Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad

Overview
Headquarters	1664 Main Street/Route 303, Peninsula, Summit County, Ohio
Reporting mark	CVSR
Locale	Cuyahoga Valley National Park from Independence to Akron OH
Dates of operation	1975–present
Predecessor	Chessie System
Technical
Track gauge	4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Length	26 miles (42 km) leased from National Park Service
Other
Website	https://www.cvsr.org/

The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad (CVSR) is a special train service. It runs diesel and steam trains through the beautiful Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Peninsula, Ohio. It's a great way to see the park's amazing scenery.

History of the CVSR

How the Railroad Started

People in the Cuyahoga Valley wanted their own railroad back in the 1860s. Plans were made, but they didn't have enough money at first. Later, a man named David L. King helped get the project going again.

On August 21, 1871, the Valley Railroad Company was officially formed. They planned to connect cities like Cleveland, Akron, and Canton. This new railroad would compete with the nearby Ohio and Erie Canal. Building the tracks began, but money problems stopped the work again in 1873. In 1878, new investors helped fund the project, and construction restarted.

Early Train Journeys

The first passenger train on the Valley Railroad ran on January 28, 1880. It traveled between Cleveland and Canton. Regular passenger and freight services started just five days later. The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (B&O) soon became interested in using this route. In 1889, the B&O bought most of the Valley Railroad's shares.

The line between Cleveland and Akron became known as the B&O's Valley Division. At first, several passenger trains ran daily. Over time, fewer trains ran, until only one was left: the Cleveland Night Express. By the 1960s, this train also stopped running. More people were using cars, trucks, and buses instead.

In the early 1970s, a group called the Midwest Railway Historical Foundation wanted to use the line for weekend tourist trips. They planned to use an old steam locomotive, No. 4070. Many people supported this idea, and a new group was formed in 1972. It was called the Cuyahoga Valley Preservation and Scenic Railway Association.

The company that owned the tracks, the Chessie System, eventually agreed. The first train of the Cuyahoga Valley Line ran on June 26, 1975.

In 1985, the railroad faced a challenge when the tracks were almost abandoned. For two years, there were no train excursions. But in 1987, the National Park Service (NPS) bought the Cleveland-Akron line. They wanted to use the train to bring more visitors to the Cuyahoga Valley National Recreation Area. The Cuyahoga Valley Line started its trips again in 1988.

In 1994, the Cuyahoga Valley Line changed its name to the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad (CVSR). They grew their operations and improved their trains. They added new diesel locomotives and steel passenger cars. In 1999, the NPS built a new shop for the CVSR to keep their trains in good shape.

Today's Operations

The CVSR still runs fun train trips today. They work with the NPS to help visitors explore different parts of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. The CVSR also works with the Wheeling and Lake Erie Railway to run trains further south to Canton.

Future Plans

There are plans to make the CVSR even longer. On January 26, 2023, groups started planning to extend the CVSR. The goal is to connect it from its current end point in Independence, Ohio, all the way into Cleveland.

Safety on the Tracks

Like any railway, the CVSR has had some accidents. These events remind everyone to be very careful near train tracks and at crossings. Always look and listen for trains, and obey all warning signs.

What the CVSR Offers

The CVSR has many different types of trips throughout the year.

National Park Scenic Rides

These trips let passengers ride along the entire route. You can also get on and off at different stations along the way to explore the park.

Steam in the Valley

The Grand Trunk Western 4070 steam locomotive was once the main engine for the CVSR. It has been out of service for a long time for repairs. However, in some years, the CVSR has hosted special steam trains. These trains were pulled by visiting steam locomotives like Canadian Pacific 1293 and Nickel Plate Road 765.

Explorer Program

For a small fee, bicyclists can ride the train one way. You can get on at any of the CVSR's nine stations. Your bike is loaded onto a special car, and you sit in the car right behind it. There are similar programs for hikers, runners, and people with kayaks. The Explorer program runs from May through October.

Train to Canton

From 2003 to 2013, the CVSR offered service between Akron and Canton. This allowed passengers to travel from Akron Northside Station to Canton Lincoln Highway Station.

Stations Along the Route

Stations	Address	Elevation	Nearby Points of Interest	Image
Rockside	7900 Old Rockside Road, Independence, Ohio 44131	598 feet (182 m)	GCRTA bus connections; Eleven Mile Lock 39; Thornburg Station (food)
Canal Exploration Center	Canal Road & Hillside Road, Valley View, Ohio 44125	611 feet (186 m)	Canal Visitor Center, Twelve Mile Lock 38
Brecksville	13512 Station Road, Brecksville, Ohio 44141	635 feet (194 m)	Station Road Bridge; Pinery Dam & Feeder, and Lock 36; Whiskey Lock 35
Boston Mill	7100 Riverview Road, Peninsula, Ohio 44264	663 feet (202 m)	Boston Store Visitor Center, Boston Lock 32, Lonesome Lock 31, Wallace Lock 33, Boston Mills Ski Resort, food
Peninsula Depot	1630 West Mill Street, Peninsula, Ohio 44264	693 feet (211 m)	Peninsula Visitor Center, Peninsula Lock 29, Peninsula Feeder Lock 30, Deep Lock 28 and Quarry, food
Indigo Lake	Riverview Road, Peninsula, Ohio 44264	739 feet (225 m)	Hunt Farm Visitor Center, Beaver Marsh, Pancake Lock 26, Johnny Cake Lock 27
Howe Meadow stop	4040 Riverview Road, Peninsula, Ohio 44264	741 feet (226 m)	Hunt Farm Visitor Center, Everett Road Covered Bridge
Botzum	2912 Riverview Road, Akron, Ohio 44313	754 feet (230 m)	Niles Lock 24, Mudcatcher Lock 25 (Station located in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio)
Big Bend	1337 Merriman Road, Akron, Ohio 44313	782 feet (238 m)
Akron Northside	27 Ridge Street, Akron, Ohio 44308	885 feet (270 m)	Mustill Store, Quaker Square, National Inventors Hall of Fame a.k.a. Inventure Place
Canton Lincoln Highway	1315 Tuscarawas Street West, Canton, Ohio 44702	1,029 feet (314 m)	McKinley Memorial Mausoleum, Canton Museum of Art, First Ladies National Historic Site

Train Equipment

Locomotives (Engines)

Former Locomotives

Cars (Passenger and Other)

See also

• ABC Railway
• ALCO RSD-5
• Heritage railway
• Cleveland railroad history
• List of crossings of the Cuyahoga River
• List of heritage railroads in the United States
• List of Ohio railroads
• List of Ohio train stations
• Ohio and Erie Canal

Images for kids

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  CVSR engine 365 at the Canton Lincoln Highway Station.

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  Flood damage to CVSR tracks north of Bath Road.

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  Cuyahoga River flooding CVSR tracks north of Vaughn Road.

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  CVSR staff load and transport bikes with a Bike and Hike ticket.