Steam Saturday: The Akron Coaling Tower

The Cuyahoga Valley Line never replenished 2-8-2 steam locomotive No. 4070 with coal from the former Baltimore & Ohio coaling tower in Akron. The facility had been out of service for well over a decade by the time the CVL began operations in summer 1975. In the photograph above, the 4070 is passing the coaling tower in September 1978. The light Mikado was turned here in preparation of its return trip to Cleveland. Of course at one time B&O steam locomotives pulling trains on the Valley Line between Cleveland and Akron did sit in this location to get a new load of coal.

Photograph by Robert Farkas

Tags: 2-8-2 steam locomotives, Akron, B&O Akron coaling tower, Baltimore & Ohio, Coaling towers, Cuyahoga Valley Line, Cuyahoga Valley Line 4070, Robert Farkas photography, steam locomotives