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From: "R DOT M DOT \"Rich\" Tubbs" rich AT richtubbs DOT net
Date: Wed, 25 Jun 2008 19:22:35 -0400
Subject: Marion Ohio Rails to Trails - More Info
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In addition to my previous post, I am attaching several photos I took on
June 10th, 1984 of the L.B.Foster train removing the EL rails west of the
State Route 203 grade crossing. I apologize for the quality of the photos. I
happened upon this scene and all I had in the truck was my old trusty 110
Kodak as my 35mm camera was at home. It was quite an operation to watch.
First, the crew had removed the spikes from the eastbound rail which was
then laid over between the westbound rails. Then they would remove the
spikes from the westbound tracks and while setting on the westbound, would
pull all four rails behind them onto the rail train. They would then advance
eastward a train length and repeat the process.

They stopped removing the rails at Rte. 203 grade crossing. At this point in
time, there seemed to be confusion as to who actually owned the ROW east of
this point. Some thought that it was still part of the EL estate and some
thought it was owned by Conrail so this last couple of miles eastward into
the yards remained in place until about 5 years ago when it was finally
determined that Conrail did indeed own the property. During that period, the
trackage had been used once for car storage but only for one winter season,
I believe in 1986. After that, it was left to mother nature. The City of
Marion needed access across the ROW to gain entry to one of their landfills
and so graded dirt and stone over the tracks for about 200 feet. The
township reclaimed about a half mile of the roadbed materials and used them
to reconstruct a sub base for the reconstruction and raising in elevation of
Herr Road which crossed the EL about half way between the yards and the Rte
203 grade crossing. Finally, as I mentioned before, Conrail sold the
remaining rails and ties and they were removed by less efficient means than
the L.B.Foster crews had used.

Rich Tubbs
Marion, OH
Former EL Tower Operator


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