Mahoning Valley Forum

Youngstown & The Mahoning Valley => Youngstown Memories => Topic started by: Towntalk on April 29, 2010, 10:57:28 PM

Title: Erie RR
Post by: Towntalk on April 29, 2010, 10:57:28 PM
Quiz for railroad buffs.

When was this picture taken of the Erie RR passanger train waiting at the Erie depot in downtown Youngstown?
Title: Re: Erie RR
Post by: Oldmill on April 30, 2010, 05:14:07 AM
What a flashback !   I worked for the RR in downtown back in the mid 70's until January 1984 as a part time crossing watchman. When I worked Hazel st. crossing on 3rd trick that train would leave pretty early I worked the day of its last run , although cant remember the date. That pic may be 1979 ?
Title: Re: Erie RR
Post by: john r. swierz on April 30, 2010, 05:41:45 AM


  I was drafted into the Army in 1965 and we took the train and from the Erie Terminal.  Left there at 5:30 A.M. and arrived in Cleveland at 8:30A.M. We stopped at every little burg on the way.
Title: Re: Erie RR
Post by: jay on April 30, 2010, 06:03:03 AM
I'd say the early 70's.  The Strouss parking deck and the overhead walkway from Wood Street are in the photo.
Title: Re: Erie RR
Post by: Rick Rowlands on April 30, 2010, 07:39:22 AM
That photo shows the 828, an E8 model built by Electromotive Division of General Motors. The 833, a sister unit, was used regularly on the Steel Kings, and pulled the last runs of 28 and 29, the Youngstown-Cleveland train.  833 survived into Conrail as one of the locomotives used on the executive train, then was sold to a private owner who has restored it to its as built Erie Railroad livery.

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=849839
Title: Re: Erie RR
Post by: Towntalk on April 30, 2010, 05:22:59 PM
Rick is right about the train number but all are wrong on the date.
Title: Re: Erie RR
Post by: Rick Rowlands on April 30, 2010, 10:27:52 PM
Well the problem is that this photo could have been taken any time between the 1960 merger of Erie and the DL&W and the formation of Amtrak in 1971. 
Title: Re: Erie RR
Post by: Towntalk on May 01, 2010, 12:18:03 AM
There was a specific date on the photograph Rick, but since you did mention 1960 - 1971, out of the goodness of my heart I'll accept it.

Answer:
Erie-Lackawanna Railroad Locomotives #828-826 in Youngstown, Ohio on August 15, 1969. Apparently it was a double header.

Title: Re: Erie RR
Post by: Rick Rowlands on May 01, 2010, 02:09:13 PM
Well without seeing the photo its impossible to guess a date on an image that repeated itself every day for years. Its like taking a picture of a WRTA bus stopping on a street corner and asking someone to guess what day it was taken on. Now if you have a photo that has a couple of elements that can be used to guess an approximate date, well then that would make this game a little more fun.  Aerial photos are great for this.

Title: Re: Erie RR
Post by: Towntalk on May 01, 2010, 06:24:50 PM
Actually Jay pointed out the clue that dated the picture ... the Strouss Parking Deck which was built in the early 1960's. I didn't expect an acual date as to day and month ... that would have been silly ... but just the year.

And speaking of the Strouss Parking Deck is anyone old enough to remember what was there before the Strouss Parking Deck?
Title: Re: Erie RR
Post by: Rick Rowlands on May 01, 2010, 11:18:33 PM
A sign that says "Future Home of the Strouss Parking Deck"?  :)
Title: Re: Erie RR
Post by: Towntalk on May 02, 2010, 12:02:24 AM
Actually it was a parking garage with Fisher Appliance Store on the corner and a Real Estate Agency being another occupant.
Title: Re: Erie RR
Post by: AllanY2525 on May 12, 2010, 04:54:44 AM
Erie R.R. Passenger Terminal

An old post card
Title: Re: Erie RR
Post by: jay on May 12, 2010, 06:14:56 AM
Allan,

The building today does not have the front first floor jutting out into the street.  When was that part of the building removed?
Title: Re: Erie RR
Post by: AllanY2525 on May 12, 2010, 01:30:07 PM
I don't know when the building was changed, but the cars in
the postcard look like they are from the 1920's or thereabouts....
Title: Re: Erie RR
Post by: jay on May 12, 2010, 04:29:16 PM
This is the Erie Building today.  You are able to see that the first floor bricks are of a slightly different color than those on the upper levels.
Title: Re: Erie RR
Post by: jay on May 12, 2010, 04:33:24 PM
Question

What used to be in the portion of the building that was removed?
Title: Re: Erie RR
Post by: Towntalk on May 12, 2010, 07:23:10 PM
Jay, it was a bank, but I couldn't enlarge it enough to see which bank it was. A City Directory between 1920 - 30 may have the answer.
Title: Re: Erie RR
Post by: jay on May 12, 2010, 07:30:31 PM
Does anyone have a City Directory from the 1920's?  We might be able to find a listing for the bank at that corner.
Title: Re: Erie RR
Post by: sfc_oliver on May 13, 2010, 12:05:52 PM
City directories are available at the Mahoning valley Historical society. They looked up that old Business card I gave them from the Antler Hotel.
Title: Re: Erie RR attention Jay
Post by: Towntalk on April 21, 2015, 04:28:51 PM
Jay the bank in the photo would eventually relocate into the Stambaugh Building as People's Bank/Society Bank/Key Bank.