
It is June 5, 1976, and thus early in the Conrail era in Akron. A crewman is waving from the Lehigh Valley’s Bicentennial caboose as it heads west on ex-Erie Lackawanna trackage.
Photograph by Robert Farkas
It’s a collage of Penn Central locomotives and rolling stock in Motor Yard in Macedonia in suburban Cleveland in early 1973. In the center of the image is PC GP40 No. 3154, which had been built for the railroad in September 1968. Also on hand are a caboose and some boxcars.
Photograph by Robert Farkas
By 1973, the condition of the tracks in Marion used by Erie Lackawanna and Penn Central was rough as can be seen in this image of a westbound EL train. In the consist is a passenger car that probably is being ferried somewhere. No, the EL had not gotten back into the passenger business by running mixed trains. The Lake Cities, the last EL intercity passenger train, had ceased operating in early January 1970.
Photograph by Robert Farkas
The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad will resume offering caboose rides starting Saturday.
The caboose will be attached to the National Park Flyer, which departs Rockside Road station in Independence for a one-and-a-half hour roundtrip excursion.
The Flyer leaves Rockside Road on Saturdays and Sundays at 10 a.m. and noon.
The caboose rides were last offered in early 2019 but were suspended in 2020 and 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Caboose ride tickets at $25 per person. Children under the age of 3 do not need a ticket.
The caboose, which can seat up to 10 peoole, features a functional wood-burning stove and a cupola.
The trips will be offered through May 1. Historically, the caboose has only operated during the winter and spring months.