Difference between revisions of "Railroads in Wayne County, Ohio"

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After 1920, when the use of cars began to surge, railroads began to abandon their lines of lesser importance. In 1926, the Apple Creek Branch and the A&W (which was sold in 1914 to become the Lorain, Ashland, and Southern Railway, LA&S) system were abandoned. Abandonment meant the railroad relinquished ownership of the lines, but normally did not remove the track.  
 
After 1920, when the use of cars began to surge, railroads began to abandon their lines of lesser importance. In 1926, the Apple Creek Branch and the A&W (which was sold in 1914 to become the Lorain, Ashland, and Southern Railway, LA&S) system were abandoned. Abandonment meant the railroad relinquished ownership of the lines, but normally did not remove the track.  
  
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On July 4, 1969, a record breaking storm now known as the “Ohio Fireworks Derecho” blew through Wayne County. The storm claimed 42 lives and devastated communities all throughout Northeast Ohio. Rising floodwaters washed out most of the Wooster-Lodi and the Fredericksburg-Orrville (part of the Cleveland, Akron and Columbus, CA&C route) lines. Both lines were owned by the Penn Central, the product of an ill-fated merge between the longstanding rivals Pennsylvania Railroad (Pennsy) and New York Central. Both former railroads operated a Cleveland-Columbus route, so after the Pennsy route was washed out, it was simply abandoned. Sometime after 1976, the CA&C route north of Orrville and the line heading east out of West Salem were abandoned, as this is the last map these lines are shown on.  
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On July 4, 1969, a record breaking storm known as the “Ohio Fireworks Derecho” blew through Wayne County. The storm claimed 42 lives and devastated communities all throughout Northeast Ohio. Rising floodwaters washed out most of the Wooster-Lodi and the Fredericksburg-Orrville (part of the Cleveland, Akron and Columbus, CA&C route) lines. Both lines were owned by the Penn Central, the product of an ill-fated merge between the longstanding rivals Pennsylvania Railroad (Pennsy) and New York Central. Both former railroads operated a Cleveland-Columbus route, so after the Pennsy route was washed out, it was simply abandoned. Sometime after 1976, the CA&C route north of Orrville and the line heading east out of West Salem were abandoned, as this is the last map these lines are shown on.  
  
 
Today, the original Ohio and Pennsylvania and Cleveland, Tuscarawas Valley & Wheeling Railroad lines are in regular service as part of Norfolk Southern’s Ft. Wayne Line and CSX Transportation’s New Castle subdivisions, respectively. Additionally, CSX Transportation also operates the former B&O line heading north out of Sterling as part of the CL&W subdivision. The Wheeling & Lake Erie line is operated by another company of the same name. A small section of the A&W line still exists in downtown Wooster and is operated by RJ Colman Railroad Group. The Ashland Railway operates a small stretch of track within Wayne County, heading west out of West Salem.
 
Today, the original Ohio and Pennsylvania and Cleveland, Tuscarawas Valley & Wheeling Railroad lines are in regular service as part of Norfolk Southern’s Ft. Wayne Line and CSX Transportation’s New Castle subdivisions, respectively. Additionally, CSX Transportation also operates the former B&O line heading north out of Sterling as part of the CL&W subdivision. The Wheeling & Lake Erie line is operated by another company of the same name. A small section of the A&W line still exists in downtown Wooster and is operated by RJ Colman Railroad Group. The Ashland Railway operates a small stretch of track within Wayne County, heading west out of West Salem.

Revision as of 14:47, 20 February 2018

Wayne County, like many rural Midwestern counties, was a breeding ground for railroads. Local railroads and regional railroads alike crisscrossed the county. Major companies in Wayne County included the Pennsylvania Railroad, Erie Railroad, and B&O Railroad.


Railroad Timeline

Most of the railroads built through Wayne County were in place before 1900. In terms of mileage, about half of the rails built are currently in service. On a local level, railroads in Wayne County connected major towns through smaller communities. Wooster, Orrville, and Creston formed hubs for larger routes. Wayne County sits between Cleveland and Columbus/Akron; additionally, one of the early East-West main lines passed through. These two reasons turned Wayne County into a sort of “commuter lane” for trains between large Midwest cities.

The first railroad in Wayne County was built by the Ohio & Pennsylvania in 1852, heading west out of Massillon (in neighboring Stark County) into Wooster. Around 1854, the Cleveland, Zanesville and Cincinnati Railroad Company connected Fredericksburg, Apple Creek, East Union, Orrville, and Marshallville. In 1863, the Atlantic & Great Western skirted the northern county line, building through Burbank, Creston, Sterling, and Rittman. Ten years later, the Cleveland, Tuscarawas Valley & Wheeling Railroad connected Sterling, Easton, and Warwick. Then in 1882, the Wheeling & Lake Erie built through Creston, Smithville, Orrville, and Dalton.

In 1894, the Millersburg, Jeromesville, and Greenwich connected Sprengs, Funk, Horace, Craigton, and Custaloga. Before 1898, it was renamed the Ashland and Wooster Railway Company or A&W. One year later, the Cleveland, Wooster and Muskingum Valley Railroad, part of the B&O connected Lodi, Wooster, and Millersburg, now known as the Millersburg Branch. Then in 1902 A&W then built the “Apple Creek Branch” line connecting Apple Creek, Kidron, and West Lebanon.

In 1903, the Cleveland, Southwestern & Columbus Railway built through Creston and Madisonburg to Wooster. Unlike the other railroads through Wayne County, the Southwestern System was interurban service, meaning its primary purpose was to connect a major city (Cleveland) to the surrounding suburbs and rural communities with electric trolleys. The success of interurban systems was due to the poor condition of roads and initial rarity of cars. By 1925, however, with road quality improving and the price of cars falling, interurbans were becoming more of a nuisance than a viable industry. The Southwestern System was abandoned in 1931.

After 1920, when the use of cars began to surge, railroads began to abandon their lines of lesser importance. In 1926, the Apple Creek Branch and the A&W (which was sold in 1914 to become the Lorain, Ashland, and Southern Railway, LA&S) system were abandoned. Abandonment meant the railroad relinquished ownership of the lines, but normally did not remove the track.

On July 4, 1969, a record breaking storm known as the “Ohio Fireworks Derecho” blew through Wayne County. The storm claimed 42 lives and devastated communities all throughout Northeast Ohio. Rising floodwaters washed out most of the Wooster-Lodi and the Fredericksburg-Orrville (part of the Cleveland, Akron and Columbus, CA&C route) lines. Both lines were owned by the Penn Central, the product of an ill-fated merge between the longstanding rivals Pennsylvania Railroad (Pennsy) and New York Central. Both former railroads operated a Cleveland-Columbus route, so after the Pennsy route was washed out, it was simply abandoned. Sometime after 1976, the CA&C route north of Orrville and the line heading east out of West Salem were abandoned, as this is the last map these lines are shown on.

Today, the original Ohio and Pennsylvania and Cleveland, Tuscarawas Valley & Wheeling Railroad lines are in regular service as part of Norfolk Southern’s Ft. Wayne Line and CSX Transportation’s New Castle subdivisions, respectively. Additionally, CSX Transportation also operates the former B&O line heading north out of Sterling as part of the CL&W subdivision. The Wheeling & Lake Erie line is operated by another company of the same name. A small section of the A&W line still exists in downtown Wooster and is operated by RJ Colman Railroad Group. The Ashland Railway operates a small stretch of track within Wayne County, heading west out of West Salem.

Some of Wayne County’s older railroad history can still be found. The original B&O Wooster depot along the Millersburg branch is currently Dick Stull’s Barber Shop. The Pennsy’s distinctive position-light signals, a somewhat rare sight today, can also be seen in Wooster. They are easily viewed from the Palmer Street Bridge just north of Leroy’s Place. Finally, the 1921 Minglewood Ice Plant in Wooster is currently the Minglewood Distilling Company.


Our department does not have any railroad employee records. However, we do have general information on various railroads that went through Wayne County, OH. Knowing the history of the railroads is a start to trying to locate any records that may still exist. William Snyder, author of The Rattlesnake and the Ramsey, provided a list of 13 different resources that may prove beneficial. These include the following:

  • City directories
  • Census records
  • Obituaries
  • Newspaper articles
  • Railroad Retirement Board after 1936 (fees for research)
  • Employee magazines (20th century; Erie Railroad online)
  • Railroad roster books
  • Government records (accidents, legal proceedings; found at National Archives)
  • Archives of railroad companies (academic libraries)
  • Brotherhoods and union organizations
  • Railroad professional journals
  • Alumni organizations
  • Railroad historical societies

Railroads

  • Baltimore & Ohio Railroad (B&O)
    • B&O - Lodi to Millersburg branch (1895-1923,1928 abandoned) - stations
      • Lodi 0 miles
      • Garden Isle 1.8 miles
      • Burbank 3.2 miles
      • Aukerman (Ackerman) 5.7 miles
      • Armstrong 7.7 miles
      • Cedar Valley 11.9 miles
      • Branstetter 17 miles
      • Wooster 18 miles
      • Kauke 24.5 miles
      • Hard 28.1 miles
      • Holmesville 31 miles
      • Huston (Houston) 32.6 miles
      • Millersburg 36.6 miles
  • Cleveland, Akron & Columbus Railway Co. (CA&C)
  • Cleveland Lorain & Wheeling (CL&W)
  • Cleveland, Southwestern and Columbus Railway (Interurban electric trolley)
  • Erie Railway (ERIE)
  • The Lake Erie, Wooster & Muskingum Valley Railroad. (formed in 1872[1])
  • New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio Railroad (NYP&O)
  • Pennsylvania, Ohio & Detroit Railroad (PO&D)
  • Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR)
  • Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne and Chicago Railway (PFW&C)
  • Wheeling & Lake Erie Railroad (W&LE)

Stations

  • Apple Creek
  • Armstrong
  • Burbank
  • Burton City
  • Creston
  • Dalton
  • East Union
  • Easton
  • Fredericksburg
  • Marshallville
  • Overton
  • Orrville
  • Rittman
  • Shreve
  • Smithville (also known as Smithfield Station)
  • Sterling
  • West Salem
  • Wooster

Gallery

Maps of Wayne County

Original Maps

  • Map from J.A. Caldwell's 1873 "Atlas of Wayne County and of the City of Wooster Ohio"

  • Map from Atlas Publishing Company's 1897 "Atlas of Wayne County, Ohio"

  • 1907 "Railroad Map Of Ohio" by the Railroad Commission of Ohio

  • Map from Hixon Map Company's 1950 "Plat Book of Wayne County, Ohio"

  • 1977 "Map of Wayne County, Ohio" by William McCullough

  • Section of map from the Ohio Rail Development Commission's 2016 "Ohio Rail Transportation Map"

Highlighted Maps (The railroads on the maps have been highlighted in red so they're easier to see)

  • Map from J.A. Caldwell's 1873 "Atlas of Wayne County and of the City of Wooster Ohio"

  • Map from Atlas Publishing Company's 1897 "Atlas of Wayne County, Ohio"

  • Map from Hixon Map Company's 1950 "Plat Book of Wayne County, Ohio"

  • 1977 "Map of Wayne County, Ohio" by William McCullough

Depot Images

  • Pennsylvania Railroad Passenger Depot once located on E. Liberty St. in Wooster, Ohio.

  • B&O Train Depot located by the Fairgrounds at Columbus Ave. and Vanover St. in Wooster, Ohio.

  • CA&C Train Depot once located in Apple Creek, Ohio.

Historical documents

  • 1918 Ohio Railroad Map clipping showing Wayne County.

  • 1898 Ohio Railroad Map clipping showing Wayne County.

Business letterheads

Business photos

Newspaper articles

Newspaper full-text articles

  • Wooster to Millersburg Railroad 1895 Opening.[2].

1917

1918

1919

Newspaper ads

Newspaper citations with no attached images

References

  1. ↑ Wooster Republican. Wooster, Ohio, 1872-MAR-28
  2. ↑ Wooster Republican. Wooster, Ohio, 1895-05-10, p. ?.
  3. ↑ Wooster Republican. Wooster, Ohio, 1917-01-08, p. 3.
  4. ↑ Wooster Republican. Wooster, Ohio, 1917-01-08, p. 6.
  5. ↑ Wooster Republican. Wooster, Ohio, 1917-02-07, p. 2.
  6. ↑ Wooster Republican. Wooster, Ohio, 1917-02-14, p. 4.
  7. ↑ Wooster Republican. Wooster, Ohio, 1917-07-02, p. 2.
  8. ↑ Wooster Republican. Wooster, Ohio, 1918-07-09, p. 4.
  9. ↑ Wooster Republican. Wooster, Ohio, 1919-01-02, p. 6.
  10. ↑ Wooster Republican. Wooster, Ohio, 1919-12-22, p. 2.

What Links Here

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