Thomas Returns to CVSR this Weekend

Thomas the Tank Engine is returning to the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad this weekend with trips from Boston Mill station on Saturday and Sunday.

Thomas will make a return visit on May 26-28, also departing from Boston Mill station.

The CVSR said that only those who have purchased Thomas tickets or a site ticket will be allowed into the boarding and festival area at Boston Mill. A site ticket grants admission to the Boston Mill station area, but does not include the half-hour train ride.

The site will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and include magicians, bounce houses, balloon artists, live entertainment and railroad displays.

Fares are $18 for all trips on Friday and $20 or $22 for Saturday and Sunday trips.

The $20 tickets are good for the 9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 3:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. trips.  The $22 tickets are for the 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. trips.

Passengers are advised to arrive at the site an hour before departure time.

What a Way to Open the CVSR 2017 Season!

At Peninsula with a bit of fog lingering in the trees.

Cruising at Bath Road.

At Akron Northside station.

The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad opened up the 2017 season on Saturday by using fresh out of the shop 6777 back to back with 6771. How cool is it to see and hear in 2017 an FPA4 set, with both of them in a clean and sharp paint scheme.

Photographs by Roger Durfee

CVSR Debuts Matching FPA4s on Scenic Train

The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad started its 2017 season on Saturday with matched Montreal Locomotive Works FPA4 diesels on the southbound end of the train. CVSR 6777 just received this paint scheme. Here are CVSR 6777, 6771 at Akron Northside Station. Also shown is ex-Pennsylvania Railroad Paul Revere, which was part of Saturday’s train.

Photographs by Robert Farkas

South End of the CVSR Scenic

October was a month of variety for the motive power assigned to the south end of the National Park Scenic of the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad.

You generally found either RS18u No. 1822 or FPA-4 No. 800 on the point, but depending on what day you were out there might or might not be a trailing unit.

On Friday, Oct. 28, No. 800 had as a running mate FPA-4 No. 6771. The next day, the trailing unit was C424 No. 4241, which earlier this year was knocked out of service due to a fire.

The 800 and 4241 are shown working together in Akron (top photograph) and Peninsula (middle photograph). The 800 is working solo in the bottom photograph showing the Scenic arriving at Northside Station in Akron.

Photographs by Roger Durfee

Colorful Autumn Sunday on the CVSR

The Cuyahoga River looms behind CVSR No. 1822 as it makes it way southbound toward Boston Mill.

I went to the Cuyahoga Valley National Park last Sunday in search of autumn color. What I found was a mixed bag.

There were places where the foliage was at its peak. There were places where most of the leaves were gone.

And then there were places where the leaves were still quite green, most notably on the hillsides surrounding Peninsula.

Nonetheless, the park had the look of fall and it even had the smell of fall. It was a good day to be out.

I didn’t get to the park in time to catch the first southbound Scenic train, so I drove along Riverview Road scouting for color.

Unlike in previous years, the Scenic did not have a double-headed motive power consist. RS18u No. 1822 was pulling on the south end while Horizon Rail GP10-1 No. 8420 was on the point on the north end.

You can count on the Scenic running late during the fall foliage season due to the high number of leaf peepers and bicyclists aboard.

Yet the first pair of trips of the day ran pretty much on time. That was the case with the second trip of the day until it got to Brecksville.

Brecksville is a popular bike stop and the Scenic starting losing time from there southward.

One of the most colorful locations was at Everett where a number of trees at their peak color stood on the west side of the tracks.

Otherwise it was a matter of finding spot color. I skipped Brecksville because the trees around the station are past peak and the forest north of the Ohio Route 82 bridge had yet to reach its peak.

Likewise, I bypassed Peninsula because the rich colors that I know can be found there every year have yet to show up.

So it was a matter of getting the 1822 next to a colorful tree near Ira Road and a small stand of color near the Valley Picnic Area south of Peninsula.

I also tried something new at Jaite, shooting down Vaughn Road looking west toward the grade crossing.

That shot would have worked better with the first southbound trip when the sun was more to the east.

It also works best if there are no vehicles waiting at the crossing. That was the case when the train arrived. Then I saw an SUV approaching from the east.

The driver must be a photographer because he or she stopped behind me so that I had a clear road leading to the crossing.

I had to get back home by 3 p.m. so I didn’t spend as much time in the valley as I would have liked.

With any luck at all there will be more sun and plenty of color this weekend.

Article and Photographs by Craig Sanders

Everett proved to be the most colorful location that I found on the CVSR on this day.

Finding some spot color north of Ira Road.

Along Riverview Road near the Valley Picnic Area.

This is an angle I’ve never tried at Jaite before Sunday.

Looking west down Vaughn Road at Jaite.

The Cuyahoga River winds along the CVSR tracks near Columbia Run Picnic Area.

Simon Says, ‘I Need a New Paint Job’

Simon Perkins was a key figure in Akron history being one of the city’s co-founders. His son, Simon Perkins Jr., played a pivotal role in bringing the first railroad to Akron, a branch of the Cleveland & Pittsburgh that later became part of the Pennsylvania Railroad.

Given that family history it is not a surprise that the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad would name a passenger car after the Perkins family.

Neither the elder nor the junior Perkins would be amused, though, to see that the CVSR has neglected basic maintenance of their car.

When photographed earlier this summer at Brecksville, the Simon Perkins had lost a letter, although it can barely be seen. Two other letters had been nearly obliterated.

The CVSR has been rotating some cars through the shops in recent months to give them a paint job. Looks like the car honoring Simon Perkins needs to be next.

Photograph by Craig Sanders

CVSR to Operate on Saturdays, Sundays

The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad will expand operations this coming weekend to Saturday and Sunday operation.

Trains will depart Rockside Road station in Independence at 9 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. and leave from Akron Northside station at 10:45 a.m. and 2:40 p.m.

All train will make an intermediate stop in Peninsula. Service to other intermediate stations within the Cuyahoga Valley National park will not resume until late spring.

The CVSR Scenic train had been operating on Saturdays only since mid January. The railroad’s website also is promoting travel in dome car Silver Bronco and a caboose.

For fares and ticket information visit the CVSR website at CVSR.com