Here are two images of CSX eastbound trains made in Clinton on March 6, 2005.
In the top image, Nos. 6421 and 2726 lead a colorful motive power consist that includes former Conrail and Burlington Northern units in their original colors.
That appears to be a railroad signal maintainer watching the train. Note the open door on the control box to the right of the locomotive..
In the bottom image, No. 7719 is leading train entering the single track between that begins at Warwick and runs to Lambert on the Akron-Barberton border.
Those classic Baltimore & Ohio position light signals are now gone, replaced with modern signals.
For many years railfans have no longer been permitted to photograph in the area between the CSX tracks/RJ Corman tracks and the front of Warwick Tower in Clinton.
This post is thus is dedicated to a once great location to photograph trains.
It is the afternoon of March 6, 2005. A CSX westbound train headed by BNSF 5838 is slowly coming around the curve waiting for the westbound signal seen in another image in the sequence.
Also seen are the train and the tower, a different view of the train and the tower, and a closer view of the train.
Finally, we have a roster shot of the BNSF locomotive at the signal and an image of the train leaving. Note that the CSX locomotive has “Rice Yard Hump Unit” lettering on it.
Here are two images of locomotives carrying roster number 7598 taken at different times in Akron. In the top image Baltimore & Ohio SD40 No. 7598 is eastbound on May 5, 1979. In the bottom image CSX C40-8 is westbound on Aug. 2, 2010.
Here are three recent CSX trains. In the top image, ET44H No. 3389 is westbound in Clinton on July 9, 2022. In the middle image, AC44CS No. 533 is heading an eastbound in Clinton on July 14, 2022. In the bottom image, ES44AC-H No. 836 is in passing through Barberton on July 22, 2022.
Here are two similar views taken in Barberton by different cameras and lenses, so the scene is somewhat different.
In the top image, Conrail 3651 is westbound on Chessie System trackage on July 20, 1980. The train is going to Warwick and from there either to Massillon or Orrville and west. This was taken with a 50mm lens, thus giving a wider scene.
In the bottom image BNSF 7810 leads the Q016 eastbound on the CSX New Castle Subdivision on June 2, 2018. This image was taken with a telephoto zoom lens.
Here are some of the differences. In the newer photo CSX has one set of tracks, there is a different relocated bridge, the Akron & Barberton Belt water tower is gone, and an Akron Barberton Cluster switcher is visible.
Here are three early digital images of BNSF SD70MAC No. 9505 in the “Grinstein green” livery leading a westbound train on CSX in Akron on June 20, 2004.
The top image was made north of East Thornton Street at MP 130.4. In the middle the train is approaching me before passing under the East Thornton Street bridge.
In the bottom image the train, having passed under the East Thornton Street bridge, is approaching Voris Street. The bridge in the background carries Interstates 76 and 77.
For the second time in less than two weeks an out of the ordinary locomotive led a westbound train through Akron on the CSX New Castle Subdivision.
On Friday, the 3194, the Spirit of Our Law Enforcement ES44AH unit, led train X331 through Akron at 3:30 p.m. The X symbol denotes an extra section of train M331, which originates in Cumberland, Maryland, and travels to Avon Yard west of Indianapolis. The X331 is shown west of Sterling just after 5 p.m.
On Aug. 17, the trio of CSX FP40H-2 units in their attractive Baltimore & Ohio heritage-like livery led the executive train through Akron around noon on a roundabout journey to Chicago through Michigan.
Here are three images made in Clinton in June 2022. CSX ES44DC No. 5255 is eastbound on June 11 with a load of auto racks. CSX AC44CW No. 330 is eastbound on June 18 with a container train. At this location, only during June and early July is it possible to get a good sunlit photo from the north side of the tracks. Finally, CSX ES44AC-H No. 775 is eastbound with auto racks on June 18, 2022.
On Monday afternoon I got word that a B183 empty coke train (formerly K183) was coming east on CSX. Leading it were two engines still in YN2 paint.
Even better the lead engine was a GE C40-8W, which are extremely rare in Class 1 service. In fact all other Class 1s have retired this class, including CSX. But CSX has pulled some of these units out of the dead lines in the past year.
My first catch was not that train but a Wheeling & Lake Erie train that was about to head west from Akron.
I waited at a crossing west of the yard but when it finally came what had been a brightly lit scene was covered in clouds.
Fortunately, he was merely doubling up the train and not leaving just yet and the sun returned for his backup move. The motive power of two SD40-3s including the 7001 – a 50th anniversary Operation Lifesaver tribute unit – and an ex-FURX unit still in silver and green paint made a nice lash-up.
Next we waited at Howard Street but the clouds and then rain came but not the train.
By now the CSX train was nearing Akron so I went to the Tallmadge Road overpass. It was still raining when the train arrived climbing the grade to Cuyahoga Falls.
Of course, it quit raining and the sun returned a few minutes after the train had gone by. But that’s Ohio weather for you.
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