Ashtabula, Carson and Jefferson Railroad
The Ashtabula, Carson & Jefferson Railroad or Ashtabula, Carson & Jefferson Scenic Railroad (reporting mark ACJR) is a Class III railroad that operates from a junction in Carson to Jefferson in Ashtabula County, Ohio. [1] The main commodities hauled on the line are fertilizer, paper for corrugated boxes, and plastic pellets used in injection molding.
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Jefferson, Ohio |
| Reporting mark | ACJR |
| Locale | Ashtabula County, Ohio |
| Dates of operation | 1984–Present |
| Technical | |
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) |
| Length | 6 miles (9.7 km) |
| Other | |
| Website | http://wp.acjrailroad.com/ |
History
ACJR operates on one of the few remaining portions of the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railway's Franklin Division. The line was built by the LS&MS between 1871 & 1872, and serviced communities south of Ashtabula including Plymouth, Griggs, Jefferson, Leon, and Andover. These communities were serviced with heavy freight and passenger service to and from Ashtabula. What used to be a day’s travel to Ashtabula could be done in an hour or less.
The birth of the AC&J Railway
The Ashtabula Carson & Jefferson Railroad Company (AC&J) was chartered in 1984 by a local businessman, working with the State of Ohio, to preserve the 6-mile long (9.7 km) Jefferson Industrial Track. Since 1984, the AC&J has developed business locally, and primarily hauls fertilizer, paper used in the manufacturing of corrugated boxes, and plastic pellets used in injection molding. Freight operations occur 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Additionally, the AC&J transloads bulk commodities from rail car to truck for shipment locally. The fertilizer and plastic pellet shipments are examples of this business segment. The AC&J hauls 1200 cars per year.
The AC&J Railroad's sister company, AC&J Scenic Line, Inc., operated passenger excursions from 1991-2014.
Today
The ACJR still operates freight out of Jefferson, Ohio. The scenic railroad and its excursion service was terminated in 2014.[2]
Engine roster
| No. | Model | Builder | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7371 | ALCO S-1 | American Locomotive Company | Operational |
| 107 | ALCO S-2 | American Locomotive Company | Stored |
| 518 | ALCO S-2 | American Locomotive Company | Parts source |
See also
References
- "Freight Services to Meet Your Needs". Ashtabula, Carson & Jefferson Railroad.
- "Forum: AC&J Scenic shuts down". Railway Preservation News. July 29, 2014.