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Turtle Creek Valley was named for the famous Indian chief "Little Turtle". In the 1780's Shawnee Indians watched as an expedition from Ft. Washington (now Cincinnati), led by George Rogers Clark, headed north through their hunting grounds along the Turtle Creek.
Lebanon, in the heart of Turtle Creek Township, saw its beginnings in 1802. Just west of Lebanon, Union Village was settled. With over 4,000 acres, it was the largest Shaker Community in the 'West'.
Our train also has a story to tell. Running on track originally laid in 1880, our diesel/electric locomotive pulls four enclosed passenger coaches, built around 1930, and an open gondola car. It offers a panoramic view of passing pastures and the rippling Turtle Creek."
I have no association with the TCVRY, just an interest in watching their trains run.
Pictures
- The TCVRy depot. This was formerly a Pennsylvania freight depot.
- Another view of the depot.
- A view of the boarding platform.
- The signal tower. Below it are the 1930s-vintage passenger coaches.
- The semaphore.
- GP-7 #55 arrives at the depot. Here fireman John Kotecki is getting down to stop traffic so the venerable locomotive can cross the street. #55 was built in 1950, the fourth of the second run by General Motors. It has a 567 primer mover, which is not turbocharged. (The diesel engine has sixteen cylinders of 567 cubic inches each.)
- GP-7 #55 crosses the street.
- Engineer Bob Zoellner backs #55 toward the waiting train.
- Fireman John Kotecki couples the locomotive to the train.
- Engineer Zoellner backs the whole train up a few feet to clear the road.
- The throttle stand in the old GP-7. The engineer's gloved hand rests on the throttle. Below is the reverser. Also visible are two horn-pulls and the speedometer.
- Conductor Tim O'Neill waits to help passengers board.
- A view of the interior of one of the 1930s-vintage coaches.
- A view from the open gondola. The gondola is coupled immediately behind the locomotive.
My wife and I visited the TCVRy in early May. The weather was cold and started out raining. Fortunately, by the time we boarded, the rains had stopped. I have to say that the visit was great fun and the TCVRy is one well-done show! The equipment and facilities were top-notch, and the staff were extremely friendly and courteous.
We arrived about an hour early so I could explore and photograph. The locomotive was not yet at the depot, so we were able to watch the locomotive back up to the waiting train. Once the locomotive was coupled to the train, engineer Bob Zoellner invited my wife and me to the cab. (This invitation was unsolicited!) He explained that locomotive #55 is a GP-7, built by General Motors Electromotive Division in 1950. It was number four of the second run by EMD. The locomotive has a "567" prime mover, which has sixteen cylinders, each displacing 567 cubic inches, and is not turbocharged. Engineer Zoellner also explained each of the controls to us, allowing us to sit in the engineer's seat, and even let me perform the brake test. He also opened the engine doors to allow us to see the prime mover and generator.
At boarding time, conductor Tim O'Neill helped us board the coach. Once underway and all tickets had been punched, we were allowed to walk around, to visit the first-coach snack bar, and to go out to the open gondala. Conductor O'Neill kept himself available at all times during the trip, cheerfully pointing out historical artifacts such as the offset-truss bridge across the Turtle Creek and the concrete pads for "milk runs" of yore, and volunteered information about other Cincinnati railfan "hot spots".
As is customary with tourist shortline railroads, track speed didn't exceed 15mph. However, the sound of the venerable locomotive was delightful as the GP-7 effortlessly pulled the train along. At the half-way point, the train stopped, and the fireman proceeded to the back of the last coach, which has been outfitted with an air horn and a locomotive headlight. The train then backed back to the depot. The full ride took just over an hour.
Upon our return to the depot, we discovered a gift shop within. The gift shop has typical railfan items, some with the TCVRy logo and some items of general interest to the railfan. They also have copies of the Ohio Rail Map, which they give away, free.
Until recently the TCVRy was known as the Indiana & Ohio Scenic Railroad. It still maintains a relationship with the I&O.
Despite the weather, the three hours my wife and I spent at the Turtle Creek Valley Railway were very enjoyable, and I look forward to visiting again. The TCVRy, the I&O, and Lebanon are to be commended for job well done!
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Map of Southwest Ohio |
Update! Chip Coburn of the C&O Historical Society sent me the following information about #55:
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While some publications disagree, (C&O Diesel Locomotives and the I&O Newsletter), Turtle Creek #55 (I&O #55) is either C&O #5704 or #5705. As such, it is either the oldest or second oldest surviving C&O GP-7. Both #5704 and #5705 were originally built for the Pere Marquette District and lacked dynamics brakes. It is unclear which locomotive became I&O #55 and which became I&O #56 when they were bought for the I&O. #56 was painted in a maroon & gold scheme different than all of the other I&O engines, and was the passenger power on the trips in the early days. It was sold to a Florida shortline a few years ago. #55 took over as the permanent power after Railtex took over the I&O and Tom McOwen, one of the former I&O founders, retained control of the passenger operations. Whether oldest or second oldest, #55 is a significant piece of history as one of the diesels that helped spell the end of steam on the C&O.
For more information about the TCVRy, write
- Turtle Creek Valley Railway
- 198 South Broadway
- Lebanon OH 45036
- (513) 398-8584
Maps courtesy of MapQuest Interactive Atlas.