Trains have run in the Cuyahoga Valley since the 1880s. In 1880, the Valley Railway began operations, transporting coal to Cleveland, Akron, and Canton from the Tuscarawas River Valley and providing passenger service along the way. After a decade of operation, the Valley Railway became part of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. In the 20th century, competition from automobiles, trucks, and buses caused the decline of both freight and passenger service.
Flats Industrial Railroad acquired its rails and right-of-way within the Flats District (Cleveland) from former Conrail. As of 2009, the Class III Short Line railroad operates as the Flats Industrial Railroad Company. The railroad operates on weekdays, reportedly around 7:00 to 10:00AM. At one time, they used to have a sand trans-loading business to keep themselves busy while not switching at Cleveland's Cereal Food Processors elevator. They also used to serve fatty oils and synthetic esters producer, "Werner G. Smith." They interchange with the Norfolk Southern in a yard between Fulton Road and W.41 Street in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cloggsville Line, operated by Norfolk Southern, serves that yard.
As recently as 2014, FIR had only two employees.[3]
In April 2020, the railroad's primary customer, the Grain Craft flour mill on Merwin Avenue, announced it would be closing due to "challenging market dynamics and long-term supply chain obstacles."[4]
Equipment
Flats Industrial Railroad initially operated one switching locomotive, later adding a second locomotive, until 2021 when SW1200 #1202 was sold to the Davenport Industrial Railroad in Davenport, Iowa.[5]
In 2005, FIR reported a single Highway-Rail Crossing incident, no other accidents, and no one killed or injured.[6] From 1996-2004 and 2006-2020, FIR did not report any accidents (train, highway-rail crossing, other incidents).[7]
Cleveland's Flats Industrial Railroad on YouTube (channel NorfolkSouthernModel)
January 22, 2023
flats, industrial, railroad, reporting, mark, class, railroad, that, provides, short, line, commercial, industrial, switching, service, cleveland, cuyahoga, county, ohio, primarily, with, transportation, norfolk, southern, railway, overviewheadquarters1757, co. The Flats Industrial Railroad reporting mark FIR is a Class III railroad that provides short line commercial industrial switching service in Cleveland Cuyahoga County Ohio primarily with CSX Transportation and the Norfolk Southern Railway Flats Industrial RailroadOverviewHeadquarters1757 Columbus Road Cleveland Cuyahoga County Ohio 44113Reporting markFIRLocaleCleveland Cuyahoga County OhioDates of operation1996 1 PredecessorConrail 1 TechnicalTrack gauge4 ft 8 1 2 in 1 435 mm standard gaugeLength4 miles 6 km 1 2 Flats Industrial Railroadvertical lift bridgeFlats Industrial Railroad vertical lift bridgeCoordinates41 29 31 5 N 81 41 59 25 W 41 492083 N 81 6997917 W 41 492083 81 6997917 FIR vertical lift bridge CarriesFlats Industrial RailroadCrossesCuyahoga RiverLocaleCleveland Cuyahoga County OhioMaintained byFlats Industrial RailroadCharacteristicsDesignMetal Riveted Warren Through Truss Stationary Vertical lift bridgeMaterialSteelTotal length260 feet 79 2 m Longest span260 feet 79 2 m No of spans1Piers in water0HistoryOpened1953LocationvteFlats Industrial RailroadTechnicalTrack gauge4 ft 8 1 2 in 1 435 mm standard gaugeLength4 miles 6 4 km LegendCuyahoga RiverCuyahoga River EOLCuyahoga River EOL sidingMerwin Level crossingMerwin EOLMerwin EOL sidingFall SwitchFall Leonard switchFall Level crossing EOL EOL siding EOL sidingFrench switchLeonard switchCUT GCRTA Red Line ViaductColumbus French switchColumbus French Leonard Level crossingColumbus Leonard switch Clark ClarkCuyahoga River Vertical lift bridge ClarkCarter Level crossing Clark10 miles 16 km Carter Old River EOLCarter Scranton EOL siding switch switch switchDK Yard switchOH 10 Lorain 1932 1001 3 1801503 Overpass switch switch ClarkAbbey 1991 333 2 1870084 OverpassClark switch sidingWilley EOLWilley Level crossing ClarkUS 42 W 25 1912 208 8 1803301 Overpass Clark RR Overpass switch switchDK YardFulton 1901 148 4 1869663 OverpassDK YardI 90 1975 161 5 1807870 Overpass switch switch14 miles 23 km CUT Clark BordervteCleveland Union Terminal BranchTechnicalTrack gauge4 ft 8 1 2 in 1 435 mm standard gaugeLength4 miles 6 4 km Legend YardCUTOverpassCUTGCRTA Red Blue Green OverpassCUTInterstate 77 OverpassCUTE 37 UnderpassCUT SwitchCUT SwitchCUT SwitchCUT SwitchCUT SwitchCUT BranchBroadway E 34 OverpassCUT SwitchRockefeller OverpassCUT EOLCUTCUTCUTCanal underpassCUTW 3 underpassCUTCUTInterstate 90 OverpassCUTCuyahoga RiverCUTUniversity underpassCUTAbbey 1991 333 2 1870084 OverpassCUT branchCUT switchCUTFairfield Scranton 1910 62 5 1840444 underpassCUTWilley 1909 33 2 1840606 underpassCUT crossoverUS 42 W 25 1912 208 8 1803301 OverpassCUTCUT switchCUT branchTrain underpassCUTFulton 1901 148 4 1869663 OverpassCUTI 90 1975 161 5 1807870 OverpassCUT branchCUT switchCUT Clark Flats Industrial Railroad Border14 miles 23 km CP Knob switchW 41 1930 158 2 1833707 OverpassCUTW 44 OverpassCUTW 53 1993 150 1870092 OverpassCUTClark 1906 42 7 1840118 underpassCUT CrossOverW 65 1914 34 4 1869760 underpassCUT SwitchCUTDenison OverpassCUTCUT WyeCUT SwitchCUT CrossOverCUTClinton underpassCUTI 71 underpass switchLindale YardCUT branch Contents 1 History 1 1 Today 2 Equipment 2 1 Locomotives 3 Accidents 4 See also 5 References 5 1 General References 6 External linksHistory EditTrains have run in the Cuyahoga Valley since the 1880s In 1880 the Valley Railway began operations transporting coal to Cleveland Akron and Canton from the Tuscarawas River Valley and providing passenger service along the way After a decade of operation the Valley Railway became part of the Baltimore amp Ohio Railroad In the 20th century competition from automobiles trucks and buses caused the decline of both freight and passenger service Right of way ownership shifted over the years from Valley Railway to the Cleveland Terminal amp Valley Railway CT amp V to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad to the Chessie System Today Edit Flats Industrial Railroad acquired its rails and right of way within the Flats District Cleveland from former Conrail As of 2009 the Class III Short Line railroad operates as the Flats Industrial Railroad Company The railroad operates on weekdays reportedly around 7 00 to 10 00AM At one time they used to have a sand trans loading business to keep themselves busy while not switching at Cleveland s Cereal Food Processors elevator They also used to serve fatty oils and synthetic esters producer Werner G Smith They interchange with the Norfolk Southern in a yard between Fulton Road and W 41 Street in Cleveland Ohio The Cloggsville Line operated by Norfolk Southern serves that yard As recently as 2014 FIR had only two employees 3 In April 2020 the railroad s primary customer the Grain Craft flour mill on Merwin Avenue announced it would be closing due to challenging market dynamics and long term supply chain obstacles 4 Equipment EditFlats Industrial Railroad initially operated one switching locomotive later adding a second locomotive until 2021 when SW1200 1202 was sold to the Davenport Industrial Railroad in Davenport Iowa 5 Locomotives Edit EMD SW1500 1222Accidents EditIn 2005 FIR reported a single Highway Rail Crossing incident no other accidents and no one killed or injured 6 From 1996 2004 and 2006 2020 FIR did not report any accidents train highway rail crossing other incidents 7 See also Edit Trains portalCleveland railroad history List of crossings of the Cuyahoga RiverReferences Edit a b c Vol 66 No 221 Thursday November 15 2001 Notices STB Finance Docket No 34108 Federal Register Archived from the original PDF on 2011 05 20 Table 1 13 Freight Railroads Operating in Ohio by Class 2000 Bureau of Transportation Statistics Archived from the original on 2008 10 11 Retrieved 2008 06 25 TOTAL EMPLOYMENT BY STATE AND LAST RAILROAD EMPLOYER CALENDAR YEAR 2014 PDF Railroad Retirement Board Archived from the original PDF on 2016 08 12 Retrieved 2016 06 18 Sosland Josh 2020 04 24 Grain Craft closing flour mill in Cleveland World Grain Retrieved 2022 02 27 Flats Industrial Railroad rare move Retrieved 2022 02 27 Railroad Safety Statistics 2005 Annual Report PDF Federal Railroad Administration United States Department of Transportation Retrieved 2008 07 28 dead link Railroad Safety Statistics 2004 Annual Report PDF Federal Railroad Administration United States Department of Transportation Archived from the original PDF on 2008 04 22 Retrieved 2008 07 28 General References Edit Ohio Department of Transportation RAILROADS IN OHIO Ohio Department of Transportation Archived from the original on 2008 02 29 OHIO RAILROADS EMERGENCY CONTACT LIST CODE PDF Ohio Department of Transportation permanent dead link Railroads Public Utilities Commission of Ohio Retrieved 2008 07 19 Short Line Details 519 Flats Industrial Railroad Co Norfolk Southern Railway Retrieved 2008 07 19 External links EditCleveland s Flats Industrial Railroad on YouTube channel NorfolkSouthernModel Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Flats Industrial Railroad 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