Flats Industrial Railroad

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). . The railroad operates on weekdays, reportedly around 7:00 to 10:00AM in the morning. At one time, they used to have a sand trans-loading business to keep themselves busy while not switching at Cleveland's Cereal Food Processors elevator.They also used to serve fatty oils and synthetic esters producer, "Werner G. Smith." They interchange with the Norfolk Southern in a yard between Fulton Road and W.41 Street in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cloggsville Line, operated by Norfolk Southern, serves that yard. Company (FIR/FIRS).

As recently as 2014, FIR had only two employees.^[3]

Equipment

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

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Locomotives

Images and media

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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 / 41.492083; -81.6997917 (FIR vertical lift bridge)
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:

Flats Industrial Railroad
Line length: 4 miles (6.4 km) Track gauge: 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
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)
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

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

• Cleveland railroad history
• List of crossings of the Cuyahoga River
• List of Ohio railroads
• Connecting or neighboring railroads:
  • Cleveland Commercial Railroad
  • CSX Transportation
  • Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad
  • Cleveland Works Railway
  • Norfolk Southern Corporation
  • Newburgh and South Shore Railroad
  • Wheeling and Lake Erie Railway

Notes

References

General References