As my board name indicates, I love the old Rossford Yard of B and O near Toledo, Ohio. One grandfather worked there, and my other grandfather lived near there. From his house, it was an easy walk to both Pennsy outer yard and Rossford. While the Pennsy engine terminal was way back and inaccessible, the B and O had the roundhouse right up front on Oakdale Street where I could, as a child, stand on a public sidewalk and watch the action! A bridge with pedestrian walkway also crossed mid yard, and we split time watching trains from there. It was all closed up in 1983, the roundhourse demolished about 10 years later. Some areas survive to this day, as the roundhouse area and old stub end repair yard have been converted to a BIDS terminal. This is a longshot, but I wonder if any one here as any information on Rossford? I have collected a bunch of maps from different eras, old timetables, photos, and old timers recollections already, and think someday (a low priority practically, if not emotionally) I would like to write a yard history. Or, for that matter, it would be great to share any stories here with anyone who has them!
Hi Jeff, Interesting story! I have been to Arlington, but never Rossford. I hope someone can fill in some of the Rossford info for you. Harold
Thanks to all. I tried the Ohio Railfan Site, and they had some cool aerial photos from the fifties, among other things. I posted the request for information there, and if anyone is as helpful as you folks, I'll be on my way! The net may reduce the "seven degrees of separation" to six or even five! Thanks again.
BOCOWN - By 1996, I'm sure the yard was desolate, except the old engine terminal, which is now used for transloading tankers and hoppers to trucks. What parts did you walk? Naturally, the Oakdale crossing and the Oregon Road Bridge (before filling across the yard with an earth embankment) were favorites. but I have crawled up on to the I 75 overpass embankment, Bates tower and nearby high points to photograph it from every angle while the tracks were still in place. I had an old B and O man send me pictures of the roundhouse being demolished, and I know it was after 1990, but not sure exactly when. A few years ago, he sent photos of the old inbound yard being used to transload coal laying out on the ground. He also dug out some interesting stuff about the B and O operations downtown. They had a small roundhouse near their frieght station at the foot of Washington AVe. He also put me in touch with an old hogger who had more stories, which I have written down somewhere. The most interesting was about a boxcar that got away from switching operations on the south end, and ended up, (all switches must have been thrown perfectly) in the turntable pit at Oakdale! While it looks like a flat yard, they always called it a hump, and maps show a 1% downgrade through the yard. The new B and O Odyessy, Volume ! shows some swithing down at that end. There was once a small roundhouse across oakdale ave., in the wye of the former connection to the NYC line that crosses over just east of Oakdale. I have walked in the brush there, but with no evidence of former grades or structures. I always felt the yard was typical of the "poor" B and O. It had a big pinwheel ladder that angled off to a stub end grain elevator, rather than heading downtown. I have the the histroy of the yard, and if you recall the wide flare out beyond Oregon Road, that was all added starting in about 1928 - just in time for the slowdown in business accompanying the recession. The former main was converted to the yard main when those tracks were added. There is one turnout in the middle of the yard, which was originally a passing track, and most of the yard tracks ended up with a slight jog around that turnout, rather than being straight. It's a distinct feature, but I assume, typicall B and O - don't move any more track than you need to, even if its not particularly efficient! Most of the tracks to the east, in the wide flare, were for storing and sorting coal for Presque Isle. Originally, the grain elevators were the coal docks for B and O, until the lakefront docks were built about 1947. Well, I could go on and on. Here's hoping I find someone else to share memoreis with!
Hi Brian, I am glad you have been lured out of lurking! In addition to telling us about Rossford Yard, why don't you tell us about your user name Harold
Jeff, Unfortunately, I did not do any railfanning, per se, when I was in Toledo. At the time, I was more interested in "college stuff" ...It wasn't until a month after I graduated that I decided I needed a hobby and got back into railroading... I did wind up out in the Walbridge/Stony Ridge area driving around the yards one day and that was way cool! I only wish I knew then what I know now (or had my current interests then...) . ======= Harold, I figured after 20 months, it was time to make myself known As far as my screenname goes, I bet you no one can guess the logic behind it [ 19 February 2002, 01:30: Message edited by: BOCOWM ]
Brian, Your screen name wouldn't happen to mean, B&O/ C&O/ Western Maryland by any chance? It sure fits the leters you used! BOCOWM....
JT, Yep... and I hope to get some action going on in this exact forum! After I looked through the forum here and seen his question about his name it was quite obvious to me what it ment... As I model all 3 roads... plus Chessie and CSX! And now I'm thinking of getting into some Seaboard System and the Family lines to go with my CSX collection... I think i'm getting in waaaay to deep but I'm having fun digging that hole deeper so... I'll keep at it! HA HA HA
