Summer Vacation 2021 - McDonald, Girard, and Youngstown OH
We didn’t hang around Youngstown too long on Sunday 06-2020. I planned to visit the Drake Well Museum in Titusville, PA, and it is only open Tue-Sunday (noon-5:00 PM on Sun).
1. It took a bit of searching, but we found Larry’s Truck & Electric in McDonald. BNSF, NS, DM&IR and UP engines are just some in this view. This area was the engine terminal for Youngstown & Northern RR. They handled movements between McDonald Works and Ohio Works nearer to Youngstown. Larry's Truck & Electric McDonald OH.
2. The CSX (B&O) main line is on the right behind the trees. Speaking of trees, a 2007 photo I’ve seen reveals no trees between rows of locomotives. Larry's Truck & Electric McDonald OH.
3. Looks line a MP15 ready to lease. Larry's Truck & Electric McDonald OH 1563.
4. McDonald Steel is what is left of U.S. Steel’s McDonald Works. McDonald OH.
5. The shop building on the left doesn’t look like the old Y&N structure. Larry's Truck & Electric McDonald OH.
6. Looking west I see UP and Amtrak. Larry's Truck & Electric McDonald OH.
7. Note the taconite pellets on the hood of the Missabe SD. Larry's Truck & Electric McDonald OH.
8. USGS Cleveland quad Warren Youngstown 1956 revised 1972. Click here for a larger image.
9. Former Pennsy main line coal dock at Girard, OH looking east toward Youngstown. There was once an extensive yard in this area. We were driving east on I-80 (in background) 05-02-2001, and I spotted this coal dock. Google Maps shows it still there.
10. The PRR coal dock is located just north of I-80 and south of Liberty St. Larry’s is located just across the B&O at 2nd and Ohio Ave. in McDonald. Girard OH, 1:24,000 quad, 2013, USGS. Click here for a larger image.
11. Erie Railroad Mahoning Div. employee timetable #65 for 04-24-1960.
12. The mouth of Crab Creek. One of these is the NS, ex-CR, nee-NYC Youngstown Line line up to Ashtabula. This is looking east toward Struthers and the infamous Center St. crossing. Former E-L may be in there on left. Maybe NS’s Lordstown Secondary (ex-PRR) going off to the right beyond bridge. Probably near “Creek” on Youngstown Line and “Crab” on the Lordstown. NS Youngstown Crab Creek OH.
13. NS. Youngstown Line 1999.
14. NS Pittsburgh Div. employee timetable #1 1999.
15. Looking north up Crab Creek and the Youngstown Line from the Federal St. bridge in East Side. Erie-Lackawanna’s First District main line would have also entered Youngstown via Crab Creek from Meadville and been behind those trees before reaching their station smack downtown. Like Pikeville the E-L track is gone through downtown, and it would be difficult to locate without past photos as reference.
16. Youngstown OH, 1:24,000 quad, 2013, USGS. Click here for a larger image.
Above photos were taken from the E. Federal St. bridge in “East Side.”
17. NYC Lake Division, Youngstown Branch employee timetable for 1966. Click here for a larger image.
18. Youngstown topo in the Penn Central era. Youngstown OH, 1:24,000 quad, 1963, USGS. Click here for a larger image.
Further reading:
PRR Facilities In Color, vol. 12 – Lake Division by Robert Yanosey (Morning Sun Books).
Trackside around Youngstown 1962-1982 with Dave McKay by Stephen Timko (Morning Sun Books).
“The Erie & Ashtabula Division In 1942” by James J. D. Lynch Jr, The Keystone Vol. 19 No. 3, Autumn 1986 (Pennsylvania RR Technical and Historical Society).
Ghost Rails XVII Steel Graveyards, United States Steel Ohio Works, Youngstown & Northern by Wayne A. Cole. Also covers B&O, E-L Youngstown to Warren.
Erie Railroad Facilities In Color, vol.3 – PA, OH, IN, IL. by Robert Yanosey (Morning Sun Books).
Train images used by permission of Everett N Young