Actually the last Conrail trains ran down the old PRR through Hudson, Akron, and Barberton where it got on the former EL to Wadsworth in July 1994. It was a local that ran to Wadsworth and returned. WIAK was the symbol IIRC.
On one day, they ran from Motor Yard down the C&P to Hudson and then down the CA&C to South Akron Yard. Switching along the way.
On day 2 thay would continue on south to Barberton, then across the EL to Wadsworth where they would turn and go back to South Akron Yard, or on to Motor Yard if they had time. They ran out here three times a week, later twice a week.
The EL was broken between Rittman and Burbank within a year of the Conrail merger. There were no through trains after that, just locals.
Conrail abandoned the Rittman-Wadsworth section in 1986? and the city of Rittman bought it and had the Akron and Barberton Belt operate it. Then in July 1994, the A&BB and the former EL were sold to the Akron Barberton Cluster RR which operates it now.
Mike Spinelli
Wadsworth, Ohio
Erie Kent Division MP 215.5
Ohio Valley System virtual railroad
http://www.ohiovalleysystem.com"