Say you were working in the Midwest, toiling in the vinyards of railway journalism while your wife continued to live and work in the South. You notice that no major blizzards are scheduled between the two regions over the New Year's holidays weekend and suggest to her a rendezvous somewhere in between... where would you go.. Louisville, Cincy, Cleveland or ?

Looking for an interesting place with both indoor and outdoor possibilities for exploration. Only thing I see as far as heritage railways is the dinner train at Bardstown, Ky., which I've never done.

Anybody care to recommend some wintertime garden spots in the Ohio River Valley?

My best to all for a happy, health and steam-filled 2005!

Jim

Jim,
I'd vote for Cleveland. There should be some interesting spots for both of you to enjoy over the weekend. -- Ray

Jim,

You can check out the Kentucky Railway Museum in New Haven and still have time to ride the Bardstown Dinner Train.

Just a suggestion if you have never been.

JD Johnson, Morehead and North Fork Railroad Historian

Didn't everything in between you get snowed in? Seriously, I'd vote for the Bluegrass State, especially if KRM is running that train.

Hi,

I don't know how long you'll be in the area, but I would vote for Louisville. Besides Trains, you can see the Belle of Lousiville, Louisville Slugger Museum, Churchill Downs and some other local attractions. You have "My Old Ky Dinnertrain" in Bardstown, KRM in New Haven, Bluegrass RR Museum in Versailles, a nice display of an L&N sleeper (Pine Series I think), The Duncan Hines ( diner) and a business car at the L&N depot in Bowling Green, plus the National Corvette Musuem, if you like cars ( like I do...Proud Corvette owner right here). There are several Breweries in the area that you could see, plus flea markets and antiques shops, which I hope to visit one of these days. The L&N HQ buildings are in Lousiville, plus shops and stuff from the IC ( now P&L) and the L&N (more stuff I haven't seen). Needless to say, there is plenty of stuff to do besides shopping.

Just my 2 cents,

and I hope you enjoy,

Stuart

Find yourself a little bed-and-breakfast in horse country (Midway looks pretty good) and, er, ahh, forget about trains ;)

JAC

SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSEGWAY!

Heck Jim, why not hang out in the Southern part of Ohio/ West Virginia? A few possible areas to hit:

Marietta, Ohio --- A great former PRR span, a great former riverfront community with neat stuff, and plenty of cool Ohio River traffic. Not too mention Parkerburg WV down the way. Check it out:

http://www.mariettaohio.org/

After crossing over to Parkersvurg, West Viriginia, check out the action here (courtesy of some WV railfans):

PARKERSBURG -- HIGH YARD

Situated well above the Ohio River, this CSX yard was the Baltimore and Ohio's Cumberland- Cincinnati main line's yard in Parkersburg. That mainline has been abandoned just east of this yard, and all the way to Clarksburg. However, there is a vibrant industrial complex up and down the Ohio River, and there is plenty of traffic which needs to get across the Ohio, and the route which has to be taken in this area is from Belpre, Ohio (see that town on the Ohio railfan page), to the bridge over the river, which leads into the high yard. Also, there is active container and bulk distribution traffic in the yard itself.

Get to the yard by going south from US-50 downtown to Depot Street. The yard parallels Depot Street. Good lighting conditions most time, except during high summer evenings.

PARKERSBURG -- LOW YARD (October 16, 1998)

CSX (ex-B&O) has no glamorous fleets of double stacks running up and down the river thru here, but it has a goldmine of industrial traffic generated by the many large facilities on both sides of the river. You can easily be fooled here, as the initial suspicion is that relatively little happens along here; however, this is a very active yard, and there are endless switching and train movements in this area.

The yard itself is reached from OH-14 and 12th Street close to downtown. Go towards the river on 12th to under the tracks.

Just a half mile or so south down the mainline, the B&O and US-50 Ohio River bridges pass far overhead. This was the site of SX tower and a station (both gone), and offers good AM photo sites. You can get PM shots from the entrance to a small riverside park just south of the US-50 bridge. Any movement from the low yard to the high yard starts/ends its assent/descent here, so you can get good shots of these movements any time of day.

After leaving Parkersburg, continue up West Virginia Route 2. You'll follow the ex-B&O line, which sees a fair amount of CSX traffic. Along the way see:

ST. MARY's, WV --- One of the last places to see mainline "street-running" in th east. Also has a great depot, one of the last on the Ohio River division between here and Moundsville. Cross back over to Ohio here or go up to:

SISTERVILLE, WV --- Home of one of the earlier oil strikes, you can cross to Fly, Ohio, on one of the last Ohio River Ferries, or saty and check "Oil Town". You might even stay at the Wells Inn, but definitely think about eating here. Some nice street shots here as well.

NEW MARTINSVILLE, WV --- Great yard action, CSX etc. "Choo-Choos", set in the middle of a former wye, is, to quote Alton Brown, "Good Eats."

MOUNDSVILLE, WV --- think about crossing over to Bellaire, Ohio, end of the line for the 3 foot gauge Ohio River & Western. One of their cabeese is downown.

WHEELING, WV --- Tons of action, B&O Depot, and my favorite, Ogalbey Park. Check out the Kruger Street Toy and Train Museum, too, which has some great original stuff from Marx, housed in a beautifully restored school. The ex-B&O Hack outside is a plus, very well done.

http://www.toyandtrain.com/

Why you ask? The Ohio River division is up for sale on this line, so its a timely "news" piece as well.

Anyway, your chance to see "wild, wolly, West Virginia. I can guarantee it will be different ;- )

TJ

Or, with just a little more driving, you can visit the cradle of civilization where the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers meet to form the oceans of the world - Pittsburgh, PA. Station Square, the Incline, Chipped Chopped Ham, the very impressive trolley museum in nearby Worshington. Some remnants of the glory days of steel remain as well as lots of railroading.

Sure it isn't like it was when you could see what you were breathing and a Cold Arn tasted of the slag, but what a place full of industrial history!

dave