Hello!
I am travelling to Akron this weekend for Steam in the Valley at Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Ry. I am excited because this will be my first encounter with a live steam engine (besides Dollywood), and I'm excited it's NKP 765.
My questions are, can you easily describe some good locations to photograph the run, and are there any other railroad attractions or railfanning locations around Akron or Clevland (or southern Ohio) I am very unfamilar with the territory.
Thank You for your help
Hi,
This weekend the 765 will be running north from the N. Akron Station, which means the locomotive will be trailing on the northbound leg of the excursions. If you are not familiar with the Cuyahoga Valley NP the first thing I suggest is go to one of the visitor centers (one north of Akron Station at Smith Rd) and get the map brochure of the park. There are several area's for photographing the train as it makes it way through the park.
Riverview Road runs parallel to the tracks and you will note on the map several stations, picnic area's, etc where you can view the train. They do photo run-by's at the Boston Mills area which is north of Penninsula, again accessable off Riverview Road. Plenty of parking at Boston Mills, which is a chore in some area's. In Penninsula you may luck out and get the 765 along side an ALCo PA used on the other regularly scheduled excursion train, they meet by the passing track. The Deep Rock Quarry is another area with ample parking but a small hike to get trackside. Indigo Lake, parking somewhat limited can provide a nice reflection of the train in the water as it passes by. Assuming the sun is out and that will be an issue this weekend.
A map and Riverview Road will be your best guide, its easy to locate and plenty of signs along the way informing you of where you are at. And trails to hike that get you trackside. Just be careful to obey speed limits as the park ranges and local law enforcement are aware of some crazed out railfans trying to do the impossible.
Hope you have a great time, the locomotive puts on a great show.
Hi Again,
This time I will respond to your second request, railfan locations in and around Cleveland. One well known hot spot is Berea, located south of Cleveland. Here CSX and NS mainlines are parallel to each other and approximately 70+ trains daily. The railfan spot is located on Depot Street of SR237 (Front St.) and lots of parking. Berea tower is still there as is a restaurant in a restored passenger station.
Farther west is another NS hotspot, Bellevue which is located on SR 18. Lots of NS action and the Wheeling & Lake Erie makes some moves there as well.
Other area's you may consider is Alliance, the NS Cleveland line and former PRR Ft. Wayne Line meet there then east to Conway PA, so good action. Downtown Kent as some nice area's for CSX as does downtown Akron by the former Amtrak depot. Further south just north of Columbus is Marion, NS and CSX diamonda action.
Ohio has plenty of railfan locations to enjoy.
Thank you so much for your info, it will be very helpful. I am planning on being there a day early. Will 765 be on the grounds already, or traveling in? I noticed she ran last there weekend.
The train is usually stored at Fitzwater Yard and taken in early in the morning of the excursion days. Fitzwater is north of the Brecksville Station and is unaccessable to visitors. Good luck.
Thanks for all the info, the trip went well. I rode the Saturday excursion, which only went from the North Akron(?) station to Boston Mills where we were treated to two runbys, and back to Akron. It was cold and rainy, but was a memorable trip. We stuck around to photograph the Sunday trips which ran from Brecksville, had two Boston Mills runbys, and continued on just shy of the North Akron(?) station. This was my first experience with the 765, but I hope it's not the last!
CSX6421 Thanks for all the info, the trip went well. Great!!!
Thanks for all the info, the trip went well.
Great!!!
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