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After a good night rest at the Knights Inn, Chris Parker and I walked to the breakfast room for a good morning continental breakfast.
This map shows you where all our convention trips are going. Today's will be from Dennison east to the Gould Tunnel then would come back with a possible surprise on the return trip. We walked over to the Holiday Inn, NRHS 2006 Convention Headquarters to board the second bus to Dennison with us getting the last two seats in the back of the bus. They dropped us off at the Dennison Depot and we all would wait for the train to be spotted so we could board.
Passengers were waiting for the gate to be opened when the train was spotted.
As you can see, plenty of people are here today to ride this trip. As I waited Joe Harper, the official convention videographer, stopped by to see me.
The train where I had left it yesterday.
The train then started to back down to the switch to get on the mainline.
Next the train pulled forward towards the Dennison Depot.
The train passed the station and was ready to be loaded.
The Dennison Station Board listing all our Ohio Central Trips during the Convention.
At 8:07 AM the train was ready to be boarded and with me selecting seats for Chris and I in the Pennsylvania Railroad RPCX 101, an fantastic air conditioned coach. I walked back through the to the concession car then ran into Jim from Louisville. Our train left at 8:30 AM and just east of the station I spotted Joe Harper for the first of many times on this trip. He does get around!
Passing under one of the remaining Pennsylvania Railroad Signal Bridge. This line was called the "Panhandle Line" because it went through the panhandle of West Virginia on its way to Pittsburgh. It was double tracked but over the years it was removed. In my pictures you will be able to see where the second track was.
Rolling Ohio scenery.
Our train curving left with the Ohio Central 7220 running long hood forward on the eastbound part of our trip.
Another view of the beautiful green Ohio countryside.
Curving to the right and smoking it up like a good Alco does.
Rolling east through the forest.
Curving right as the hills size increase.
The Wheeling & Lake Erie that we will come down on Saturday on the last convention trip is seen at Bowerston.
Conotton, Ohio.
Curving towards Scio, Ohio.
Another ex Pennsy Signal Bridge remains.
Another curve as we near Jewett.
Guess what, another ex Pennsy Signal Bridge.
The trip chasers all race back to their cars to get to their next picture.
At Jewett, the Wheeling & Lake Erie line takes off on the north side but we will cross over it in about a mile.
Jewett, Ohio.
The Wheeling & Lake Erie line then heads south to Pittsburgh Jct near Cadiz with some of our train chasers below.
Siding at Cadiz Jct.
Ohio Central 4025, a SD-40T-2, at the Cadiz Jct with a trash train for Apex.
At Panhandle, the line to Apex where a limestone mine has been turned into trash dump being
used for garbage from New Jersey.
A small Covered Bridge near Fernwood.
Structures near Fernwood, Ohio.
Before the Gould Tunnel there was a spur. On it was the Ohio Central 271, the ex Amtrak F-40PH which once the train was by us it would come out onto the mainline and pull the train backwards until it cleared the switch. Then the 271 pushed us forward again.
Next the Ohio Central 7220 after we had cleared the switch the unit now being short hood forward couples was put on the west end of our train to led us back.
Our train then backed towards the Gould Tunnel.
A view of our power now on the west end of the train.
The train backed up to near the Gould Tunnel then stopped to unload us for some photo runbys.
Our train backing into the Gould Tunnel.
Runby 1 with our passenger train.
The photo freight was inside the tunnel and our conductor tried to radio him with no luck. He then used a flare to get the crews attention to start forward for the freight train runby.
Runby 2 The Photo Freight. The Photo Freight consisted of Ohio Central RS-18 1800, Pennsylvania Railroad Box Car 51121, Montour Hopper 815, UTLX Tank Car 208, C&O Box Car 13049, OHCR Covered Hoppers 103 and 106, MW Flat Car 920 and Ohio Central Caboose 1880.
The Photo Freight was then posed for pictures.
The Photo Freight then went back into the tunnel to clear the tracks so our passenger train could pick us all up. The train then started back towards Dennison. The air conditioning in my coach was a relief on this very hot and humid day.
A couple of railfans waited here for us on our return trip.
Crossing a little creek.
Passing under the US 22 Highway Bridges.
I always like lowlands like this as I find them very interesting and you never know what you might see in them.
Our train takes a slight curve.
Passing cows in their stable.
Taking another curve.
Passing MP 59.
About to pass under a bridge in a deep cut loaded with train chasers.
We returned to Panhandle and once we cleared the switch our train came to a stop.
The now empty trash train comes off the Apex Line.
Ohio Central SD-40T-2 4025.
Ohio Central SD-40-2 4024.
The Trash Train then passed the rear of our train.
Once the Trash Train had cleared the switch to head east, we backed slowly back passed the switch.
MP 60 with the old Pennsy Mileage Marker.
We then pulled forward heading up the Apex Line.
Our train started up the grade and at the junction of the line that goes south it stopped and unloaded us for another set of runbys.
Runby 3 with our Passenger Train on this new connection that the Ohio Central built by the railroad in late 2005.
Runby 4 with the Photo Freight. Once this runby was over, the Photo Freight then backed down and headed home to Morgan Run. Our train backed up to pick us up before we headed up the Apex Line getting some very rare mileage.
Heading north through the forest.
Taking a curve on the Apex Line.
Railfans even found us here.
We passed a field with hay stacks and yes there is a Railfan standing on the last one
getting his unique view picture.
Our train went 5.1 miles up this line before we stopped then backed down to the mainline.
We returned to Panhandle. Here is were the line to Hopedale crosses the Panhandle Line.
Our train backing to the mainline at Panhandle.
Rolling onto the mainline. Once the switch was thrown, we headed west back towards Dennison.
A small Covered Bridge in Jewett. I relaxed in the coach the rest of the way back to Dennison which we arrived early at 4:47 PM ending an excellent first 2006 NRHS Convention Trip on the Ohio Central Railroad.
While we waited for the buses back to New Philadelphia, I toured the Dennison Depot Museum. We returned back to the Holiday Inn and ate at the Texas Roadhouse there. After an excellent dinner, we walked back to the Knights Inn for the night. Tomorrow, the Cuyahoga Valley and Minerva Steam Railroad Museum.
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