Back in 1975, former Grand Trunk Western steam locomotive No. 4070 made its maiden trip over the Valley Line of the Baltimore & Ohio, leaving from the Cleveland Zoo with passengers and bound for Hale Farm and Village.
It was not a promising inauguration of the Cuyahoga Valley Line. The train left hours late and had a mechanical breakdown at Bath Road, the “station” for Hale Farm. The excursion limped home to Cleveland, arriving after midnight.
But from those roots grew the CVL, which eventually evolved into the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad. The 4070 was a mainstay on the CVL through 1990.
The cover story of the June 2016 issue of the Akron Railroad Club eBulletin is a look back at the life and times of the 4070 on the CVL. Many current ARRC members remember that era, with some having been car hosts or engine crew members. Others chased the steam train, which operated very weekend from June through October.
If you are not a subscriber to the eBulletin, you can obtain a copy of the June issue or subscribe via email. There is no charge to do either. Send an email message to csanders429@aol.com.
Also in the June eBulletin are stories about the upcoming ARRC longest day outing in Marion, a look back the 2016 member’s night event, and a story about the new book that ARRC member John Beach has just published about the now abandoned Black Mountain Railway in North Carolina.
Tags: Akron Railroad Club, ARRC eBulletin, Cuyahoga Valley Line, Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, Grand Trunk Western 4070
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