Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad

[FFDmh2223]

Well I just road the CVSR the saturday after thanksgiving. It was the second time I have riden the line. The last time was when I was 8 years old. It had a steam engine then (very cool). I went from rockside to Quaker Square. I'm 26 now and my 2 year old son loved it as much as I did. This truely is an amazing line. Extending the line to the Terminal Tower would be awesome. That would restore a part of Clevelands history that has been lost. It would seriously open up some possibilities for commuter travel between Cleveland and Akron and everything in between. It would also serve to provide additional customers to tower city and surrounding businesses. I for one would take the train to tower city to shop for Christmas. If offered you could also take it to baseball/basketball games (the tracks to the Terminal tower run within walking distance of Jacobs Field and Gunned Arena). You could even ride the train to see the lighting of the tree at public square or take your kid to see santa clause. That would be very cool. You should have seen the traffic at the tree lighting this year I would have paid to ride the train to avoid it. I hope it happens soon. I wish there were something I could do other than continue to be a valued customer of the railroad.

Darin H Myrtle Beach SC

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the welcome! On Sat. & Sun. we run (2) round trips between Akron and Canton. On Saturday I believe we also run (1) trip Independence - Akron and back and (2) trips between Independence - Pensinsula. On Sunday I believe we run (3) trips to Akron & (3) trips to Peninsula. If you visit www.cvsr.com, they outline all the trips and departure times available.

[spankybird]

Welcome to the forum csvr_brakeman


The last time I took a ride on this train was in 97. It’s time to do it again.


tom

[GregM]

csvr_brakeman,

Welcome to this forum.

I think everyone appreciates it when someone is able to give factual information regarding a topic under discussion. So, in the future, if you know something or just want to make a comment please do.

Question, we hear the train more than once each weekend, how many trips are scheduled each day?

[Anonymous]

Hi, I'm new to this so sorry if I'm not following proper etiquite, however I thought I could shed some light on CVSR operations concerning "turning" of trains. I volunteer as a Brakeman for the CVSR and we always have one engine on each end of the consist so we don't have to "turn" them on a wye or run in reverse. We simply "change ends" so the trailing loco that you see becomes the lead loco, and we simply perform a brake test to ensure everything works from the new lead end.

[Anonymous]

Each time I've ridden the line, they've used an RS-3 on the tail.

Here is the link to their roster: http://www.cvsr.com/roster.shtml

[ChiefEagles]

Colorful [:D]

[GregM]

Didn't say that very well. On other end of train was another engine, just not an FA. I should look at the pictures and then I could tell what it was. Pretty busy trying to get photos and didn't really see what the trailing engine was. I don't know if they can turn the train in Canton or not, but I doubt it. I hear the train frequently, just first time I decided to go see if I could get a look at it.

[spankybird]

Hi Greg,

When they run the train from Cleveland to Akron, they turn the engine around at both Cleveland and Akron. They must do the same thing in Caton. They alwas have a both at the Div. 3 and Div. 5 train shows. I will have to ask them.

tom

[GregM]

Saw the train in North Canton on Sunday (6/20). Took a few pictures as it passed by the Mount Pleasant Road crossing. Interesting that on one end was an FA but not on the other. Haven't looked at the pictures yet.

A lot of the road crossings had been paved over in the last few years. Was interesting to see the work that had to be done to reopen this line from Mogadore to North Canton.

[Anonymous]

Tom,

Regarding the Grand River line, I didn't see the news on it. I posted two articles about it on the OGR "Prototype" forum; it appears that a group wants to get funding from the area business and that the Ohio Central is interested in handling the freight operations. The more well-heeled citizens are opposed, of course - the tracks run right past their riverfront condos.

In the late 50's I spent many afternoons watching the industrial goings-on from Rutherford's Landing with my Dad. B&O had an enormous traveling gantry on the east bank to load limestone into hoppers. There was a big grain elevator on the west bank that blew out walls often enoigh that it was finally torn down. Morton Salt was a big customer, their covered hoppers lined the northernmost stretch of Heisley Road.

Below is a link to some information on the branch when it was still in service, with a photo or two.
http://www.titchenal.com/trails/fairport/

[spankybird]

FYI, for those who do not know what this is, here is a pic of this great train.

[spankybird]

I did not know that. It sounds like great news!!![tup][:D][:D]

[Buckeye Riveter]

Do you gentlemen know that Akron Metro has been quietly improving the crossings and bridge structures on this line in preparation for commuter rail traffic from Canton to Cleveland?

[spankybird]

Hi Rick,

I have been a big supporter of the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic RR. The first time I was on it, it still had steam. I hope they can do it. I do believe it would be great for Cleveland.

BTW, do you know anything about the person in Mentor who has the rights to the tracks in Grand River? I saw a clip on the news the other night about it..

Thanks for sharing this with us.

tom

[Anonymous]

It will take a lot of discussions to make this happen (especially since CSX owns most of the trackage needed to extend the line), but here's hoping:

Scenic rail pushing for Terminal station
Valley line seeks downtown extension
Wednesday, June 16, 2004
Tom Breckenridge
Plain Dealer Reporter

The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad is yelling "All Aboard!" for its eight-mile push into downtown Cleveland.

The nonprofit railroad will mail 300 letters to the valley's movers and shakers, asking them to join an effort to extend passenger service eight miles north from the railroad's Rockside Road terminal to the base of Terminal Tower.
The scenic railroad, in partnership with Cuyahoga Valley National Park and others, has already established a 51-mile line from Independence through Akron to Canton. There are nine stops along the way.

By linking to Cleveland, the scenic railroad expects to double its annual ridership of 100,000 and burnish its standing as a regional attraction.

Estimated costs start at $8 million, and the work could take four to six years , officials said. But they eagerly anticipate the payoff in tourism and economic spinoff.

"It would bring national park visitors, and their discretionary spending, downtown," said Cleveland Planning Director Chris Ronayne. "It should have the inherent opportunity to raise real estate values in the Cuyahoga River valley corridor, and it's another opportunity to make Cleveland cool, too."

Park Superintendent John Debo loves the idea of Clevelanders hopping the train to pour into his park.

"There's access benefits to the national park and tourism benefits to Cleveland, Akron and Canton," Debo said.

But first, there are some big hurdles. The railroad will need to acquire track rights from CSX Corp. The company does not have any scenic railroads on its lines, said spokeswoman Meg Sheu.

Passenger-rail services that use CSX lines, such as Amtrak, must post $500 million insurance policies, she said.

That's too expensive for the Cuyahoga Valley railroad, but officials believe a solution is possible.

Doug Cooper, president of the Cuyahoga Valley railroad, noted that Metro RTA, the public-transit agency for the Akron area, bought the freight rights on a CSX line to get the scenic railroad from Akron to Canton.

It's not clear where money for the eight-mile extension will come from. The scenic railroad runs its trains 220 days a year on a $2.5 million budget raised through fares, concessions, grants and other income. The National Park Service owns and maintains the tracks.

Debo believes money could be available through the Federal Highway Administration, as well as other state and federal sources.

"We'll look for some measure of business support and foundation support," Debo said. "Our view is this may take a creative solution. . . . I just believe it's manifest destiny. The community will insist that it happen."

© 2004 The Plain Dealer.




[b]Whaddya think, Tom?[/b]