[PRCo] Re: Cleveland Subway Tours

[Herb Brannon]

On Mon, May 25, 2009 at 4:47 PM, Phillip Clark Campbell
<pcc_sr at yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>>>
> Mr.Brannon;
>
> As I recall you also volunteer as engineer on a restored RR.  Apparently
> your last tour on this line was cancelled as weather caused a mud
> slide across the tracks.  Please keep us informed of this operation;  it
> sounds interesting.  How does this compare with your current electric
> train operation and former streetcar service on Pat?
>
>
>
> Phil
>
I just got home from eight hours of intercity passenger railroading.
Two round trips from Cleveland to Akron. This is a full size operating
passenger railroad using the former route of the Baltimore & Ohio
"Cleveland Night Express" and "Washington Night Express" between
Cleveland and Akron then onto the B & O "Wheeling Local" route between
Akron and Canton. Bear in mind the "Wheeling Local" last ran in the
early 1950s and the "Night Expresses" last ran in the 1960s.

My job is that of a "Trainman", which is an assistant to the
Conductor. I now have a set job as, "Trainman in Charge, First Class
Section". You will always find me in the First Class vista-dome car,
the Pullman cars, or the First Class Dining Car. I had my turn in the
Coach section which is fine, however, the First Class is just a much
better place to work. Not as crowded, very few screeching kids, better
crew accommodations and pretty good chow at lunch time too :-)

We were packed today. One trip we even had to seat Coach passengers in
First Class so they had a seat..........oh, the sacrilege. In fact, we
do a "land office" type business every day. Today was the first time
the railroad operated on a major Legal Holiday. They (management, of
course) couldn't think 'outside' the box and had the train made up
with only four coaches. After all, doesn't everyone go "away" for
Memorial Day? Yeah, back when the economy was good they did. We could
have used six coaches at least.

This is a fun type job and comes without pay. It's volunteer only. We
do get a few little things given to us. So, it is something to do for
fun. I rack up "volunteer hours" with both the railroad and with the
United States National Park Service. I did not mention that we are a
major partner with the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Hence, I get
credit with the US Natl Pk Svc for volunteer hours. This will
probably, some day, get me a certificate and a lapel pin. But, like I
said, it's fun. CV National Park is one of the most visited national
parks in the entire national park system.

This type of railroading cannot be compared to urban
transit.........two different animals. Different motive
power,different propulsion,  different methods of conveyance,
different reasons for the passengers being there. A few people, and a
growing number each month, have started using the CV Railroad as a
method of public transport between Cleveland and Akron.


Herb Brannon
On America's North Coast
December 21, 2012     + or --