Columbus - Pomeroy Excursion
October 17, 1965
Photos by Fred Rutter
In 1965 the Columbus Chapter of the National Association of Railway Business Women's Annual Fall Foliage Festival train traveled to Pomeroy, Ohio. This was a rare passenger train on the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad - Hocking Valley Division. Fourteen year old Fred Rutter from Canal Winchester was on that trip with his brand new $6.00 box camera recently purchased from the Rexall Drug Store.
The trip was a success as it established young Fred Rutter as a life long railfan. Here follows are his photos from that trip to Pomeroy over 50 years ago.
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The first photo was taken early in the morning from the entrance to Columbus Union Station. The camera is looking south. The 1928 trestle serving as the incoming drive from High Street is in the foreground. The city skyline with the Lincoln-Leveque tower is in the background.
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The trip is underway passing through the C&O Parsons Yard on the southside of columbus.
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Fred's neighborhood on the west side of Canal Winchester, viewed from the excursion train while crossing the railroad viaduct over Waterloo Street.
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Fred's mother waving from the station platform in Canal Winchester.
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Campbell Hill Tunnel on the way to Gallipolis then Pomeroy. There was an automatic block signal that protected traffic through the tunnel.
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Passengers are getting off the Fall Excursion train in Pomeroy along side the Ohio River.
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A view down Main Street in Pomeroy from a ferris wheel. The C&O tracks are also visible.
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The Meigs County Courthouse as viewed from the ferris wheel. Per Mark Howell this courthouse has earned a spot in "Ripley's Believe It Or Not" for the fact it has outside entrances on all three floors (it's built against a steep hill).
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The train has been turned for the return trip to Columbus. It has been spotted along E. Main Street to pick up the passengers and head north (railroad direction west).