Eastern Railroad Discussion > Shortline Service on the ABC Railway

Work took me out to central Ohio last week, and I had an opportunity to spend a little time around the ABC Railway. Made up of the former Akron & Barberton Belt and some former CR routes, the AB does a brisk business out of their little office in Barberton, Ohio.

1. AB 1501 SW1500 at the HQ in Barberton
2. AB 1502 SW1500 heads west to Rittman with cars for Morton Salt, shown here in Wadsworth.
3. AB 1502 SW1500 is approaching Rittman with cars for Morton Salt on this route that was at one time the Erie mainline west of Akron. Ohio 57 overpass is in the background.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/30/26 17:02 by JUTower.

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4-6: Several views of the Morton Salt facility as the AB 1502 runs around their cars to make the shove move.  We ate lunch at the former station, a bit of a greasy spoon - food was good!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/30/26 17:02 by JUTower.

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7. AB 1502 SW1500 works Morton Salt in Rittman, Ohio in a tight tele that I was pretty happy with.
Thanks for looking!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/30/26 17:03 by JUTower.

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Wonderful!!! Your drone gave views I haven't seen in my nearly sixty years chasing the Akron and Barberton Beltline and the Akron Barberton Cluster.
Bob

Excellent shots of ABC operations especially in Rittman !
I agree - good food at the station restaurant.
Gary

Do the covered hopprs get spotted there as well and if so where? I don't see a location for them or another track. Just curious.

MdRailfan Wrote:
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> Do the covered hopprs get spotted there as well
> and if so where? I don't see a location for them
> or another track. Just curious.

I was wondering that as well, and we ended up eating lunch and so didn't actually check for that when we left. So, in short, I'm not sure!

JUTower Wrote:
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> MdRailfan Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Do the covered hopprs get spotted there as well
> > and if so where? I don't see a location for
> them
> > or another track. Just curious.
>
> I was wondering that as well, and we ended up
> eating lunch and so didn't actually check for that
> when we left. So, in short, I'm not sure!

No, the covered hoppers came from a customer in Barberton switched on the way out to Rittman, they were just along for the ride. 

Nice views of an area I know well (have many EL and Conrail shots along those tracks. The ABC also runs a South Akron stone train 5 or 6 days a week, but it doesn't get as far as the Barberton shop area. Three Wheeling 6 axles are the normal power. Let me know next time you are in the area and want to catch more ABC/WLE.

Roger Durfee
Cuyahoga Falls, OH