ARRC is Going to Vermilion on Sept. 12

Akron Railroad Club member  Todd Vander Sluis has again invited the ARRC to spend some quality railfanning time in his home town of Vermilion on Saturday, Sept. 12.

Todd has hosted an event for the past couple of years and we’ve enjoyed it, so we’re going back.

Vermilion is located on the busy Chicago Line of Norfolk Southern at milepost 222, making it 28 rail miles west of Berea.

The Chicago Line sees a steady diet of intermodal, merchandise and bulk commodity trains

Recent track work and general congestion on the Chicago Line has lead NS to move some trains back to the former Nickel Plate Road tracks through Vermillion.

This may mean some photo opportunities that previously have not been available for several years, providing you get enough advance notice of a train on that line.

The main railfan hangout in Vermilion is the railfan platform, located adjacent to Victory Park, just to the south of the downtown area. The park is bordered on the west by Ohio Route 60, so finding it is a breeze.

Downtown Vermilion features restaurants and shops for those who like more than trains.

If there is a drawback to Vermilion, it is the fact that the two main crossings in town are quiet zones. No horns are blaring as trains blast through town.

But on the bright side, morning light shooting trains crossing the bridge over the Chicago Line bridge over the Vermilion River is very good. The vantage point is a public boat launch south of the railroad bridge over the river.

If you wish to spend the day watching trains at the railfan platform, go ahead and do so. The photographers in the group may be off shooting in other areas before returning to the platform for a break.

As with all of our other activities, the day begins when the first person arrives and ends when the last person leaves.

At the end of our Vermilion Day, we’ll have dinner at the Quaker Steak and Lube restaurant in town.

Tags: Akron Railroad Club, Akron Railroad Club activities, ARRC activities, Norfolk Southern, Railfanning in Vermilion Ohio, Vermilion Ohio