PENINSULA, Ohio — After a weeks-long suspension of service in early March due to erosion, the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad (CVSR) and the Cuyahoga Valley National Park (CVNP) will likely return trains to the rails sooner than later, the CVSR said in a news release.
After an inspection Monday morning from an independent engineering firm, the tracks were deemed "safe for equipment-only (no passenger) crossings."
In fact, 12 railcars and three locomotives were safely moved from the Fitzwater Maintenance Yard in Valley View to Peninsula, Ohio, the release said.
“We are beyond excited! Moving the train allows us to continue exploring the logistics of operating excursions between Peninsula and Akron. This is a huge step forward!” said CVSR President/CEO, Joe Mazur. “The staff, volunteers and CVNP have been incredibly patient and helpful. We’re so thankful for everyone’s support.”
Running operations from Peninsula to Akron will be "elaborate and expensive," CVSR said.
A temporary maintenance shop to service the train, event supplies and utilities for passenger travel will add to the cost.
However, CVSR says this will not affect ticket prices.
"Donations to the CVSR annual appeal are greatly appreciated. Over the past four years, uncontrollable situations caused by the COVID pandemic and riverbank erosion forced CVSR to modify, and in some cases, cancel excursions resulting in financial loss. Gifts can be made by visiting www.cvsr.org/annual-fund," the news release said.
As far as a specific return date, CVSR says they are working toward a reopening.
“Details about our return to operations are evolving.” said Mazur. “Now that the most critical component of the plan is complete, we can move forward with determining dates, times, schedules, and passenger experiences. We’ll be sure to keep the public posted on our website and social media platforms.”
For more information on the CVSR, click HERE.
Editor's Note: The following video, and the one above this story, are from previous reports.
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