Train's test run is right on track

The railway's first revenue trip will likely be to haul a boxcar load of bricks to Boardman Supply on May 29.
By PETER H. MILLIKEN
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
BOARDMAN -- The first locomotive in almost 51/2 years rode the rails down Southern Boulevard in Youngstown and Boardman Friday, and the railroad's vice president said he liked what he saw.
"It went very well. We had absolutely no problems whatsoever," said Tim Robbins of Columbiana, vice president of the Central Columbiana and Pennsylvania Railway.
The locomotive, driven by Walter "Bud" Gane of Lisbon, made the trip from the railway's origin in the Norfolk & amp; Southern Yard on Poland Avenue in Youngstown to Boardman Supply, which is just south of U.S. Route 224 in Boardman.
It was the first locomotive on that track since December 1995.
Railroad employees manually flagged the grade crossings ahead of the locomotive, which traveled up to 10 mph -- the maximum speed now for that track.
Signals: Signals at grade crossings that have them will be in operation before the railroad makes its first revenue trip, most likely to bring a boxcar load of brick to Boardman Supply on May 29, Robbins said.
Boardman's Supply's shipment of brick will be loaded Tuesday in Durham, N.C., he added.
The railway has been in discussions with Banner Supply on Indianola Avenue in Youngstown, but no shipments to that company have been scheduled, Robbins said.
The 36-mile railroad, which ends in Darlington, Pa., will initially be open only to Maple Avenue in Boardman, he said, adding that he expects it to open all the way to Darlington by August.
Workers will begin reinstalling the rails at the Western Reserve Road grade crossing Monday. On May 29, workers will reinstall the crossing at Woodworth Road, Robbins said.
He added he did not know when the construction and demolition debris landfill in Negley, which is to account for 40 percent of the railway's traffic, will open.
milliken@vindy.com