Last month American Colloid in Wadsworth, OH closed down, this was a bulk transload facility that was known as International Mineral and Chemical in the late EL and Conrail days. They were by no means a "major" customer, but still saw several cars a day on it's two unloading tracks.
The only remaining customer in Wadsworth is now Myers Industries, which opened a couple years before the EL disappeared. Even in the Conrail days there were as many as six customers in Wadsworth. The line however is safe, the ABC RR still does a lot of business further west in Rittman.
Far worse news meets Mansfield, Ohio as General Motors announced it is closing the Mansfield Metal Center. The facility was served solely by the Erie/EL, and was its heaviest customer at the time of Conrail. It will close in June 2010.
I'm not sure how many other active customers the former Erie mainline through Mansfield still serves. The Norfolk Southern used the main from the connection with the former PRR main west to the plant (actually in Ontario, Ohio).
Mike Spinelli
West Ender
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