National Park Service, United States Department of the Interior. Archived from the original on 2008-06-21.
- ^ "Partnerships - CVSR". Cuyahoga Valley National Park, National Park Service, United States Department of the Interior.
- ^ "Railroad Safety Statistics 2004 Annual Report" (PDF). Federal Railroad Administration, United States Department of Transportation. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-04-22. Retrieved 2008-07-28.
- ^ "Railroad Safety Statistics 2005 Annual Report" (PDF). Federal Railroad Administration, United States Department of Transportation. Retrieved 2008-07-28.[dead link]
- ^ CR Rae (June 19, 2009). "Train accident in Springfield Township". The Suburbanite. Archived from the original on July 17, 2011. Retrieved January 16, 2011.
- ^ "Pedestrian killed by Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad train". Akron Beacon Journal. Retrieved 2020-04-16.
- ^ "All Aboard the National Park Scenic Excursion". Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad.[non-primary source needed]
- ^ Ewinger, James (September 11, 2010). "Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad picks up some steam with antique locomotive". Cleveland.com.
- ^ "Bring Your Bike Aboard the Train". Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad.[non-primary source needed]
- ^ Rink, Matthew (8 July 2013). "Scenic railway scales back trips to Canton". The Repository.
- ^ "Stations". Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad.
- ^ "Cuyahoga Valley National Park Maps". National Park Service. National Park Service, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved May 13, 2021.
- ^ "Domestic Names - Search". United States Board on Geographic Names, United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
- ^ "Directions". Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad. Archived from the original on 2008-05-14.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d "Our Fleet". Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad.[non-primary source needed]
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Powering Ahead". Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad.
- ^ Segall, Grant (24 October 2019). "Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad opens innovative Edu-Trainment Car". Cleveland.com.
- ^ Webb, Craig (September 28, 2018). "Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad to rename car for Civil War vet". Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad.[non-primary source needed]
- ^ Nickel, Taylor (May 10, 2020). "CVSR Hosts Ceremony for the Renner-Percy Family Car". Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad.[non-primary source needed]
- ^ "Today Car #168 received new lettering and a new number". Facebook. Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad. August 20, 2020.[non-primary source needed]
- ^ Hlavaty, Kaylyn (2018-09-13). "Historic railcars arrive from California as newest addition to the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad". newsnet5. Retrieved 2018-09-22.
- ^ "Transit In Parks Program" (PDF). National Parks Service.
- ^ Webb, Craig (June 13, 2019). "Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad to add a rolling children's museum car and another for corporate board meetings". Akron Beacon Journal.
- ^ "Board & Staff". Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad. Retrieved 7 May 2021.[non-primary source needed]
General references[]
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the National Park Service.
External links[]
![]() |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad. |
- Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad
- Transportation in Cuyahoga County, Ohio
- Transportation in Summit County, Ohio
- Tourist attractions in Cuyahoga County, Ohio
- Tourist attractions in Summit County, Ohio
- Railway companies established in 1972