Youngstown Belt Railroad
Encyclopedia
The Youngstown Belt Railroad is a part of the Ohio Central Railroad System, which was bought by Genesee & Wyoming Inc. in 2008, serving the area northwest of Youngstown, Ohio
. It began operations in 1997, mainly on ex-Erie Railroad
trackage owned by the affiliated Warren and Trumbull Railroad
(W&T), which acquired the "Lordstown Cluster" from Conrail in 1996. It also leases a short ex-Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
segment from CSX Transportation
, formerly operated by the W&T.
The company operates in three separate areas near Warren, Niles, and Youngstown, connected by trackage rights
over the Norfolk Southern Railway
. In addition to its connections with affiliated railroads - the Warren and Trumbull Railroad at Warren and the Mahoning Valley Railway
and Youngstown and Austintown Railroad
at Youngstown - it interchange
s in Youngstown with the Norfolk Southern at Haselton Yard and with CSX.
. Other ex-Erie trackage includes two branches to Leadville (connecting with the Youngstown and Austintown Railroad
there) and the U.S. Steel
Ohio Works, and the portion of the line at Warren north of the Warren and Trumbull Railroad
junction (opened by the Atlantic and Great Western Railroad
as part of a main line to Dayton in 1863). The remainder of the Warren line was opened in 1873 by the Ashtabula, Youngstown and Pittsburgh Railroad, a Pennsylvania Railroad
predecessor. Conrail sold all of these lines to the Warren and Trumbull Railroad
in 1996, and later that year the W&T leased a connecting ex-Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
line near Youngstown from CSX Transportation
. Effective January 1, 1997, the Youngstown Belt Railroad began operating this trackage under lease.
Youngstown, Ohio
Youngstown is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Mahoning County; it also extends into Trumbull County. The municipality is situated on the Mahoning River, approximately southeast of Cleveland and northwest of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...
. It began operations in 1997, mainly on ex-Erie Railroad
Erie Railroad
The Erie Railroad was a railroad that operated in New York State, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, originally connecting New York City with Lake Erie...
trackage owned by the affiliated Warren and Trumbull Railroad
Warren and Trumbull Railroad
The Warren and Trumbull Railroad is a part of the Ohio Central Railroad System, which was bought by Genesee & Wyoming Inc. in 2008, operating three lines in and near Warren...
(W&T), which acquired the "Lordstown Cluster" from Conrail in 1996. It also leases a short ex-Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was one of the oldest railroads in the United States and the first common carrier railroad. It came into being mostly because the city of Baltimore wanted to compete with the newly constructed Erie Canal and another canal being proposed by Pennsylvania, which...
segment from CSX Transportation
CSX Transportation
CSX Transportation operates a Class I railroad in the United States known as the CSX Railroad. It is the main subsidiary of the CSX Corporation. The company is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, and owns approximately 21,000 route miles...
, formerly operated by the W&T.
The company operates in three separate areas near Warren, Niles, and Youngstown, connected by trackage rights
Trackage rights
Trackage rights , running rights or running powers is an agreement whereby a railway company has the right to run its trains on tracks owned by another railway company....
over the Norfolk Southern Railway
Norfolk Southern Railway
The Norfolk Southern Railway is a Class I railroad in the United States, owned by the Norfolk Southern Corporation. With headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia, the company operates 21,500 route miles in 22 eastern states, the District of Columbia and the province of Ontario, Canada...
. In addition to its connections with affiliated railroads - the Warren and Trumbull Railroad at Warren and the Mahoning Valley Railway
Mahoning Valley Railway
Mahoning Valley Railway is a short-line railroad in Mahoning County, Ohio, USA, owned by Genesee & Wyoming Inc. It has an interchange with Norfolk Southern Railway at its east end. The west end is Youngstown Belt Railroad which is also owned by Genesee & Wyoming. This services Youngstown, Ohio area...
and Youngstown and Austintown Railroad
Youngstown and Austintown Railroad
Youngstown and Austintown Railroad is a short-line railroad that exists just west of Youngstown, Ohio, USA. It is owned by Genesee & Wyoming Inc. It connects with the Youngstown Belt Railroad which is owned by the same company. The lines are very short and they service the steel industry in...
at Youngstown - it interchange
Interchange (freight rail)
In freight rail transport, interchange is the practice of railroads conveying freight cars from other companies over their lines...
s in Youngstown with the Norfolk Southern at Haselton Yard and with CSX.
History
The YB's trackage near Youngstown and Niles includes pieces of a former main line, completed in 1856 by the Cleveland and Mahoning Railroad, a predecessor of the Erie RailroadErie Railroad
The Erie Railroad was a railroad that operated in New York State, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, originally connecting New York City with Lake Erie...
. Other ex-Erie trackage includes two branches to Leadville (connecting with the Youngstown and Austintown Railroad
Youngstown and Austintown Railroad
Youngstown and Austintown Railroad is a short-line railroad that exists just west of Youngstown, Ohio, USA. It is owned by Genesee & Wyoming Inc. It connects with the Youngstown Belt Railroad which is owned by the same company. The lines are very short and they service the steel industry in...
there) and the U.S. Steel
U.S. Steel
The United States Steel Corporation , more commonly known as U.S. Steel, is an integrated steel producer with major production operations in the United States, Canada, and Central Europe. The company is the world's tenth largest steel producer ranked by sales...
Ohio Works, and the portion of the line at Warren north of the Warren and Trumbull Railroad
Warren and Trumbull Railroad
The Warren and Trumbull Railroad is a part of the Ohio Central Railroad System, which was bought by Genesee & Wyoming Inc. in 2008, operating three lines in and near Warren...
junction (opened by the Atlantic and Great Western Railroad
Atlantic and Great Western Railroad
The Atlantic and Great Western Railroad began as three separate railroads: the Erie and New York City Railroad based in Jamestown, New York; the Meadville Railroad based in Meadville, Pennsylvania ; and the Franklin and Warren Railroad based in Franklin Mills, Ohio...
as part of a main line to Dayton in 1863). The remainder of the Warren line was opened in 1873 by the Ashtabula, Youngstown and Pittsburgh Railroad, a Pennsylvania Railroad
Pennsylvania Railroad
The Pennsylvania Railroad was an American Class I railroad, founded in 1846. Commonly referred to as the "Pennsy", the PRR was headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
predecessor. Conrail sold all of these lines to the Warren and Trumbull Railroad
Warren and Trumbull Railroad
The Warren and Trumbull Railroad is a part of the Ohio Central Railroad System, which was bought by Genesee & Wyoming Inc. in 2008, operating three lines in and near Warren...
in 1996, and later that year the W&T leased a connecting ex-Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was one of the oldest railroads in the United States and the first common carrier railroad. It came into being mostly because the city of Baltimore wanted to compete with the newly constructed Erie Canal and another canal being proposed by Pennsylvania, which...
line near Youngstown from CSX Transportation
CSX Transportation
CSX Transportation operates a Class I railroad in the United States known as the CSX Railroad. It is the main subsidiary of the CSX Corporation. The company is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, and owns approximately 21,000 route miles...
. Effective January 1, 1997, the Youngstown Belt Railroad began operating this trackage under lease.