Flats Industrial Railroad

Flats Industrial Railroad
Reporting mark FIR
Locale Cleveland,
Cuyahoga County, Ohio
Dates of operation 1996[1]–
Predecessor Conrail[1]
Track gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Length 4 miles (6 km)[1][2]
Headquarters 1757 Columbus Road, Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio 44113

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.

History

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.

Right-of-way ownership shifted over the years from Valley Railway to Cleveland Terminal & Valley Railroad (CT&V), to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, to the Chessie System.

Today

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 (FIR/FIRS).

FIR has one employee: a locomotive engineer.[3]

Equipment

Flats Industrial Railroad initially operated one switching locomotive, later adding a second locomotive.B[›]

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Locomotives

Flats Industrial Railroad - Locomotives
Number
 Manufacturer
 Model
 Description
12 EMD SW1001 Diesel-Electric Switcher
1222 EMD SW1001 Diesel-Electric Switcher

Images and media

This transport-related list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

Facilities

Flats Industrial Railroad
vertical lift bridge

Flats Industrial Railroad vertical lift bridge
Coordinates 41°29′31.5″N 81°41′59.25″W / 41.492083°N 81.6997917°W
Carries Flats Industrial Railroad
Crosses Cuyahoga River
Locale Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio
Maintained by Flats Industrial Railroad
Characteristics
Design Metal Riveted Warren Through Truss, Stationary, Vertical lift bridge
Material Steel
Total length 260 feet (79.2 m)
Longest span 260 feet (79.2 m)
Number of spans 1
Piers in water 0
History
Opened 1953

All locations are in Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio:

(former)
ConRail/PennCentral
Clark branch and DK yard
Overview
Type Industrial Freight Short-line railroad
System Flats Industrial Railroad
Locale Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio
Termini CP Knob switch connection with CSX/NS
1. Train Avenue and Willey Road
2. Carter and Scranton road
3. Carter and Old River road
4. FIR siding, Fall and French street
5. FIR siding, Fall and French street
6. FIR siding, Fall and French street
7. flour mill, Merwin street
8. flour mill, Merwin street
9. flour mill, Cuyahoga River
10. flour mill, Cuyahoga River
Operation
Opening 1996
Owner Flats Industrial Railroad
Operator(s) Flats Industrial Railroad
Character Class III railroad
Technical
Line length 4 miles (6.4 km)[1]
Track length 4 miles (6.4 km)[1]
No. of tracks 1 to 3
Track gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Highest elevation 571 feet (174.0 m)
Flats Industrial Railroad
Line length: 4 miles (6.4 km)
Track gauge: 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Legend
Cuyahoga River
 Cuyahoga River EOL
Cuyahoga River EOL
? siding
Merwin Level crossing
Merwin EOL
Merwin EOL
? siding
Fall Switch
Fall-Leonard switch
Fall Level crossing
? EOL
? EOL
? siding
? EOL
? siding
French switch
Leonard switch
CUT(GCRTA Red Line) Viaduct
Columbus-French switch
Columbus-French-Leonard Level crossing
Columbus-Leonard switch
?Clark
?Clark
Cuyahoga River Vertical lift bridge
?Clark
Carter Level crossing
 ?Clark
10 miles (16 km) Carter-Old River EOL
Carter-Scranton EOL
? siding
? switch
? switch
? switch
DK Yard
? switch
OH-10, Lorain1932-1001.3-1801503 Overpass
? switch
? switch
 ?Clark
Abbey1991-333.2-1870084 Overpass
Clark-? switch
? siding
Willey EOL
Willey Level crossing
 ?Clark
US-42, W.251912-208.8-1803301 Overpass
 ?Clark
? RR Overpass
? switch
? switch
DK Yard
Fulton1901-148.4-1869663 Overpass
DK Yard
I-901975-161.5-1807870 Overpass
? switch
? switch
14 miles (23 km) CUT-Clark Border
Cleveland Union Terminal Branch
Line length: 4 miles (6.4 km)
Track gauge: 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Legend
 ? Yard
CUT
 Overpass
CUT
 GCRTARed, Blue, Green Overpass
CUT
Interstate 77 Overpass
 CUT
E.37 Underpass
 CUT- Switch
 CUT- Switch
 CUT- Switch
 CUT- Switch
CUT- Switch
CUT- Branch
Broadway-E.34 Overpass
CUT
? Switch
Rockefeller Overpass
CUT
? EOL
CUT
CUT
CUT
Canal underpass
CUT
W.3 underpass
CUT
CUT
Interstate 90 Overpass
CUT
Cuyahoga River
CUT
University underpass
CUT
Abbey1991-333.2-1870084 Overpass
CUT-? branch
CUT-? switch
CUT
Fairfield-Scranton1910-62.5-1840444 underpass
CUT
Willey1909-33.2-1840606 underpass
CUT
? crossover
US-42, W.251912-208.8-1803301 Overpass
CUT
CUT-? switch
CUT-? branch
Train underpass
CUT
Fulton1901-148.4-1869663 Overpass
CUT
I-901975-161.5-1807870 Overpass
CUT-? branch
CUT-? switch
CUT-ClarkFlats Industrial Railroad Border
14 miles (23 km) CP Knob switch
W.411930-158.2-1833707 Overpass
CUT
W.44 Overpass
CUT
W.531993-150-1870092 Overpass
CUT
Clark1906-42.7-1840118 underpass
CUT
? CrossOver
W.651914-34.4-1869760 underpass
CUT
? Switch
CUT
Denison Overpass
CUT
CUT-? Wye
CUT
? Switch
CUT
? CrossOver
CUT
Clinton underpass
CUT
I-71 underpass
 ? switch
 Lindale Yard
CUT-? branch
Flats Industrial Railroad - Facilities
Coordinates
 Name
A[›]		 Type
 Address
 Description
41°29′30.75″N 81°42′0.5″W / 41.4918750°N 81.700139°WCoordinates: 41°29′30.75″N 81°42′0.5″W / 41.4918750°N 81.700139°W Head Quarters 1757 Columbus Road, 44113
41°29′31.5″N 81°41′59.25″W / 41.492083°N 81.6997917°W Vertical Lift bridge over Cuyahoga River
41°29′31″N 81°42′1″W / 41.49194°N 81.70028°W Locomotive parking 1757 Columbus Road, 44113 model ?
41°29′30.75″N 81°42′1.25″W / 41.4918750°N 81.7003472°W W Switch 1757 Columbus Road, 44113
41°29′27″N 81°41′45″W / 41.49083°N 81.69583°W E Switch Carter Road, Scranton Road
41°29′25.5″N 81°41′44.25″W / 41.490417°N 81.6956250°W EE Switch Carter Road, Scranton Road
41°29′20.25″N 81°41′42.75″W / 41.4889583°N 81.6952083°W EEE Switch Lorain-Carnegie, Scranton Road
41°29′25.5″N 81°41′43.75″W / 41.490417°N 81.6954861°W EEEN Switch Carter Road, Scranton Road
41°29′28.75″N 81°41′45″W / 41.4913194°N 81.69583°W EEENW EOL Carter Road and Old River Road ruins to former Old River Road rail lift bridge and GCRTA W.10th tracks
41°29′34.5″N 81°41′42.75″W / 41.492917°N 81.6952083°W EEENE EOL Carter Road and Scranton Road rear of Carter and Scranton Road businesses
41°29′15.25″N 81°41′42.25″W / 41.4875694°N 81.6950694°W ES Switch Scranton Road, University Road
41°29′13″N 81°41′41.75″W / 41.48694°N 81.6949306°W ESS Switch Scranton Road and University Road
41°29′3.5″N 81°41′45.25″W / 41.484306°N 81.6959028°W ESSS Switch Scranton Road, Abbey Avenue
41°28′53.25″N 81°41′52″W / 41.4814583°N 81.69778°W ESSSE EOL Willey Road, Train Avenue
41°28′53″N 81°41′53″W / 41.48139°N 81.69806°W Willey Switch Willey Road, Train Avenue
41°28′37.75″N 81°42′13″W / 41.4771528°N 81.70361°W ESSSS Switch Train Avenue, West 30th. Street
41°28′37″N 81°42′14.5″W / 41.47694°N 81.704028°W ESSSSN Switch Train Avenue, Richner Avenue
41°28′26″N 81°42′42.25″W / 41.47389°N 81.7117361°W ESSSSNS Switch Train Avenue and Richner Avenue
41°28′25.25″N 81°42′44.25″W / 41.4736806°N 81.7122917°W ESSSSS Switch Train Avenue and Richner Avenue
41°28′23.5″N 81°42′47.75″W / 41.473194°N 81.7132639°W ESSSSSM Switch Train Avenue, Richner Avenue CP Knob connection to (NS/NSR?) main line
41°29′32″N 81°42′5.75″W / 41.49222°N 81.7015972°W WN Switch Fall Street and Leonard Street
41°29′33.5″N 81°42′8″W / 41.492639°N 81.70222°W WNN Switch Fall Street and Leonard Street
41°29′35.5″N 81°42′12.5″W / 41.493194°N 81.703472°W WNNN EOL Cuyahoga River flour mill
41°29′35.25″N 81°42′12.5″W / 41.4931250°N 81.703472°W WNNS EOL Cuyahoga River flour mill
41°29′32.75″N 81°42′9.25″W / 41.4924306°N 81.7025694°W WNS Switch Fall Street
41°29′33.25″N 81°42′11″W / 41.4925694°N 81.70306°W WNSN EOL Merwin Street flour mill
41°29′33″N 81°42′11″W / 41.49250°N 81.70306°W WNSS EOL Merwin Street flour mill
41°29′29.75″N 81°42′3.75″W / 41.4915972°N 81.7010417°W WS Switch French Street and Columbus Road
41°29′29.25″N 81°42′5.5″W / 41.4914583°N 81.701528°W WSN Switch Fall Street and French Street
41°29′27″N 81°42′8.5″W / 41.49083°N 81.702361°W WSNN EOL Fall Street and French Street FIR siding
41°29′26.75″N 81°42′8.5″W / 41.4907639°N 81.702361°W WSNS EOL Fall Street and French Street FIR siding
41°29′27.25″N 81°42′7.25″W / 41.4909028°N 81.7020139°W WSS EOL Fall Street and French Street ? spare parts locomotive ?

Accidents

In 2005, FIR reported a single Highway-Rail Crossing incident, no other accidents, and no one killed or injured.[4] In 2004, FIR did not report any accidents (train, highway-rail crossing, other incidents).[5]

See also

Notes

^ A: Switch names are HQ-relative, should be Main-line relative.
^ B: Both locomotives are visible on Google Earth and Maps imagery, there are many (copyrighted) pictures of each posted on other web sites.
^ C: CP as in CP Knob refers to "control point". FIR operates on what used to be the Clark Branch and the DK Yard. The other bridge across the Cuyahoga River (OX/Flats Tower/Carter-Old River) in no longer used. FIR's interchange connection at CP Knob is to the CUT branch/main line.[6]
^ D: Department of Transportation, Surface Transportation Board, STB Finance Docket No. 33044
Flats Industrial Railroad Company--Acquisition and Operation Exemption--Consolidated Rail Corporation
Flats Industrial Railroad Company, a noncarrier, has filed a verified notice of exemption under 49 CFR 1150.31 to acquire by purchase, and to operate, approximately 4 miles (6 km) of rail lines owned by Consolidated Rail Corporation between M.P. 14 at Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, OH, and M.P. 10 at Carter Road, Cuyahoga County, OH, including the industrial lead to Cereal Food Processors, Inc. The proposed transaction was to have been consummated on or after October 1, 1996.
Decided: October 3, 1996.[7]

References

General References