East End Line

he east end of the Ashland Railway begins south of the company's main yard in Mansfield, where the shortline interchanges with the Norfolk Southern. The east end line near Main Street turns northward on the upper leg of a wye and proceeds out of town toward the Regional Airport, passing under US 30 along the way.

ear the crossroads of Epworth, north of Mansfield, the line turns eastward on its run to Ashland. At Epworth and at many other crossings on the east end, it is easy to discern the former double-track right-of-way of the Erie Railroad. West of Olivesburg Road, the line shifts abruptly on crossover trackage.

pproaching Ashland from the southwest, the line climbs a grade and then makes a broad eastward turn into the road's namesake community. On the northwest side of town, the Ashland Railway has developed service to an expanding industrial park and regularly switches leads there. The spur is also used to stage setouts for customers on the east side of town. Downtown, the line curves through an abandoned mill area before turning northeast again on its run to West Salem.

he Ashland Railway operates an interesting industrial track arrangement east of downtown Ashland. A switchback leaves the mainline and drops down to a short switching lead across Union Street. The resulting lower-level eastward trackage is referred to by the shortline as the "lower yard" and features service to a handful of industries. In early Erie Railroad days, the steep incline track served as the road's connection to the Lorain, Ashland, & Southern Railroad.

est Salem is the eastern terminus of the Ashland Railway, and therefore the end of the line for what remains of the former Erie Railroad double-track main. The Ashland Railway provides weekly covered hopper service to a manufacturer, whose siding connection is less than a quarter-mile from the dead end.