Ohio Central Railroad System

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

Ohio Central Railroad System
An Ohio Central train in South Zanesville, Ohio
Overview
HeadquartersCoshocton, Ohio
Reporting markOHCR, OSRR, CUOH, MVRY, OHPA, WTRM, YARR, YB, POHC, AOR
LocaleOhio, Pennsylvania
Dates of operation1988–present
Technical
Track gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge

Headquartered in Coshocton, Ohio, the system operates 500 miles (800 km) 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[1] and the old Panhandle Route, owned by the State of Ohio.[2]

Railroads in the system

Ohio Central's rail system comprises[3]

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. The collection includes the following:

Operational:

Awaiting restoration:

Former engines:

Jerry Jacobson died in 2017 at the age of 74.

Acquisition by Genesee and Wyoming

On August 5, 2008, Genesee & Wyoming announced an agreement to purchase the Ohio Central System for $219 million.[6][7] Approval was granted by the Surface Transportation Board on December 30, 2008.[8]

Notes
  1. Formerly the Pittsburgh Industrial Railroad, a 42-mile (68 km) 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.

References
  1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on June 9, 2011. Retrieved November 12, 2007.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. "Ohio Central RR hopes to lease Panhandle line". Coshocton Tribune. October 2007.
  3. "Ohio Central". Archived from the original on October 25, 2007.
  4. Reading T-1 No. 2100--60 MPH pacing on the Ohio Central, archived from the original on December 12, 2021, retrieved October 24, 2021
  5. "Life & Times: Railway Hall of Fame inductee and 'father of short-line railways' Tom Payne passes away". edmontonjournal. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
  6. Genesee & Wyoming, Inc. (August 4, 2008). "Genesee & Wyoming Inc. Signs Agreement to Acquire Ohio Central Railroad System" (Press release). Archived from the original on January 27, 2016.
  7. "Connecticut company buys Ohio Central Railroad". Business First of Columbus. August 4, 2008. Retrieved January 9, 2010.
  8. "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". United States Surface Transportation Board. December 30, 2008. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016.
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