A motive power consist of all first generation diesel motive power passes a boarding platform of Akron Union Depot and the Erie passenger station in mid 1968. The lead is Baltimore & Ohio GP9 No. 6467 would work for a number of other railroads in later years and be converted to a GP10.
Photograph by Robert Farkas
The wayback machine is set for Aug. 18, 1968, in Akron at Union Depot.
In the top image, Baltimore & Ohio E9A No. 1455 has cut off from the westbound Diplomat in order to, most likely, add or remove a mail car.
Across the tracks the Erie Lackawanna’s westbound Lake Cities is sitting at its station.
In the middle image the Lake Cities can be seen pulling away from its station platform. It was not unusual for both passenger trains to be in Akron at the same time.
In the bottom image notice the family standing and watching trains on the EL platform.
Can you imagine joining this family and watching trains? I said “watching” because that is the dark side for morning photography.
Yet if you look carefully, the man appears to have a camera around his neck.
If you decide to use your own wayback machine and join me for taking pictures on this day, tell me seeing my photos 53 ahead in the future inspired you to join me to photograph Akron. I’ll believe you.
Article and Photographs by Robert Farkas
In the top image CSX AC44CW No. 7004 leads a westbound in Akron on June 16, 2021, near Voris Street. In the bottom image Baltimore & Ohio GP30 No. 6913 leads a westbound passing an eastbound Erie Lackawanna train at nearly the same location on Jan. 14, 1973. What a difference a few years makes.
Photographs by Robert Farkas
There is much to linger over and savor in this image made in Akron in September 1972. In fact much, but all, of what you see isn’t around anymore.
Baltimore & Ohio GP40 No. 3714 and two other geeps is leading a westbound manifest freight past the former Erie Lackawanna passenger station.
That depot was opened by the Erie Railroad in 1947. It was last used in January 1970 when the EL;s Lake Cities was discontinued and has since been razed.
Of course you can no longer see three B&O units in their dress blues as you see here. Look back in the consist and not an auto rack car without coverings all around it.
No railroad would consider shipping vehicle by rail this way today.
Photograph by Robert Farkas
Baltimore & Ohio GP30 No. 6942 leads an eastbound through downtown Akron in the late 1960s. That the Erie Lackawanna passenger station off to the right and the Exchange Street bridge in the background.
Photograph by Robert Farkas
It is the late 1960s and the wayback machine has landed us on the Akron Union Depot passenger platform looking railroad west.
In the far center is Erie Lackawanna’s McCoy Street Yard and on the right is EL’s passenger station. The siding in front of us was often used for mail cars.
The tracks are from left to right: Penn Central siding to switch industries, PC branch from Hudson, Baltimore & Ohio eastbound main, B&O mail car siding, B&O westbound main, and the EL eastbound main.
On the other side of the EL platform are the EL westbound main and a siding reaching a few places including Quaker Oats.
This image provides a rich amount of detail. Take, for example, the B&O mail siding. Notice the steam line coming out of the ground, a throwback to its former role as a set out track for passenger cars.
At one time this track was used for set off or pick up sleepers to and from trains arriving in Akron in the middle of the night.
Passengers could board the car at a decent hour and go to sleep well-ahead of train time, or remain on one that had arrived and been set out in the middle of the night until daylight.
In later years it came to be where mail cars were left for pick-up. There was a similar siding on the other end of the platform for eastbound trains.
At one time these set off sleepers were a common passenger railroading practice.
Photograph by Robert Farkas
A Baltimore & Ohio intermodal train heads eastbound is in Akron in the late 1960s/early 1970s. The silos in the background belong to Quaker Oats, later to become Quaker Square.
Photograph by Robert Farkas
Baltimore & Ohio GP40 No. 4039 leads a train in Akron on June 21, 1977. The unit was built in October 1971, thus making it just over five years into its working life at the time this image was made. In contrast, the trailing unit, GP40 No. 3691, was built in November 1966 and thus had more than a decade of service. Both locomotives would go on to spend time on the CSX motive power roster.
Baltimore & Ohio F7A No. 4590 along with an F7B is shown in Akron in the late 1960s/early 1970s. The location appears to be the mainline above the B&O shops.
It’s an all Chessie System motive power consist aside from an interloper that is still wearing Baltimore & Ohio colors.
To be correct, the lead locomotive, a GP40-2, is a B&O unit that has received the Chessie livery.
The train is eastbound in Akron on May 28, 1978, on former B&O track.
