Railroaders Reminisce

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Professionals Tell Their Story of Railroading

The New York Central Railroad

                                            T&OC Northern Map - 1932, T&OC Southern Map - 1932,

1960s - Road Trains North From Columbus, By James M. Cavanaugh - Take a ride on the T&OC from the West Columbus Yard to Stanley Yard near Toledo. It is suggested the reader print a copy of this article then bring up the above T&OC Northern map on the computer and follow the route as the article is read. An alternate is to use Google or Bing Maps.
     Ridgeway - 1968

1960s - Road Trains South From Columbus, By James M. Cavanaugh - Take a ride on the T&OC into coal country. It is suggested the reader print a copy of this article then bring up one of the above T&OC maps on the computer and follow the route on the map as the article is read.
     Thurston - 1968, Corning - 1968, Sunday Creek - 1968


1960s - The Toledo & Ohio Central West Columbus Yard, By James M. Cavanaugh - The West Columbus Yard was the center of activity for the T&OC in Columbus. Mr. Cavanaugh describes what went on there, how crews were allocated, where the trains ran and what finally happened to the West Columbus Yard.

1960s - The South Columbus Local, By James M. Cavanaugh - The South Columbus Local, technically a yard crew job, served industries along the T&OC Western branch between the West Columbus Yard and Bannon. Construction and Maintenance conrtactor Fritz Rumer Cooke Co. was one of those industries served by this local.

1960s - The East Columbus Local, By James M. Cavanaugh - A trip from the T&OC's West Columbus Yard through three interlocking plants to Truro, north on the old Zanesville & Western through the Defense Construction Supply Center, across the PRR/B&O main to the Albers Grocery warehouse and return. Learn just why this trip often took sixteen hours.

1960s - Switching Out on the Road, By James M. Cavanaugh - The T&OC had a dozen local switch trains. What was it like on one of those trains? Join the head-end brakeman as he spends the next 16 hours on a T&OC local.

The Pennsylvania Railroad

1886 - Mileage of a Locomotive, from the Columbus Dispatch - One passenger locomotive travels 32,472 miles in two months.

1891 - A Pan Handle Mail Train, from the Columbus Dispatch - Two reporters ride a Railroad Post Office car from Columbus to Richmond to report on the life of a Nineteenth Century RPO Clerk.