PENINSULA, Ohio — The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad and the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society are offering rare experiences for train enthusiasts this fall when Steam in the Valley returns.
As in other years, Steam in the Valley offers the opportunity to ride on the scenic railroad train while it’s pulled by the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society’s 404-ton Nickel Plate No. 765 steam locomotive.
This year, the event also offers railroad devotees an opportunity to participate in the railroad historical society’s Throttle event, in which they get to drive the train on a six-mile, round-trip run.
“Our relationship with the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad is pretty special because there are very few venues in the country, but especially in the Midwest and East Coast, where you can experience a steam locomotive like the 765 from that era, running on a dedicated railroad pulling passenger trains,” said railroad historical society vice president Kelly Lynch.
Steam in the Valley returns Friday, Sept. 3, and runs from Friday through Sunday the following two weekends, Sept. 10-12 and 17-19.
Departures for the 2.5-hour trips are Saturdays at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. from Rockside Station at 7900 Old Rockside Road in Independence on and Sundays at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. from Akron Northside Station at 27 Ridge St. in Akron.
Each run during Steam in the Valley will offer passengers the opportunity to deboard the train to get coveted photos of the train rushing by, pulled by the steam locomotive.
Each car can carry 30-80 people, with about 500 passengers total on the train, Lynch said.
A special nighttime ride will take place at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 11, from Rockside Station.
Steam in the Valley, which often sells out, had to be canceled last year because of the pandemic.
“We were disappointed that we couldn’t host this treasured event last year,” said CVSR President and CEO Joe Mazur in a release. “We look forward to bringing back this event for our community to enjoy this year.”
During Throttle, hosted by the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society, organizers will allow enthusiasts the opportunity to drive the train on Sept. 13 at the Brecksville Station at 9141 Riverview Road in Brecksville, Ohio.
During Throttle, the day’s “engineers” will observe and receive instruction for about 30 minutes before they operate the controls for the round-trip run. They’ll operate the 765 for about 30 minutes at speeds up to 15 mph.
Another 30 minutes can be added in the “fireman’s seat” just behind the engineer’s chair. Professionally captured and edited video of the experience can also be added to the ticket. Tickets go on sale July 21 and must be purchased through the railroad historical society.
Prices for Throttle sessions are:
- 30 minutes of Throttle time: $999
- 30 minutes of firing time: $299
- GoPro add-on for Throttle time: $99
Lynch calls the steam engine experience “a happening,” a phrase he borrowed from Walt Disney when describing special events.
“Riding one of these trips is a very special experience and because of the following that the engine has, you spend the entire time on board feeling like you're the rock star because the world comes out to chase you, and try to get their photos and video of the train,” he said.
The steam engine represents the mass transit that existed 70 years ago, Lynch said.
“The locomotive and the train from that era represent a time when people had maybe more a shared sense of purpose,” he said. “When you're on a train with strangers, you're heading toward, most of the time, the same destination. I think there's still a little bit of longing or an interest in that because the rail transportation network has changed so much in the last 70 years.”
Trains are popular because they resonate with people on different levels, Lynch said. Some have family members who once worked for the railroad, or have fond memories of going to the train station with relatives. Others enjoy the sensory experience of trains.
“You can hear it, you can smell it, it rumbles the ground as it goes by. There is something romantic and nostalgic, and uniquely American about the sights and sounds, the whistle,” he said. “People want to be part of it. They want to learn more about it. They want to ride behind it. They want to get closer to that era where these were the rocket ships of their day.”
The 765 Nickel Plate steam engine is one of only a few mainline steam engines operating in North America, according to the historical society. Standing 15-feet tall with 14 wheels, the 765 can go more than 70 mph. It is among a class of steam engines called the Berkshire, known for their “superpower” technology and pleasing aesthetics.
Built by the Lima Locomotive Works in 1944, the 765 was once a fast-freight and passenger engine for the New York, Chicago & St. Louis Railroad, commonly known as the Nickel Plate Road.
With its proximity to Chicago, Fort Wayne was a railroad town, and still counts the railroad industry among its top 10 employers, Lynch said. The railroad historical society operates a restoration facility there, housing other locomotives as well as freight cars and cabooses, Lynch said. A dining car is currently being restored.
“We don't have a traditional museum setup but it is a place where we are preserving and making history all the time,” he said. “We're working on a future attraction project in downtown Fort Wayne, where a lot of our programs and events will have a permanent home. But to look at our building, you'd never know that there was a time machine hiding inside.”
For more information, visit the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad website.