Ashland Railway

East End Line

The Ashland Railway operates on two separate lines that connect in Mansfield, Ohio. The original Ashland mainline, which began operations in 1986, is now the east end of the railroad. It was purchased from Conrail, but the line's heritage goes back through the Erie Lackawanna Railway to the Erie Railroad and was a portion of the latter's Chicago to New York main line. Prior to the Erie, the right of way served the Atlantic & Great Western's 6-foot broad gauge line, opened in 1864 between Dayton, Ohio and the Pennsylvania state line.

After Conrail took control of the Erie Lackawanna, much of its trackage was deemed redundant and was removed in large sections. The section east of West Salem, OH and west of Mansfield were removed in 1984. Ashland Railway purchased the remaining segment in February 1986. Operations today include regular runs between Mansfield and Ashland, and a weekly turn out to West Salem.

East end line / Google Maps

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See also hi-def video of the Ashland east end local by HawkinsRails friend Bob Brooks

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The 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.

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Mansfield wye area / Google Maps

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Near 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.

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Approaching 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.

Ashland northwest industrial park rail service / Google Maps

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I was included in a group correspondence from Ashland Railway railfan photographer and friend Ken Heyl. He shared pictures and narrative:

Hello RR Friends: I caught the ASRY Local coming to town this morning (5-10-18). Here’s a few Ashland Railway photos for you to enjoy: 1. ASRY #2022 stops to flag the State Rt. 96 crossing west of Ashland, Ohio. 2. Here we see a M-O-W crew working on the track and right-of-way at MP 254 west of town. 3. #2022 had a 12 car train this AM as it headed on into town. 4. On around the curve at MP 253 1/2 - Note some of the old Erie-Lackawanna RR super elevation as the local rolls away. 5. Downtown is at MP 252 on the old Erie RR – 252 miles from Salamanca, NY. 6. The Local cleared and the M-O-W Gang got right back to work “workin on the railroad”

I enjoy catching the ASRY and remembering the old days when I was a kid. The Erie and later the Erie-Lackawanna had their mainline from Hoboken to Chicago run thru my little town. Oh to see a first class RR here again --- All I can do is dream.

REMEMBER SAFETY FIRST --- Ken

Lower Yard

The 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.

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lower11 After a great afternoon of chasing the West Salem local from Mansfield through Ashland, and then waiting for more than an hour for the crew to finish up at the industrial park hidden on the other end of town, my railfan compatriots and I assumed the better part of our day was over. Word on the street was that the Ashland hardly ever switched the east end of town anymore, so we were ready to hop in the van and ride east as the job left town. But when #31 rolled through the downtown area with loads coupled to both ends, we immediately knew something great was in store. Sure enough, it was not long before the ex Pennsy Geep slid her way down the steep incline, two tankers in tow. It was obvious to us that she had not made this adventuresome trek in some time, because snow completely covered the rails beyond the road crossing. There was enough snow, in fact, that on the first road crossing the old Geep plowed to a premature halt -- the engineer had to back up and take another run down the lead in order to clear the switch. That effort successful, #31 and her friendly crew disappeared for a spell as the tankers were spotted down at the far end of this fascinating lower line. Soon she returned light, crossed the street again, then slowly rocked her way back up the incline to pick up her West Salem loads for a twilight trek east. Switchback B-B action in the snow: A good day railfanning on the old Erie.

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West 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.

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HawkinsRails thanks railfan friend Jon Clark for use of his exceptional photographs shot on the east end of the Ashland

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This page was updated on 2018-12-09