by Craig Sanders (Author)
Since 1975, the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad has provided transportation to and within the Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Northeast Ohio. Starting as a steam train operating on weekends for five months a year, the CVSR has evolved into a year-around operation with three trains a day Wednesday through Sunday during the summer and autumn. Vintage streamliner-era passenger cars offer visitors an opportunity to see the park from the train or disembark to explore it on foot or bicycle. The offerings also include beer- and wine-tasting specials, fine dining on select trains and educational programs for passengers of all ages. Polar Express trains in November and December take children on a mythical journey to the North Pole while visiting steam locomotives provide a glimpse of railroading of the past. Using tracks owned by the National Park Service, the CVSR is the longest continuously running national park-based railroad with the highest level of operations and ridership.