Steam Saturday: Iron Horses in the Night

On Friday, July 13, 1984, Dan Pluta was on the fire up crew at the West Third Street Baltimore & Ohio roundhouse in Cleveland with ex-Grand Trunk Western No. 4070.

It was being readied for its weekend trips on the Cuyahoga Valley Line. I along with Marty Surdyk and his two brothers ventured down to the roundhouse that night for a night photo shoot that extended way after midnight.

The next day we drove to Logansport, Indiana to capture ex Buffalo Creek & Gauley No. 13 dressed as a Pennsylvania Railroad engine. It was running for that city’s annual Iron Horse Days. This was a regular July event in Logansport in the 1980s and early  1990s.

The locomotive owned locally was dressed as Logansport & Eel River No. 1.

We captured the locomotive simmering prior to the Sunday excursions. This obviously was before the locomotive was purchased by Jerry Jacobson.

This was a typical weekend of rail enthusiasts enjoying nightlife. Then it was back to work on Monday morning.

The first three images were made at the B&O roundhouse in Cleveland while the next three were made in Logansport.

Photographs by Edward Ribinskas

I Had Always Wondered

For over 30 years I have seen The Christmas Story movie many, many times. When seeing the scenes showing the Flats with the steel mills and Baltimore & Ohio yards I always wondered if the roundhouse could be seen.

Ursula and I toured the actual house where the movie was made last Thursday and I got my answer.

Yes. The third photo above is from the back porch where scenes were filmed.

However the best view is next door (fourth photo) from the Bumpus backyard.

If you zoom in on the center of the image the roundhouse can be plainly seen behind the covered hoppers.

When the movie was filmed with the Cleveland scenes in January 1983 former Grand Trunk Western No. 4070 was tucked inside getting its winter maintenance to get ready for the 1983 season on the Cuyahoga Valley Line.

Twenty-seven years later the 4070 is still at that roundhouse.

Article and Photographs by Edward Ribinskas

Rowland to Speak at Reading 2100 Fundraiser

Ross Rowland has been confirmed as the keynote speaker at a fund-raising event to raise money to help pay for the restoration of Reading 4-8-4 T1 No. 2100.

The event will be held on Sept. 21 at the former Baltimore & Ohio roundhouse in Cleveland that is now operated by the Midwest Railway Preservation Society.

Rowland will present a video and photo presentation about his experiences in restoring and operating steam locomotives, including the Golden Spike Centennial Limited in 1969, the American Freedom Train from 1975-76, and the Chessie System Steam Special in 1977 and 1978.

Among the locomotives that he helped operate were Nickel Plate Road 2-8-4 No. 759, Reading 4-8-4 No. 2101 and Chesapeake & Ohio 4-8-4 No. 614.

The restoration of Reading 2100 is being undertaken at the B&O roundhouse by American Steam Railroad.

A catered dinner from Ohio City BBQ. Tickets are $99 per person and can be purchased on the internet at fireup2100.org

Fundraiser to Benefit Reading 2100 Restoration

Reading 2100 sits inside the former Baltimore & Ohio roundhouse in Cleveland on May 10, 2019, as it undergoes restoration to operating condition.

Steam impresario Ross Rowland will headline a fundraising dinner on Sept. 21 in Cleveland to raise money for the restoration of Reading Company T-1 No. 2100.

Rowland will give a presentation at the event about his career in railroad preservation ranging from his work on the American Freedom Train, the Chessie Steam Specials and his involvement in an earlier restoration of the 2100.

The event, which begins at 4:30 p.m., will be held at the former Baltimore & Ohio roundhouse that is now the home of the Midwest Railway Preservation Society.

Aside from a dinner catered by Ohio City BBQ, attendees will be invited to view the MRPS’s collection of equipment and take a short ride on a Pullman car that stared in the movie The Natural. The 2100 will also be on display.

Tickets are $99 per person and seating is limited. Members of the American Steam Railroad, Midwest Railway Preservation Society, and Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society will be offered a discounted ticket price of $89.

For ticket information contact brian.smith@americansteamrailroad.org for the discount link.

All proceeds from the event will help with the restoration of Reading 2100, which is being undertaken by American Steam Railroad.

MRPS Open House, Night Photo Shoot is Saturday

An open house and night photo shoot has been set for Saturday (June 25) at the roundhouse of the Midwest Railway Preservation Society in Cleveland.

The event will last from 8 p.m. until 1 a.m. There is a suggested donation of $20 for adults and $10 for non-photographers with all proceeds going toward restoration of the former Baltimore & Ohio roundhouse.

On display will be various items in the MRPS collection, including vintage Alco, EMD and GE diesel locomotives.

Also on display will be cabooses, freight cars, passenger cars and two steam locomotives.

The roundhouse is located at 2800 W. Third St. in Cleveland.

Visitors are asked to wear weather-appropriate clothing and closed-toe shoes. Children must be under the supervision of an adult. The site is not ADA-accessible.

For more information call 216-781-3629 or visit the group’s website at:

www.midwestrailway.org

Future  open houses at the roundhouse will be on Aug. 27, Sept. 24 and Oct. 15 between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Night Photo Shoot Set at ex-B&O Roundhouse

A night photo shoot is being held tonight at the roundhouse of the Midwest Railway Preservation Society from 8 p.m. until 11 p.m.

Plans are to make up a freight and a passenger consist and use rented construction light trailers. The former Baltimore & Ohio facility will be open so that attendees can view former Grand Trunk Western No. 4070 and Reading 2100.

Photographers are being asked to make a $20 donation to help cover the cost of renting the light trailers. The roundhouse is located at 2800 West Third Street in Cleveland at the at the south end of the Flats and near Steel Yard Commons.