Ohio Central Railroad obtains grant for rail upgrade project

The Ohio Rail Development Commission (ORDC) recently approved a $502,775 grant to the Ohio Central Railroad (OHCR) to help fund the replacement of rail between Brewster and Beach City in Stark County.

OHCR interchanges with the Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway Co. (W&LE) in this area and carloads have more than doubled since 2019, ORDC officials said. The short line also connects with R. J. Corman Cleveland Line (RJC) just south of Brewster. To interchange with W&LE, RJC must traverse OHCR's track.

A portion of RJC’s traffic consists of hazardous material shipments. Additionally, interchange traffic at Brewster is expected to further increase due to volume growth on other Ohio railroads operated by Genesee & Wyoming Inc. OHCR is a G&W subsidiary.

“With the additional funding provided in the new state budget, this project is an excellent example of how the rail commission can help smaller railroads in the state improve reliability and safety by modernizing the rail infrastructure. "The reconstruction of the crossing at Angleway Street, an additional part of this project, will further support this effort,” said ORDC Executive Director Matthew Dietrich.