Although Akron Barberton Cluster motive power typically has handled the ABC job that serves Kent and Ravenna, locomotives from parent Wheeling & Lake Erie often has pitched in to help when needed.
Such was the case on Nov. 4, 2005, when GP35 No. 2662 worked the job. Apparently the crew had not cars to take back to Akron on this day.
No. 2662, one of two locomotives to received this striking red and gold livery, is passing the former Erie Railroad passenger station in Kent.
Erie Lackawanna U25B No. 2506 is eastbound in Kent in late 1967/early 1968. Notice the westbound shelter with the bad gutter, the boxcar on the team track, and someone’s 1958 Buick.
All of the images shown above were made on May 30, 1968, in Kent.
The tracks shown were originally the Conotton Valley then became part of the original Wheeling & Lake Erie. Over the years they were merged into the Nickel Plate Road and then the Norfolk & Western.
Today, they make up the Cleveland Subdivision of the modern W&LE.
The series was made in several locations and feature the former passenger station and the bridge over the Baltimore & Ohio.
N&W No. 2496, is a GP9 while No. 2570 is an Alco RS11. Both were built for the NKP.
Here’s a combination that used to be common but would be rare today. On the lead of this westbound Erie Lackawanna train in Kent is GE U25B No. 2512. Trailing the U boat is Alco C424 No. 2404. It’s enough to make to you say, “gee, look at that.”
This image looks like it could be from the 1940s but it was made in the Erie Lackawanna yard in Kent in the late 1960s or early 1970s. The Chicago, Burlington & Quincy had the slogan “Everywhere West,” but its cars ventured to all parts of the country. It’s doubtful that this car is still in revenue service.
How about another Erie Lackawanna Monday from Kent? Both of these images were taken in 1968.
In the top image Train No. 5 is sitting at the Kent Passenger station. Note all of the head-end traffic cars that are assigned to the train.
In the bottom image No. 5 is leaving town for its next stop, which is Akron. It will then continue westward to Chicago Dearborn Station.
Once the home of a major Erie railroad yard, Kent was a good place to also photograph Erie Lackawanna operations.
During the EL era, though, operations in Kent were significantly curtailed over the years, particularly in the yard.
But there was still a great deal of EL traffic to be seen including the variety that defined the EL.
In the top photograph, Alco RS3 No. 1056 is rolling eastbound and passing Boston & Maine GP9 No. 1746, which is sitting on the track closest to the yard office in this 1968 image.
The photographer writes that he doesn’t know why the 1746 was there, but it might have been run-through power that developed a mechanical problem and was set out in Kent.
The EL Alco originally was built for the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western.
In the bottom image, EL F7A No. 7134 heads a westbound morning freight through downtown Kent in the late 1960s.
This unit was built for the Erie in March 1951 and likely would have been through Kent numerous times over the years.
Other units in the motive power lashup included an Alco FB-1, EMD GP7 and an Alco RS3.
Note the Main Street bridge over the Cuyahoga River in the background.
It’s another Monday morning so let’s dial up the Erie Lackawanna in the wayback machine before getting to work for the week.
In the top image, it’s early 1973 in Kent. That’s EMD E8A No. 812 sandwiched into that motive power consist.
No. 812 was built for the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western in spring 1951 and carried the same roster number.
In the bottom image, Alco RS-2 No. 921 is reposing at the engine facility at Brier Hill yard near Youngstown on Oct. 1, 1972.
No. 921 was built in February 1952 for the Erie Railroad.
Boston & Maine GP9 No. 1746 sits in the Erie Lackawanna yard in Kent, Ohio yard in the late 1960’s/early 1970’s. B&M units sometimes came through in sets with no EL power. Perhaps there was a problem with 1746 and it had to be set aside.
It might be hard to imagine now, but a classic A-B-A motive power set pulling a coal train was once a common sight.
Chesapeake & Ohio F7A No. 7075 is leading a westbound coal train through Kent on the Baltimore & Ohio in the late 1960s/early 1970s.
Not only is F units pulling coal trains gone but so is the passenger platform and station sign that can also be seen in this image.
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