Скачать или смотреть The Muskingum Electric Railroad, from Guy Wicksall, June of 1995

This is the first long video of the Muskingum Electric Railroad that exists on YouTube, courtesy of Guy J. Wicksall, (@GuyWicksall). This video was cut down from a larger clip of Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee shortlines from a video that Guy shot in June of 1995. I have cut down his original video to focus on the MERR exclusively, for the non-commercial purpose of preserving documentation of this obscure and highly unique operation. Note that reproduction is explicitly permitted as per the title frames of the original video. Also note that the slide from which the video thumbnail is derived is an original 35mm slide that the MERR Preservation owns.

This video contains some exceedingly rare footage of the unique operation, particularly the push-pull configuration, which includes a hopper car that is equipped with a light an horn, near the end of the video.

Video Chapters:
00:00 Opening pass, in pull mode.
03:45 Bridge crossing, with E50C horn.
04:14 Unloading dock, with water stream to reduce coal dust.
05:07 Begin push mode back to the loading area.
08:39 Continued push mode, including the horn on the leading coal hopper.

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This channel is dedicated to the video preservation of the Muskingum Electric Railroad (MERR), a very obscure, but highly unique heavy electric shortline railroading operation in Ohio from ~1968 to 2002. The MERR transported coal for AEP / Central Ohio Coal from the Muskingum Mines to the Muskingum PowerPlant (primarily Unit #4), along the Muskingum River, (technically Beverly, Ohio). It was unique for several reasons, including its automated electrical control design, simple-yet-effective high-voltage (25kv AC) catenary system, powerful electric locomotives (the GE E50C was listed with higher tractive effort than a GG1), custom Ortner 100-ton coal hoppers in two unit trains (with cars outfitted with a light and horn for push-pull opertion, the only known railroad with such a configuration for operation), among several others. It ran a single-track RoW through some beautiful Ohio countryside.

This system fascinates me, not only for the reasons above, but as one with engineering background, as a railfan and as a fan of juicejacks. It can be hard to explain why a particular railroading operation seizes one’s imagination, but this one has mine.Over the years I have made a hobby of collecting original slides of the MERR operation, (now approaching 300). In recent years, that hobby has developed into more of a preservation effort, where I am collecting ANYTHING that is connected to the MERR – from ‘easy-to-find’ documentation in the form of ‘Trains’ or old railroad industry periodicals, to the ‘one-of-a-kind’ AEP company magazines, AEP locomotive prints, locomotive drawings and related material. I have uploaded a few slides have been uploaded to Railpictures, (I am the only one who has MERR photos there). The end goal is to compile a complete history of this operation’s story and place in railroad history. I am doing this by creating a large slide photo website, along with my own text based on all the documentation I possess. I am also using ArcGIS Pro & QGIS to create an interactive web mapping application of the line and details around it, using current map layers, older satellite imagery, and other sources. My online presence is limited to framework at this point, on YouTube, SmugMug and ArcGIS Online. In other words, the links are there, but there is very little content as yet, as I am in the middle of a long process of scanning the slides and other material I have. And of course, videos of the system are all but impossible to find; I currently have two.I am currently looking for any artifact or information related to the MERR, but in particular – original slides, digital or print photos, maps, and documentation of any kind. Even more valuable would be any first-hand accounts I can note, (one of which I already received from a gracious member of TO). I am willing to pay reasonable prices for any of these items, with the foreknowledge of a preservation use. For anyone who may have any of the above items to share or sell, please know that they will be properly cared for, and displayed as they should.

One may say, “who cares about a shortline that transported coal (yuck) over 50 years ago??” Simply put, I do (when I have time to anyway), and I’d like to try to preserve this one little piece of railroad history how I can. I would greatly appreciate any assistance. I can be reached by PM on Train Orders (namurry9791) or by emailing me with the address on this channel. Thank you!