PITTSBURGH — East Ohio Valley Railway, one of the seven railroads of Transtar LLC, will more than double its operating mileage through a long-term lease of rail lines in the Powhatan Point, Ohio, area, Transtar has announced.
The East Ohio Valley, currently 12.2 miles, will add a total of 18 miles through lease from Norfolk Southern, adding 16.5 miles to Bellaire, Ohio, and gaining operating rights over NS to Mingo Junction, Ohio, for interchange, and beginning operation over 1.78 miles of the Capitna Secondary running west from Powhatan Point. Operation on the new routes will begin June 1.
“EOVR’s expanded operations will support and strengthen manufacturing and industrial development in the region, improve transit times, and enhance rail connectivity to the national rail network,” Transtar CEO Jonathan Carnes said in a press release. “We greatly appreciate our partners at Norfolk Southern for supporting our high-touch first-mile-last-mile service and look forward to expanding our rail network in the region.”
Transtar, a collection of former U.S. Steel railroads, was sold to a subsidiary of Fortress Transportation in 2021 [see “U.S. Steel to sell rail subsidiary …,” Trains News Wire, June 9, 2021]. The East Ohio Valley was acquired by Transtar in 2023. Other Transtar railroads are the Union Railroad in Duquesne, Pa.; the Delray Connecting Railroad in River Rouge, Mich.; the Fairfield Southern Co. in Alabama; the Gary Railway in Indiana; the Lake Terminal Railroad in Lorain, Ohio; and the Texas & Northern Railway in Lone Star, Texas.
Looking at the route on Google maps and street view, it appears the line does continue on for some distance to a coal mine load out. Based on the bridges and track, the line is probably newer for a railroad (built in the last 50? years). The mine appears to be the only customer and MP1.78 is not at anything more remarkable than a grade crossing. Perhaps the portion beyond MP1.78 is owned by the mine? Also, the rail is removed on either side of a grade crossing up near the mine, so I suspect the line is currently O/S. Car storage at best.
The Capitna Secondary appears on the map to be much longer than the 1.78 miles mentioned in the text.
Another thing that drives me crazy the way you guys do maps (in the magazine also) is mentioning places in the article that aren’t shown on the map. For example, you mention Bellaire, OH, but don’t show it on the map. Being from the area, I happen to know that Bellaire is across the Ohio River from Wheeling/Benwood area, but most readers are probably scratching their heads wondering where it is.