Thursday, October 21, 2010
Log
I know from time to time I get a little over ecited about a new caboose or train that I've found, but today we hit gold. Micki was poking around on the Internet and found some information about a restored train depot in Columbus. It wasn't in my train book and I'd never heard of it. We took a short drive out past Ohio State University and followed the GPS to "The Depot." The place isn't run as a museum or tourist attraction, but I wish it were. From the moment we walked into the Depot our mouths fell open and for the next two hours stayed open as Bill Korting gave us a personal tour of their collection. The depot, dining car, engine, parlor car, caboose and miniture train rank among the best we have ever found. The fact that is done as a result of a private collector makes it even more amazing.
The facitility is offered for weddings, birthday parties and special events, but is not advertised as a tourist attraction. Bill was kind enough to guide us through letting us take ample time for questions and photos. Their website is www.the-depot.org
This one needs to go in your Train Log as a "must see!"
The facitility is offered for weddings, birthday parties and special events, but is not advertised as a tourist attraction. Bill was kind enough to guide us through letting us take ample time for questions and photos. Their website is www.the-depot.org
This one needs to go in your Train Log as a "must see!"
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Ohio Train Stops
Saturday's train tour started in Dennison, OH where I got my customary caboose photo and a quick glimpse of the museum and gift shop. I got there early and was disappointed to find the people I had hoped to meet with were not in yet.
It was the drive from Dennison to Orrville that took my breath away. If we hadn't already had plans today I would have repeated the drive. In Orrville I found their caboose, depot and museum all locked. The note on the door said leave deliveries with one of the neighobrs. I went there and they were also locked up. Forty minutes after leaving I got a phone call from their depot and was informed they had seen the Caboosemobile in their parking lot but couldn't find me. Oh well, as you've noticed from my RR costume, I'm probably a hard guy to spot.
The drive from Orrville to Wellington was also beautiful. The train address is listed as Route 18, Wellington, OH. My GPS wouldn't recognize that location and only gave me a choice of two streets for Wellington, OH. I picked one and ended up fifteen miles north of the train in a cornfield. The lady that speaks to me in the GPS isn't always the brightest tree on the bulb (I know you get the meaning.) I resorted to using my Rand McNally and eventually got there. Lorain & West Virginia Railway is the name of the RR in Wellington. It operates sometimes and they have a couple of tables set up in a barn to sell tickets. No museum or gift shop. The train had taken off thirty minutes before my arrival and I got the feeling I was intruding on the ticket person's nap time. I left a book for their future amusement and bed them farewell.
Stop #4 was Peninula, OH. Micki was raised in Ohio and has lots of friends and family here. I've yet to find anyone who has ever heard of the town, which is terrible. It is the cutest town ever. The sign said they have a ski resort (not open yesterday) and a railroad. As I pulled into the middle of town I couldn't believe my eyes. A line of people appeared to stretch a quarter of a mile along the track waiting to board the train. Most had bicycles. I didn't count the passenger cars, but I would guess that had six or eight. They offer rides of various lengths where you get off and hike or bike back to town through rolling hills and (small) mountains. The fall colors must have been the motivation for getting so many families out. The train is run by the National Park Service. It had the most people I've ever seen waiting to board a train. If you ever plan a fall trip to Ohio, this has got to be a MUST STOP AND DO. Rides vary in price from $2 to $16. The RR name is Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad and their web site is: www.cvsr.com
It was the drive from Dennison to Orrville that took my breath away. If we hadn't already had plans today I would have repeated the drive. In Orrville I found their caboose, depot and museum all locked. The note on the door said leave deliveries with one of the neighobrs. I went there and they were also locked up. Forty minutes after leaving I got a phone call from their depot and was informed they had seen the Caboosemobile in their parking lot but couldn't find me. Oh well, as you've noticed from my RR costume, I'm probably a hard guy to spot.
The drive from Orrville to Wellington was also beautiful. The train address is listed as Route 18, Wellington, OH. My GPS wouldn't recognize that location and only gave me a choice of two streets for Wellington, OH. I picked one and ended up fifteen miles north of the train in a cornfield. The lady that speaks to me in the GPS isn't always the brightest tree on the bulb (I know you get the meaning.) I resorted to using my Rand McNally and eventually got there. Lorain & West Virginia Railway is the name of the RR in Wellington. It operates sometimes and they have a couple of tables set up in a barn to sell tickets. No museum or gift shop. The train had taken off thirty minutes before my arrival and I got the feeling I was intruding on the ticket person's nap time. I left a book for their future amusement and bed them farewell.
Stop #4 was Peninula, OH. Micki was raised in Ohio and has lots of friends and family here. I've yet to find anyone who has ever heard of the town, which is terrible. It is the cutest town ever. The sign said they have a ski resort (not open yesterday) and a railroad. As I pulled into the middle of town I couldn't believe my eyes. A line of people appeared to stretch a quarter of a mile along the track waiting to board the train. Most had bicycles. I didn't count the passenger cars, but I would guess that had six or eight. They offer rides of various lengths where you get off and hike or bike back to town through rolling hills and (small) mountains. The fall colors must have been the motivation for getting so many families out. The train is run by the National Park Service. It had the most people I've ever seen waiting to board a train. If you ever plan a fall trip to Ohio, this has got to be a MUST STOP AND DO. Rides vary in price from $2 to $16. The RR name is Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad and their web site is: www.cvsr.com
Ohio
The rolling hills of the Ohio Valley are a great place to view fall colors while at the same time visiting railroads. I'll post photos later today. The thing I remember most about yesterdays 400 miles plus day trip was the back drop of color with what appeared to be hundreds of Amish black carriages being pulled along two-lane roads. The horses all seemed to have the same brisk gate and the carriage occupants all looked related. Everyone in dark clothes, men with long beards and ladies with homespun dresses and bonnets. I couldn't help but fantasize about how I would fit in their community. I do have a beard.... Maybe I could teach them all to two-step? Maybe they could teach me simplicity?
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