B&O Switcher in Benwood

Baltimore & Ohio SW900 No. 9418 is between assignments in Benwood, West Virginia, on Nov. 25, 1972. The EMD product was built in 1955.

Photograph by Robert Farkas

One Day at the Cleveland Steel Mills

At the time this photo was made, there was a public road that ran in front of this scene. Republic Steel 345, River Terminal 92, and Republic Steel 200 are in Cleveland on Oct. 10, 1983.

Photograph by Robert Farkas

A Conrail RoadRailer Memory

It’s a cloudless afternoon that is perfect for railroad photography. Conrail B36-7 No. 5010 leads a RoadRailer train out of Massillon on July 20, 1996.

Photograph by Robert Farkas

EL Monday: Westbound in Akron

A brace of Erie Lackawanna locomotives lead a westbound train through Akron in April 1973. On the point is U25B No. 2518. Other units in the motive power consist are the 2552, 7092, and 7123. The train is approaching Voris Street and ducking beneath Thornton Street.

Photograph by Robert Farkas

A Difference of 37 Years

I found a photo I took on Sept. 22, 1984, of former Grand Trunk Western No. 4070 on the Cuyahoga Valley Line at the intersection of Portage Path & Merriman Roads in Akron.

I wanted to duplicate that shot with Nickel Plate Road’s 765 during its visit this month to the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad.

On the Sunday morning ferry move to Akron I did that.

In the morning the sun favors the fireman’s side of a southbound train. However, at this location the railroad shifts facing west to east, thus the sun favors the engineer’s side.

The lighting was perfect for the 9:35 a.m. arrival.

Photographs by Edward Ribinskas

Early in the PC Era at Collinwood

You can’t tell from this angle but that is a former Pennsylvania Railroad FP7 sitting at the locomotive service rack at Collinwood Yard in Cleveland in either 1968 or 1969. That would make it a Penn Central locomotive although not but too long.

Photograph by Robert Farkas

Shades of the Illinois Terminal

If this appears to be an Illinois Terminal locomotive, well it is, sort of. This train has a pair of former IT units pulling it in Brewster in April 1982. That’s a long way from the service territory of the IT, but by now the Norfolk & Western has absorbed the one time Illinois Traction System. The two ex-IT units, Nos. 2963 and 2966 are SD39s, and two of six that IT had on its roster at one time.

Photograph by Robert Farkas

When B&O Had That Chessie Look

The wayback machine has taken us back to Massillon on March 22, 1989, for another look at a Baltimore & Ohio geep in the Chessie System livery. It looks a little worn but that is to be expected.

Photograph by Robert Farkas

Passing Beneath the Wheeling in Orrville

Our Conrail wayback machine has taken us to Orrville just in time to witness the passage of an eastbound on the Fort Wayne Line as it passes beneath the Wheeling & Lake Erie bridge. On the point is SD60M No. 5507. The image was made on May 25, 1996.

Photograph by Robert Farkas

EL Monday: One Day in Marion

Erie Lackawanna GP35 No. 2559 is westbound in Marion on Dec. 30, 1972. The unit later became Conrail 3665. The train is crossing the Norfolk & Western line between Columbus and Sandusky. At one time that line was owned by the Pennsylvania Railroad. Despite passenger service having been gone for more than a year, the platforms remain in place for Marion Union Station.

Photograph by Robert Farkas