CSX Tracks Through Athens
Ohio - The Final Years
Hyperlink repaired
January 10, 2006
After 135 years of operation CSX removed the B&O tracks
through Athens Ohio during
Nov.1991. The line was originally the Marietta &
Cincinnati Railroad's
"American Central Line" arriving in Athens in 1857.
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The tracks thru Athens were the B&O's quickest way between
Washington DC and
St.Louis. This line ran through Cumberland, Grafton & Parkersburg
W.Va., Belpre Ohio,
Athens, New Marshfield, Hamden, Chillicothe, among some of the towns.
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The last "through train" was a special transformer move
in 1985. Not long after that the tracks
from Red Diamond ( near McArthur Ohio ) to Athens were removed.
The tracks through
Athens were left in place due to rumored future coal trains needed
along the Ohio River.
When this project fell through the track in Athens and Eastward was
taken up.
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Today CSX routes traffic North through Willard Ohio or
South through Huntington W.Va.
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While it is sorrowful to see tracks torn up, this is part of
American railroading too.
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This tribute is divided into
several sections
.
.
March 1990 Tour of
the Line
Athens
City areas
Canaanville
to Belpre
.
.
Scrapping of the Track -
Nov. 1991
Section
#1 - West Half of Athens City
Section
#2 - East Half of Athens City
Section
#3 - East of Athens ( Canaanville & Guysville )
.
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