By NORMAN LEIGH

By NORMAN LEIGH
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
COLUMBIANA -- This winter's harsh weather has delayed the reopening of the former Youngstown & amp; Southern Railway, but a railroad official says trains could begin rolling in about two weeks.
Crews are trying to finish work on the northern end of the railway, which is set to reopen as the Central Columbiana & amp; Pennsylvania Railroad.
"We'll keep plugging along. There will be trains running," said Bud Gane, who is supervising the railroad's operation. The Central Columbiana is an affiliate of the D & amp;R Railroad of Russellville, Ark.
The Columbiana Port Authority owns the Central Columbiana, which it bought in January for $1.1 million from a Boardman company.
Freight service: The port authority bought the idled Youngstown & amp; Southern so it could be restored to provide freight service to businesses along its 36-mile-long route from Youngstown to Darlington, Pa. Much of the line passes through Columbiana County.
Restoration is concentrating on the northern end of the line, which is in the best condition and provides access to national rail carriers.
Crews are installing new rails, ties and bedding material, Gane said. Two railroad spurs have been built along Indianola Avenue.
Originally, officials had hoped to have trains running on the line's northern end by February, but wintry weather caused delays.
Once the Youngstown-to-Boardman stretch is repaired, the Central Columbiana will begin with a daily train that travels from Youngstown to Boardman and back, Gane said.
He estimated that the train will consist of about four cars and will make its trips between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m.
It may be midsummer before train service is restored to Columbiana County.
Crossings are gone: Gane said four railroad crossings in Mahoning County were either paved over or removed by area communities after train traffic on the former Youngstown & amp; Southern stopped in 1997.
Those crossings must be restored before train traffic can resume on the railroad's southern portion.
The tracks in Columbiana County are mostly in good condition, although some ties must be replaced and brush removed, Gane said.
Train service may be available to Darlington by late summer or early fall.
Gane will be operating the Central Columbiana out of an office on East Park Street in Columbiana. His staff will consist of an engineer, a conductor and two repair workers.