Ohio Central Railroad System

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Ohio Central Railroad System
Ohio Central Railroad logo.png
Ohio Central 4026.JPG
An Ohio Central train in South Zanesville, Ohio
Overview
HeadquartersCoshocton, Ohio
Reporting markOHCR, OSRR, CUOH, MVRY, OHPA, WTRM, YARR, YB, POHC, AOR
LocaleOhio, Pennsylvania
Dates of operation1988–present
Technical
Track gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge

The Ohio Central Railroad System is a network of ten short line railroads operating in Ohio and western Pennsylvania. It is owned by Genesee & Wyoming Inc.

Headquartered in Coshocton, Ohio, the system operates 500 miles (800 km) of track divided among 10 subsidiary railroads. Most of the system's routes were divested from Class I railroads and connect industries to the Class I railroads.

The Ohio Central operates on track owned by other entities, including a line from Newark, Ohio to Mount Vernon, Ohio owned by CSX Transportation[1] and the old Panhandle Route, owned by the State of Ohio.[2]

Railroads in the system[]

Ohio Central's rail system comprises[3]

Steam operations[]

As well as being a regular revenue railroad, the Ohio Central had its own steam department that operated steam locomotives for tourist trains, excursions and special events. When owner Jerry Joe Jacobson sold OHCR in 2008, he maintained ownership of the antique equipment, including the collection of steam locomotives. He built the Age of Steam Roundhouse in Sugarcreek, Ohio to house that equipment. The collection includes the following:

Operational:

Awaiting restoration:

  • Nickel Plate Road 763
  • Canadian Pacific Railway No. 1278
  • Canadian National 96
  • Wheeling and Lake Erie Railway 3960
  • Reading 1187

Former engines:

Jacobson died in 2017.

Acquisition by Genesee and Wyoming[]

On August 5, 2008, Genesee and Wyoming Inc announced an agreement to purchase the Ohio Central System for $219 million.[6][7] Approval was granted by the Surface Transportation Board on December 30, 2008.[8]

Notes[]

  1. ^ Formerly the Pittsburgh Industrial Railroad, a 42-mile (68 km) line from Arden to Neville Island, Pennsylvania. The Ohio Central purchased this line from RailAmerica, in December 2000 for $7.7 million. In 2005, the State of Pennsylvania awarded $2.1 million to repair flood damage along this line.

References[]

  1. ^ Mount Vernon News. September 20, 2006 http://www.mountvernonnews.com/local/06/09/20/railroad.html. Missing or empty |title= (help)[dead link]
  2. ^ "Ohio Central RR hopes to lease Panhandle line". Coshocton Tribune. October 2007.[dead link]
  3. ^ "Ohio Central". Archived from the original on October 25, 2007.
  4. ^ Reading T-1 No. 2100--60 MPH pacing on the Ohio Central, archived from the original on December 12, 2021, retrieved October 24, 2021
  5. ^ "Life & Times: Railway Hall of Fame inductee and 'father of short-line railways' Tom Payne passes away". edmontonjournal. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
  6. ^ Genesee & Wyoming, Inc. (August 4, 2008). "Genesee & Wyoming Inc. Signs Agreement to Acquire Ohio Central Railroad System" (Press release). Archived from the original on January 27, 2016.
  7. ^ "Connecticut company buys Ohio Central Railroad". Business First of Columbus. August 4, 2008. Retrieved January 9, 2010.
  8. ^ "GENESEE & WYOMING INC.—CONTROL EXEMPTION—ALIQUIPPA & OHIO RIVER RAILROAD CO.,THE COLUMBUS AND OHIO RIVER RAIL ROAD COMPANY, THE MAHONING VALLEY RAILWAY COMAPANY, OHIO AND PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD COMPANY, OHIO CENTRAL RAILROAD, INC., THE PITTSBURGH & OHIO CENTRAL RAILROAD COMPANY, OHIO SOUTHERN RAILROAD, INC., YOUNGSTOWN & AUSTINTOWN RAILROAD, INC., THE YOUNGSTOWN BELT RAILROAD COMPANY, AND THE WARREN & TRUMBULL RAILROAD COMPANY". United States Surface Transportation Board. December 30, 2008. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016.
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