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logoAge of Steam Roundhouse

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jacobson As a young teen, Jerry Jacobson loved to watch the Baltimore & Ohio steam locomotives operating on the Akron Division run through his hometown of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. He was fortunate, as this stretch of B&O main line was the track where Steam fought its last stand in 1957 on the B&O. Jerry was even more fortunate one day when he was invited to ride in the cab of B&O Mountain-type 4-8-2 No. 710 as it switched out cars from the local freight it was pulling. Unfortunately, the B&O shut down the last of its steam locomotives later that year. From that moment on Jerry dreamed about how great it would be to own his own steamer.

Knowing that he would have to own his own railroad in order to run his own steam locomotives, in 1988 Jerry bought a 90-mile railroad and named it Ohio Central. Twenty years later his Ohio Central Railroad System had grown to ten individual freight-hauling railroads, 84 diesels, ten steam locomotives, and two dozen heavyweight and lightweight passenger cars. The highlight of the OC was the daily-except-Sunday steam-powered summertime tourist passenger trains that operated seven miles from Sugarcreek to Baltic.

The Age of Steam Roundhouse

egyptian aosr_state he Age of Steam Roundhouse is a steam locomotive restoration, maintenance, and interpretation facility, located along the Ohio Central mainline south of Sugarcreek, Ohio. Created in 2008 on former farmland, the facility features a working turntable, an 18-stall roundhouse, and a complete steam backshop. All of the rolling stock — including steam locomotives, diesel locomotives, and passenger cars — began as the private collection of Jerry Joe Jacobson, former developer and chief of the Ohio Central shortline system. Ohio Central had previously operated excursions with some of the collection's equipment. Since his death, the property has transitioned to a public museum.

Overhead photos from Age of Steam Roundhouse website / Sugarcreek, Oh / 2012

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Click to see the Age of Steam Roundhouse plotted on a Google Maps page

Motive Power

Age of Steam #84

  • builder:American Locomotive Co.
  • model:S2
  • type:B-B yard switcher
  • built:Aug 1945, ALCO #70244
  • series:1502 produced 1940-50
  • engine:ALCO 539T (6 cyl, 1000 hp)
  • notes:
  • blt Portland Terminal #1052
    to Bay Colony #1052
    to Ohio Central #84
    to Age of Steam #84
    painted in Nickel Plate scheme
  • builder
    aosx84f1 aosx84f2 aosx84f3

    Nov 2017 / RWH

    Age of Steam #452

  • builder:Electro Motive Division
  • model:F40M-2C rebuild
  • type:B-B road power
  • built:Nov 1980, EMD #796391-2
  • series:475 produced 1975-92
  • engine:EMD 645E3 (16 cyl, 3000 hp)
  • notes:
  • blt Amtrak #348 (F40PH)
    rebuilt and regeared to F40M-2C
    to Ohio Central #452
    to Age of Steam #452
  • builder

    Age of Steam #460

  • builder:Electro Motive Division
  • model:F40M-2C rebuild
  • type:B-B road power
  • built:Dec 1977, EMD #777018-15
  • series:475 produced 1975-92
  • engine:EMD 645E3 (16 cyl, 3000 hp)
  • notes:
  • blt Amtrak #269 (F40PHR)
    rebuilt and regeared to F40M-2C
    to Ohio Central #460
    to Age of Steam #460
  • builder

    Ohio Central #1077

  • builder:American Locomotive Company
  • model:RS3
  • type:B-B road switcher
  • built:1955, Alco #81353
  • series:1265 produced 1950-56
  • engine:Alco 244 (12 cyl, 1600 hp)
  • notes:
  • ex Long Island #1553
    to Detroit & Mackinac #1077
    to Michigan Shore #1077
    to Ohio Central #1077
  • builder

    Ohio Central #1802

  • builder:Fairbanks-Morse
  • model:H-12-44
  • type:B-B yard switcher
  • built:1956, FM #12L1024
  • series:303 produced 1950-61
  • engine:(1200 hp, 6 cyl)
  • notes:
  • ex Yankeetown Dock #2
    to North Carolina Port Authority
    to Ohio Central #1802
  • builder

    Rolling Stock

    Publications

    oc_brochure1

    collection

    oc_brochure2
    oc_brochure4

    tag_lagnLagniappe

    journal_rwh
    February 2016

    I've been wanting to see the progress on the remarkable Age of Steam Roundhouse project ever since the news broke about Jacobson's big kettle plans, but Ohio railfan outings never took me that far south (relative to my western Pennsylvania home). But a safari up from Zanesville through Coshocton following the main Ohio Central route gave me the perfect opportunity to locate the roundhouse. The term "middle of nowhere" certainly applies: One has to get off the beaten path to find it, but once you do you'll be glad to you did. Understandably, everything is fenced off. However, you can still get a good view of the impressive buildings from the adjacent county road. The roundhouse and turntable are stunning. The whole place has a step-back-in-time feel, yet every wall and fixture is brand new. Always interested in the next roster shot, the facility is one giant temptress -- dozens of first generation diesels and other rollings stock, all but a few out of reach from a camera lens on the fence-line. Perhaps I'll donate money to build a giant reviewing stand just across the road! I'm hoping the place will become more open to the public over time, although I can understand the tricky balance between private collection and public interpretation. Still, maybe a visit inside the fence-line will be in the cards over the next few years. How I would love to see the inside of those walls, and their iron contents.

    Links / Sources

    This page was updated on 2022-12-14