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After a fantastic 2006 NRHS Convention Trip on the Cuyahoga Valley Railroad some of us boarded the buses for Minerva. We left Canton driving east on US 30, the Lincoln Highway to Minerva. The busses pulled into the parking lot and we all unloaded. The Steam Railroad Museum was formed in 1985 with a goal of preserving this nation’s railroad history. In the last 12 years, this museum has acquired several pieces of railroad equipment with its members actively engaged in the various stages of their restoration. Almost everyone headed inside the museum but I stayed outside to start taking pictures of their equipment.
The excursion train that we will be using.
The rear of our excursion train.
Pennsylvania Railroad Caboose 478033.
Over across a field was another set of equipment.
Ex MARC E-9 61. This unit and the other one started out with the Pennslyvania Railroad {PRR} as 5793A, then PC 4253, NJT 4253, NJT 4325 and then Maryland Rail Commuter Service 61 before being acquired by a private party and stored in Minerva.
Ex MARC E-9 62. Started life as PRR 5905, then NJT 4325 before becoming MARC 62 before being sold to a private party and stored in Minerva.
Ex Ontario Northland AAEX 10.
Ex Ontario Northland AAEX 09.
Down the tracks I found a railroad crossing.
Wheeling & Lake Erie 0-6-0 1960.
S-2 1789.
Inside the shop view of the 18. Neither of the switchers are capable of being operated at this time.
I heard a horn and went outside where the Ohio Central GP-10 7547 came around a corner to bring two more cabooses for our excursion train this late afternoon.
The 7547 dropped off the two cabooses then backed down onto our train set.
The two cabooses waited to be picked up.
The 7547 then pulled forward before reversing coupling onto the cabooses and spotting our train for loading.
The 7547 has spotted the train set.
The passengers then loaded our special train. I went into the first coach that had open steps and took a seat in the Village of Minerva Coach. This train consist was Ohio Central GP-10 7547 ex New York Central 5922, Minerva Scenic Baggage 1373, Village of Minerva Coach, 1182 Coach and Cabooses Pennsylvania Railroad 788033, Minerva {red} 0222 and C&O 90221.
Inside my non air conditioned coach. At least once we got moving, the moving air kind of cooled us all off.
Our trip that would be out three miles started by us passing the Minerva Graveyard.
The former Wheeling & Lake Erie Railroad Station with a New York Central Caboose.
Sandy Creek.
The bridge across Sandy Creek.
Our train passed a row of trees acting as a blocking the residential view of the tracks.
Our train ran through the outskirts of Minerva.
Another view blocking row of trees.
The edge of Minerva and finally the countryside.
The first field we passed was a corn field.
Our train stopped for the Photo Runbys.
Photo Runby 1.
Backing up for Photo Runby 2.
Photo Runby 2
After we crossed the highway we passed the farm house across the valley.
When we reached here which was our turn around point, our train stopped for a moment before it backed the whole way to Minerva.
I relaxed in my coach seat until we returned to Minerva.
Main Street Minerva.
The New York Central Caboose 20480.
The Wheeling & Lake Erie Station.
We pulled back into the museum and I detrained for this picture of the Ohio Central 7547.
Our train's passengers unload and they head to the buses. After the buses all were loaded we headed west on Ohio Highway 42/183 to beyond Magnolia where we turned south on Ohio 800 to Dover. From Dover local roads took us back to the Holiday Inn. Here I left Chris Parker on the bus as he was headed to Amish Dinner in Sugar Creek. I went back to the Knights Inn to relax before going to Hog Heaven for another excellent steak dinner. Later Chris returned and we called it a night after a great day for me at both the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic railroad and the Minerva Steam Railroad Museum. Tomorrow our next convention trip will be a Steam Trip to Newark on the Ohio Central mainline west from Dennison.
