These two photos of the Alco S2 switcher No. 507 were taken only a few years apart. In the top image, No. 507 is shown in Akron 1967 or 1968 still wearing its Erie markings. The bottom image shows the unit in Marion on July 29 1972.
Photographs by Robert Farkas
Marty Surdyk and I had a few more adventures before and after our ride and lunch stop last Sunday as we ventured to Titusville, Pennsylvania, to ride the Oil Creek & Titusville.
On a siding in Titusville were two Alco S2’s. For many years No. 75 was the passenger power for the OC&T.
Back in the 1980s we rode behind and photographed it on the New York & Lake Erie out of Gowanda, New York. It was formerly South Buffalo Railroad. No. 85 was used by the OC&T as standby power.
Erie S2 No. 518 was donated to the French Creek Valley Railroad Historical Society by the Ashtabula, Carson & Jefferson.
Prior to being on the AC&J roster it was owned by the Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company for use at its Ashtabula facility.
Before that it was used by Erie Lackawanna and the Erie. It is now on display in Meadville, Pennsylvania.
Article and Photographs by Edward Ribinskas
Here are three images of Erie switcher 532, an S2, working in Akron in the middle 1960s.
By then, of course, this was Erie Lackawanna territory and the Erie Railroad was just a fond memory.
The photographer is standing on the now-removed foot bridge over the tracks of the Pennsylvania Railroad, Baltimore & Ohio and EL.
The bridge was a short cut between the Firestone Tire assembly plant and headquarters and Ira Avenue.
The 532 is sitting on the track used to switch local industries north of the EL east (bottom track) and west (middle track) mainlines.
The top image shows the full scene. The middle image is a closer crop while the bottom image is from a different angle.
This locomotive would later be repainted into EL colors and markings and Bob could capture it in 1973 working in Akron.
To see that image go to https://akronrrclub.wordpress.com/2019/12/23/what-once-was-el-monday/
This Alco S2 was an unexpected find during our time in Meadville. It is within sight of the former Erie mainline.
A while back after the conclusion of a chase of a train on the former Bessemer & Lake Erie, my friend Adam and I drove over to Meadville, Pennsylvania.
Our intent was to find Alco locomotives on the Western New York & Pennsylvania, which we did, but I also found myself chasing ghosts of the Erie Railroad.
Meadville was a big Erie town and some passenger trains would set out and drop off cars here, including sleepers, lounges and diners. This practice continued into the Erie Lackawanna era.
The Erie also had a major yard in Meadville, which is used today by the WNY&P. The yard is not hard to find and neither were the Alcos.
We were there on a Saturday of a long holiday weekend, so the Alcos were probably spending the weekend waiting until being recalled for service on Tuesday.
There didn’t seem to be any activity in the WNY&P yard. We got our photos and left.
I then spotted what turned out to be a museum display devoted to the Erie and EL.
The display is maintained by the French Creek Valley Railroad Historical Society and features an Alco S2, a caboose in EL markings and a boxcar, among other artifacts.
The S2 was in the process of being restored to its Erie livery and it turned out that it used to be owned by the Cleveland Illuminating Company and also spent time on the Ashtabula, Carson & Jefferson.
I may have seen No. 518 reposing on the AC&Y and maybe photographed it when it was still in its CEI markings.
So, it turned out, we found more Alcos than we expected in Meadville.
We then turned our attention to our other reason for venturing to Meadville, which was to check out the Voodoo Brewery and Brew Pub, which was quite good.
Keeping alive the heritage of the Erie Lackawanna in Meadville.
The Erie diamond etched in concrete was saved from the coaling tower in Meadville when it was being razed.
The former Erie mainline in Meadville just east of the yard is now operated by the WNY&P.
Looking eastward on the former Erie mainline at Osgood, Pennsylvania. Norfolk Southern owns the tracks here.
WNY&P No. 427, an Alco C425, was sitting idle at the east end of the former Erie yard in Meadville.
WNY&P C424 No. 435 was one of the Alcos that we came looking for in Meadville.
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