Ohio Central Railroad System
{{Short description|Rail network}}
{{use mdy dates|date=June 2021}}
{{Infobox rail | gauge={{Track gauge|ussg|allk=on}}
|railroad_name=Ohio Central Railroad System
|logo_filename=Ohio Central Railroad logo.png
|logo_size=
|old_gauge=
|marks=OHCR, OSRR, CUOH, MVRY, OHPA, WTRM, YARR, YB, POHC, AOR
|locale=Ohio, Pennsylvania
|start_year=1988
|end_year=present
|hq_city=Coshocton, Ohio
|image=Ohio Central 4026.JPG
|image_caption=An Ohio Central train in South Zanesville, Ohio
}}
The Ohio Central Railroad System is a network of ten short line railroads operating in Ohio and western Pennsylvania. It is owned by Genesee & Wyoming.
Headquartered in Coshocton, Ohio, the system operates {{convert|500|mi}} of track divided among 10 subsidiary railroads. Most of the system's routes were divested from Class I railroads and connect industries to the Class I railroads.
The Ohio Central operates on track owned by other entities, including a line from Newark, Ohio to Mount Vernon, Ohio owned by CSX{{Cite web |url=http://www.mountvernonnews.com/local/06/09/20/railroad.html |title=Archived copy |access-date=November 12, 2007 |archive-date=June 9, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110609073848/http://www.mountvernonnews.com/local/06/09/20/railroad.html |url-status=dead }} and the old Panhandle Route, owned by the State of Ohio.{{cite web| url=http://www.coshoctontribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071013/NEWS01/710130307/1002| archiveurl=| archivedate=| title=Ohio Central RR hopes to lease Panhandle line| date=October 2007| website=Coshocton Tribune}}{{dead link|date=June 2021}}
Railroads in the system
Ohio Central's rail system comprises{{Cite web| url=http://www.ohiocentral.com/| title=Ohio Central| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071025084337/http://www.ohiocentral.com/| archive-date=2007-10-25}}
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- Ohio Central Railroad
- Ohio Southern Railroad
- Columbus and Ohio River Rail Road, the former Pennsylvania Railroad Panhandle Route
- Mahoning Valley Railway
- Ohio & Pennsylvania Railroad
- Ohi-Rail Corporation
- Warren & Trumbull Railroad
- Youngstown & Austintown Railroad
- Youngstown Belt Railroad
- Pittsburgh & Ohio Central RailroadFormerly the Pittsburgh Industrial Railroad, a {{convert|42|mi|adj=on}} line from Arden to Neville Island, Pennsylvania. The Ohio Central purchased this line from RailAmerica, in December 2000 for $7.7 million. In 2005, the State of Pennsylvania awarded $2.1 million to repair flood damage along this line.
- Aliquippa & Ohio River Railroad
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Steam operations
As well as being a regular revenue railroad, the Ohio Central had its own steam department that operated steam locomotives for tourist trains, excursions, and special events. When owner Jerry Joe Jacobson sold OHCR in 2008, he maintained ownership of the antique equipment, including the collection of steam locomotives. He built the Age of Steam Roundhouse in Sugarcreek, Ohio to house that equipment. Jerry Jacobson died in 2017 at the age of 74.
The collection includes the following:
Operational:
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- Canadian National 1551
- Buffalo Creek & Gauley Railroad 13
- Grand Trunk Western 6325
- Southern Wood Preserving Company 3
- Canadian Pacific 1293
- Lake Superior and Ishpeming 33
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Awaiting restoration:
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{{div col end}}
Former engines:
- Baldwin Locomotive Works 26, was traded for Canadian National 1551 in 1986 to Steamtown.
- Reading 2100,{{Citation|title=Reading T-1 No. 2100--60 MPH pacing on the Ohio Central|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mP-vrw1HD8 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/5mP-vrw1HD8| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|language=en|access-date=2021-10-24}}{{cbignore}} sold in 1998 to Tom Payne,{{Cite web|title=Life & Times: Railway Hall of Fame inductee and 'father of short-line railways' Tom Payne passes away|url=https://edmontonjournal.com/news/insight/life-times-railway-hall-of-fame-inductee-and-father-of-short-line-railways-tom-payne-passes-away|access-date=2021-10-24|website=edmontonjournal|language=en-CA}} and it was moved to St. Thomas, Ontario.
- Mississippian Railway 76, sold in 2005 to the Steam Railroading Institute of Owosso, Michigan.
Acquisition by Genesee and Wyoming
On August 5, 2008, Genesee & Wyoming announced an agreement to purchase the Ohio Central System for $219 million.{{cite press release| url=http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=64426&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1182780&highlight=| url-status=dead| archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160127043512/http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=64426&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1182780&highlight=| archivedate=January 27, 2016| title=Genesee & Wyoming Inc. Signs Agreement to Acquire Ohio Central Railroad System| author=Genesee & Wyoming, Inc.| date=August 4, 2008}}{{cite news| url=http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2008/08/04/daily7.html| title=Connecticut company buys Ohio Central Railroad| date=August 4, 2008| work=Business First of Columbus| access-date=January 9, 2010}} Approval was granted by the Surface Transportation Board on December 30, 2008.{{cite web| url=http://www.stb.dot.gov/decisions/readingroom.nsf/fc695db5bc7ebe2c852572b80040c45f/8a751b322f9c03e18525752800621eac?OpenDocument| url-status=dead| archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303204006/http://www.stb.dot.gov/decisions/readingroom.nsf/fc695db5bc7ebe2c852572b80040c45f/8a751b322f9c03e18525752800621eac?OpenDocument| archivedate=March 3, 2016| title=GENESEE & WYOMING INC.—CONTROL EXEMPTION—ALIQUIPPA & OHIO RIVER RAILROAD CO.,THE COLUMBUS AND OHIO RIVER RAIL ROAD COMPANY, THE MAHONING VALLEY RAILWAY COMPANY, OHIO AND PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD COMPANY, OHIO CENTRAL RAILROAD, INC., THE PITTSBURGH & OHIO CENTRAL RAILROAD COMPANY, OHIO SOUTHERN RAILROAD, INC., YOUNGSTOWN & AUSTINTOWN RAILROAD, INC., THE YOUNGSTOWN BELT RAILROAD COMPANY, AND THE WARREN & TRUMBULL RAILROAD COMPANY| website=United States Surface Transportation Board| date=December 30, 2008}}
Notes
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References
{{Portal|Trains}}
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.gwrr.com/ohcr/ Ohio Central Railroad official webpage - Genesee and Wyoming website]
{{Genesee & Wyoming}}