The town of Groveport, Ohio, south of Columbus, has an historic district with an important asset: interurban tracks still running down the middle of the street. This is a remnant of the Scioto Valley Traction, the only third-rail interurban in the Ohio-Indiana network.
(Photo from Dave's Railpix)
There's even most of a switch, leading off to some long-gone industry.
Except for the modern automobiles parked everywhere, this could easily be a scene from the interurban era.
Most but not all of the bricks have been relaid with no flangeway -- I suppose that's to make it safer for bicycles.
In any case, this is just so cool. Coming soon with overhead wire and operating cars to a museum near you!
I'm guessing it was Flag Day when you visited. Or else it was just rural American and a typical "fly the Red, White and Blue" Day. Either way it was great to see.
ReplyDeleteThe street turnout curved around to the C&O ex-Hocking Valley interchange which was still used by the electric freight locos until the early 1950's to haul coal the the Picway power plant west of US23. The plant is currently being demolished and is almost gone.
ReplyDeleteDennis Bockus
That's really cool. There's a super small section of exposed streetcar tracks here in Chicago too. At Pine Ave and Lake St, under the viaduct. Not sure if the link will translate, but here it is using the Google Street View; https://www.google.com/maps/@41.8875484,-87.7633237,3a,75y,20.89h,66.14t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sri1mDtQVrRuoepzwJ4y_yQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en
ReplyDeleteLet me try that again;
ReplyDeleteExposed tracks
Hopefully it works this time.
Randall,
ReplyDeleteThat is sort of like the four-block long section of Market street Railway tracks on church street. They have been used by Muni since the 1944 merger. Almost of the Market Street Railway became trolley coach lines; which are still in use.
Ted Miles, San Francisco
Here is a link to a few Ohio Midland photos
ReplyDeletehttp://www.newdavesrailpix.com/odds/oh/htm/ss05.htm
The previous comment should have identified the author. However, those pictures along with the explanation from Dennis Bockus give you a good idea of why this section of track is still in place, and why the frog in the switch was removed.
ReplyDelete