TrainOrderPix - Willard

Willard

Willard, in north-central Ohio, is home to CSX's former B&O yard which classifies and services trains operating over the ex-B&O main line between Chicago and Baltimore, as well as those which run between Chicago and Buffalo (Frontier) or Albany (Selkirk) via the ex-CR, exx-NYC "Big Four" tracks through Greenwich and Cleveland.

CSX runs about 100 trains a day in and out of Willard. And both the Wheeling & Lake Erie (1 or 2 a day) and the Ashland Railway (1 a day) come in over trackage rights to interchange with CSX.

Train watching and photography at Willard is a bit difficult because of the yard's location through and northwest of the city. Please do not try to go into the yard itself -- it is busy, dangerous (remote-control units in use), and heavily patrolled by CSX Special Agents.

There are two spots just east of downtown -- Second and Third Streets -- and the American Legion parking lot on Ohio Rt. 99 where you can get good shots of trains entering or leaving the east end of the yard. We suggest staying off the Ohio Rt. 99 bridge itself; it's a very busy highway and there are no sidewalks.

At the west end, you can park along County Rt. 12 (Town Line Rd.), on the north side of the yard, at the site of the former J Tower, just below the County Rt. 30 (Section Line Rd.) overpass, although the sun usually is against you. There is no good place to park on the south side without being on private property.

Also, Daniels Rd., about a half-mile west of the County Rt. 30 overpass, gives some good shots of trains coming from or going to the west. Daniels Rd. is closed at the tracks, and parking on the south side can present some challenges in getting back out if there are more than two cars in the roadway. There is plenty of space on the north side, entered from County Rt. 102 (Egypt Rd.).

Friendly Advice: At the south end of Daniels Rd., please do not trespass on the farm on the west side of the road; the farmer is railfan unfriendly and has made it very clear that railfans are to stay off of his land at all times.

NOTE: We recommend that you STAY OFF the Section Line Road/County Rt. 30 overpass! It is a blind curve and there are no sidewalks or places to park. We know that some railfans are going out on this bridge -- some good shots are available from there -- but we suggest that you stay off. You very likely will meet a railfan-unfriendly Deputy Sheriff out there (as three railfans we know did a year ago, to major hits to their wallets).

There are several places to eat (and to use "the facilities"), as well as motels, along U.S. 224 just south of downtown Willard.

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Latest update: 07/21/2008
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