A few former Conrail locomotives might make an appearance during the Akron Railroad Club picnic at Olmsted Falls on July 26. Shown is an eastbound Norfolk Southern train behind an ex-Conrail unit on May 17, 2009, passing through "the Falls." (Photograph by Craig Sanders)
As the calendar begins to roll over toward late July that means its time for the annual Akron Railroad Club picnic. This year’s event will be held on July 26 in Olmsted Falls at the former New York Central depot, which is now the home of the Cuyahoga Valley & West Shore Model Railroad Club.
The depot also happens to be next to Norfolk Southern’s busy Chicago line so while club members and their guests are munching on hamburgers, hot dogs, chips and who knows what else they can watch trains go by.
In fact, ARRC Bulletin editor Marty Surdyk has boasted that the club will easily break the record for most trains seen during an ARRC picnic. The record is 21, set a few years ago at Warwick Park in Clinton, which is next to CSX’s Chicago-Pittsburgh mainline (former Baltimore & Ohio).
Marty is so sure that we’ll see more than 21 trains on July 26 that he’s even offered to put up a prize if the record is not broken. He hasn’t said what the prize will be, let alone whether it will be worth having.
Actually, there is a good chance that during the day that more than 21 trains will pass by despite this being a time of decreased traffic due to the economic downturn.
As always the club will furnish the burgers, the dogs, buns, some cold drinks (think H2O), condiments and paper plates and napkins. Members should bring chips, desert items, picnic-type salads, and beverages.
Come early and stay late, but Chef Marte will fire up the grill just before noon and serve throughout the day.
The depot is located on Garfield Avenue between Brookside Drive and Mapleway Drive. This is a few blocks west of Columbia Road. There is ample parking next to the depot.
For information about railfanning at Olmsted Falls, see the “Olmsted Falls” page elsewhere on this blog. Look under “Ohio Raifan Hotspots”
Tags: Akron Railroad Club, Norfolk Southern, Marty Surdyk, New York Central, Olmsted Falls, Cuyahoga Valley & West Shore Model Railroad Club
