Erie Lackawanna's Cleveland Commuter Train Early 1970s

[howardkevinm]

there is talk about Amtrak putting a through-sleeper on the Pennsylvanian that is attached to the capitol Limited in Pgh. but that means NS has to reinstall the switch they removed when they removed one of the tracks. i do wish there was a straight shot from philly to chicago. why should NY and washington have all the fun anyway?

[intercityrailpal]

8 million dollars was just awarded (given to Gulf Stream International to provide air service Cleveland to Jamestown-Oil City-Franklin-Bradford for the next two years. Too bad trains have to make money and pay airport and highway taxes. But bankrupt airlines just keep flying. These cities are all Erie-Lackawanna points. Talk about unfair and it's been going on for years!

[gmpullman]

@intercityrailpal I agree wholeheartedly! Kasich sent $400 mil. back to Washington when Oh. needs expanded rail service. Amtrak cut back the day train (43 & 44) through OH. There has been millions spent on feasibility studies for Cle-Columbus-Cincy and not one inch of progress. Many folks, me included, don't want to fly but there is no alternative. Washington and state execs ride in limos and Gulfstreams so they figure everyone else should too.

[trainpeeps]

This is great! I'm only 13 and live by Solon. I walk on the tracks a lot trying to imagine what it was like. This is perfect! Thanks for posting this! -Ben

[gmpullman]

@trainpeeps Thanks for commenting, Ben! Things sure have changed... none for the better as far as train watching is concerned! Back then if a train crew saw you with a camera, you'd get invited for a cab ride- today you're put in handcuffs!

[intercityrailpal]

@trainpeeps If you only knew what you missed. And what we could have! But we have kickbacks, payoffs, backroom deals, PAC money...K Street Washington all keeping modern passenger rail dead. Amtrak just got an other shut down budget from the "Super" Committee in Washington the day before yesterday. Higher fares and less service might be coming!

[gcalco]

Great to see video of the EL in Cleveland area. I lived at Mahoning Corners from

1954 through 1960. Saw the Erie and P&LE PA units on these trains. You brought

back some great memories. Thanks for sharing your video....Jerry Custer

[gmpullman]

@gcalco Thanks Jerry!

I'm sure glad I got to see the last vestiges of passenger trains around Cleveland. Mostly early '70's and on so no Alco's sadly. I did see the D&H (ATSF) trio running in fan trip service...

Thanks for commenting!

[jimnkayanderson]

Wow. Thanks for the memories. My grandfather worked for the Erie (and later Erie-Lackawanna) in Corry, PA. As a kid in the sixties he would ride the train from Corry to Youngstown to Cleveland to pick my sister and I up for school vacations. I remember well the trip from Cleveland to Youngstown.

Wish someone had some video of the passenger trains that ran from Youngstown to Jamestown, NY through Corry.  Trains 3 & 5 were the ones I remember.

[brimac70]

This is an awesome video, I lived around that EL line most of my childhood and never got to see those commuter trains. Thanks for another great video!

[gmpullman]

@brimac70 Glad it brought back some memories! I sure wish I would have filmed more... hindsight!

[brimac70]

@gmpullman as the old saying goes, "you don't know what you've got till it's gone"!

[drum3433]

WOW! Great stuff! Thanks for posting!

[gmpullman]

@drum3433 Thank You! So much has changed since then...

[jsizemore44]

@gmpullman - I worked this train as a conductor and trainman. My name is John Sizemore. The last time I worked this train was the day before it's last run. I was also a frieght conductor on the Mahoning first sub-division of the EL. Home terminal was Youngstown and sometimes Cleveland. Thanks for posting this, it was great to see an old Conductor "Jerry Miglets" in the video standing at the Aurora Stop.

[gmpullman]

@jsizemore44 Thank you for your comments, John. People like you make it all worthwhile! I first rode #28 in 1966 on a Cleve. Press special to NYC. #28 carried three extra coaches and a Pullman. Cars were tied on to #6 at Youngstown. Coming back from Hoboken passengers got off in Akron and bused to Cle. since 28-29 did not run weekends. Great memories! I love that shot of Jerry in the evening sun and the scene in Aurora with mom, dad and the kiddies is timeless! Thanks again.