Double Shot of AC&Y Heritage

Wheeling & Lake Erie GP35-3 No. 107, the Akron, Canton & Youngstown heritage unit, leads a train over the ex-AC&Y bridge in downtown Akron on Oct. 8, 2014. The trestle spans the Ohio & Erie Canal.

Photograph by Robert Farkas

A Caboose on the CVSR

Private owner caboose FLNX 79896 operated for a short while on the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad. It is shown in Akron on March 12, 2016. That is Akron’s Y-bridge above, also known as the All-American Bridge

Photograph by Robert Farkas 

Now Named for Fred

Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad RS18u No. 1822 is shown being towed north in Akron on May 23, 2015. The unit was built for the Canadian Pacific but has been a CVSR mainstay for several years. It was named for Fred Daigneau in November 2021 upon his retirement from the railroad’s mechanical staff after a 17-year career there. Daigneau has since agreed to serve as a volunteer locomotive engineer.

Photograph by Robert Farkas

Steam Saturday: Seems Like Only Yesterday

These two photos are in honor of the just-finished rebuilding of former Reading 4-8-4 No. 2102 and its break-in runs in Pennsylvania this week.

It seems like it was yesterday when the 2102 was doing a break-in run in Akron.

It was a warm summer day in 1968. Somehow the news had gotten out that the 2102, which had been purchased by a group of railfans in Akron who restored it to operating condition, planned to take the T-1 Northern type on a run from Akron to Hudson where it would turn on the Penn Central wye there and return to Akron.

My good friend and fellow railfan Mike Ondecker brought two lawn chairs for us in order to wait for 2102. Diesel-powered train after train appeared.

Finally northbound 2102 came into view. It is seen pulling up to the switch in the top photograph after which it reversed a little ways back.

If you look closely, you can see the switch in front of the steamer appears to be thrown for the other track.

That’s the Erie Lackawanna passenger station platform behind the engine. Those three children watching from the hillside would be about 60 now.

You can also see Mike in the bottom image. He is the closest person sitting down.

Then the 2102 came past us, passed under the concourse of Akron Union Depot, and soon was gone. For a brief few moments Mike and I had traveled back to the age of steam locomotives. Yes, it seems like it was only yesterday.

Article and Photographs by Robert Farkas

Quite a History With This Unit

FURX SD40 No. 3018 is eastbound in Akron on May 20, 2006, on CSX rails. This locomotive has quite a background. Built for Penn Central in December 1970, it would spend time on the Conrail motive power roster. It was property of National Railway equipment and, as seen here, First Union Rail.

Photograph by Robert Farkas

Familiar Akron Scene

In a familiar Akron railroad scene, CSX GP40-2 No. 6066 leads an eastbound in downtown Akron in June 1987. The lead unit was built for the Chesapeake & Ohio in November 1972. Keeping a watchful eye nearby are the tall spires of St. Bernard Catholic Church.

Photograph by Robert Farkas

Photo and Artifact Show Set in Akron Saturday

A railroad photograph and artifacts show will be held in Akron on Saturday at 7 p.m. at Club Quantum, 627 S. Arlington St.

The event is being hosted by Steve McMullen and David Mangold. Attendees are invited to bring digital images and/or video to show. They also are invited to bring railroad artifacts and heritage items to put on display.

Setup for the event will begin at 6 p.m. A potluck dinner is being held with participants encouraged to bring food to share. Non-alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase.

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

EL Monday: Rolling Stock in Akron

The wayback machine has landed us by the Erie Lackawanna passenger station in downtown Akron in the late 1960’s.  Delaware & Hudson special duty flat car No. 16157 looks ready to carry truly heavy loads. In the bottom image, I have no idea why baggage car 578 is not on the Lake Cities unless it was cut off for some mechanical reason.

Photographs by Robert Farkas

Gather Around the Turntable

If locomotives could talk, what would they talk about? The hard pulls they had to make? The engineers who abused them? Their favorite engineers? The places they’ve seen? The close calls at grade crossings?

They would probably discuss all of that and more.

This image was made in late 1968 or early 1969 at the Norfolk & Western engine facility in Akron.

There is still a mix of N&W and Akron, Canton & Youngstown locomotives to be seen, including three Alco switchers, two Fairbanks-Morse road switchers, and an EMD geep.

All too soon the FM’s would go on to other locations and any AC&Y lettered locomotives would be re-lettered or repainted into an N&W identity.

Photograph by Robert Farkas