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Chris Parker and I awoke at the Knights Inn and went to have another Continental Breakfast at the motel. At 6:15 AM We walked across the street to the Holiday Inn and boarded Bus 2 which would take us to our first train trip of the day. Before we left our Bus Host told us that a washout south of Independence would mean our trip would start at Brecksville which would be 5.9 miles south of the Rockside Station. I would have to come back to ride that mileage some time in the future. Anyway it will still be a great trip today as I have always wanted to ride this railroad. We left at 6:30 AM and headed north up Interstate 77 through Canton and Akron to the exit in Brecksville. Our bus then headed east down into the Cuyahoga Valley National Park to the Brecksville Depot. I got off the bus and about a minute later the train pulled in from the north.
Our train pulled into Brecksville.
Train and the Brecksville Station.
Train with the high bridge behind. The train then pulled down south about ten car lengths.
I walked down for more pictures. Here is Cuyahoga Valley Scenic {CVSR} FPA-4 6771.
CVSR FPA-4 6777.
I walked through the weeds for this great view of our train in Brecksville. The train then backed into the station. While everyone else boarded, I walked the train to get the consist. Our train consist of FPA-4s 6777 and 6771, Power Car 688 ex US Army Kitchen Car 89670, Coaches 727 Invacare ex Central of Georgia, 165 Key Bank built as a sleeper for the Pennsylvania Railroad {PRR} Sleeper Salem Inn, 167 Simon Perkins ex PRR Sleeper Princeton Inn, 168 Clarence Reinberger ex PRR Ashtabula Inn, 8700 Cafe Car ex Southern Pacific Bar Lounge, First Class Cars 163 Anne Farnham ex PRR Beaver Falls Inn, 169 Spirit of Summit ex PRR Culver Inn and 1 Saint Lucie Sound Rounded Observation Car ex Florida East Coast. I boarded the train and sat with Jim from Louisville in the Simon Perkins. I went to the vestibule for a pair of pictures.
The Cuyahoga River.
The High Bridge at Brecksville. Our train departed Brecksville at 9:00 AM and we started our trip to Canton.
The Cuyahoga River.
Prairie in this National Park.
A very beautiful lake on the start of another hot and humid day in Ohio.
An Ohio Ski Area.
The train takes a slight curve to the left.
The Interstate 80 Bridges.
Smoking it up like good MLW built units do.
Another prairie scene along our route.
Crossing the Cuyahoga River.
Smoking it up as we go south.
Peninsula Depot.
At MP 51 the train dropped us all off for the first Photo Runby of the Trip
The Photo Line was the edge of the road unless like me you were at the south end and could get out on the road being protected by a Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad Truck. This would be a double runby.
Photo Runby #1.
The backup move to put the train into position for Photo Runby #2.
Photo Runby # 2.
The train then backed and picked us all up at the grade crossing before we continued south.
A nice rural scene along the route.
We continued south through the park.
Passing a small light industrial area.
Nearing Botzum, Ohio.
The Botzum Station.
At MP 43, we stopped for Photo Runby #3. The Photo Line would be along the Big Ben Trail. Locals walking or bicycling through must have wondered what all these people were doing here.
Photo Runby #3.
The CVSR FPA-4 6777 on the way back to the train.
Passing my photo runby location. We all reboarded the train and we continued south. This route was once the route of B&O "Cleveland Night Express" between Cleveland and Washington/ Baltimore.
Remains of a lock on the former Ohio and Erie Canal.
Crossing the Ohio & Erie Canal.
We pulled into the Akron North Side Station which would be the lunch pick stop. A caterer brought lunches here in his van and by me listening well, I ended up first in line to get lunch.
Passengers lining up to pick up their lunch. Once you got you lunch you returned to the coolness of the train to eat it. We departed here at 12:30 PM.
Passing under the Interstate 79 Bridge.
The Good Year Plant Sign in Akron.
Blimp Hanger in Akron.
Closing in on Canton. Further down through the trees I could see the Pro Football Hall of Fame in the distance.
Before the train arrived into Canton, we stopped at McKinley Park in Canton for the last Photo Runby of this trip.
Photo Runby #4.
The stream flowing through McKinley Park. We all reloaded the train for the short trip to Canton Lincoln Highway Station where this fantastic trip on the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad came to an end. I detrained for a pair of final pictures.
Our special train at rest at Canton. Passengers boarded the buses for the next destination. Most buses went back to the Holiday Inn in New Philadelphia. One bus went west to the Orrville Depot Museum. The last two buses headed east to the Minerva Steam Railroad Museum with myself and Chris Parker being on one of those.
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