Flats Industrial Railroad

Infobox SG rail
railroad_name = Flats Industrial Railroad
logo_filename =
logo_size =
system_

map_caption =
map_size =
marks = FIR, FIRS


image_size =
image_caption = Flats Industrial Railroad
locale = Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio
start_year = 1996Cite web
title=Vol. 66, No. 221/Thursday, November 15, 2001/Notices STB Finance Docket No. 34108
publisher=Federal Register
url=http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/ContentViewer?objectId=09000064803013c9&disposition=attachment&contentType=pdf
format=PDF]
end_year = Present
predecessor_line = ConRail
successor_line =
length = Convert|4|mi|kmCite web
title=Table 1-13: Freight Railroads Operating in Ohio by Class: 2000
publisher=Bureau of Transportation Statistics
url=http://www.bts.gov/publications/state_transportation_statistics/ohio/html/table_01_13.html
format=HTML]
hq_city = 1757 Columbus Road, Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio 44113
website = Flats Industrial Railroad Company reporting mark|FIR|FIRSCite web
title=Railroad Listing by Railroad Name - F
publisher=Federal Railroad Administration, United States Department of Transportation
url=http://safetydata.fra.dot.gov/Objects/Railroad%20code/Railroad%20name%20f.pdf
format=PDF ] is a Class III railroad which provides short-line commercial/industrial switching service in Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, primarily with either (CSX) CSX Corporation or (NSR) Norfolk Southern Railway Company.

History

The history of trains in the Cuyahoga Valley stretches back more than 100 years. In 1880, the Valley Railway began operations, transporting coal to Cleveland, Akron, and Canton from the Tuscarawas River Valley and providing passenger service along the way. After a decade of operation, the Valley Railway became part of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. In the 20th century, competition from automobiles, trucks, and buses caused the decline of both freight and passenger service.

Right-of-way ownership transitioned over the years from Valley Railway to Cleveland Terminal & Valley Railroad (CT&V), to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, to the Chessie System.

Today

Flats Industrial Railroad acquired their rails and right-of-way within the Flats District (Cleveland) from former ConRail. The Class III Short Line railroad now operates as the Flats Industrial Railroad Company (FIR/FIRS).

Flats Industrial Railroad provides Short-Line switching services to industrial customers in the area from either CSX Corporation or Norfolk Southern Corporation. FIR employs one employee (their locomotive engineer).Cite web
title=TOTAL EMPLOYMENT BY STATE AND LAST RAILROAD EMPLOYER - CALENDAR YEAR 2006
publisher=Railroad Retirement Board
url=http://www.rrb.gov/pdf/act/TotalEmployment2006.pdf
format=PDF]

Equipment

Flats Industrial Railroad initially operated one switching locomotive, later adding a second locomotive.Cref|B

Locomotives

Images and media

Facilities

Infobox Bridge
bridge_name = Flats Industrial Railroad vertical lift bridge


caption = Flats Industrial Railroad vertical lift bridge
official_name =
carries = Flats Industrial Railroad
crosses = Cuyahoga River
locale = Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio
maint = Flats Industrial Railroad
id =
designer =
design = Metal Riveted Warren Through Truss, Stationary, Vertical lift bridge
material = Steel
spans = 1
pierswater = 0
mainspan = Convert|260|ft|m
length = Convert|260|ft|m
width =
height =
load =
clearance =
below =
traffic =
begin =
complete =
open = 1953
closed =
toll =
map_cue =
map_

map_text =
map_width =
coordinates = Coord|41|29|31.5|N|81|41|59.25|W|region:US-OH_type:landmark|name=FIR vertical lift bridge
lat =
long = All locations are in Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio:Infobox rail line
name = (former) ConRail/PennCentral Clark branch and DK yard
color =

logo_width =


image_width =
caption = Flats Industrial Railroad
type = Industrial Freight Short-line railroad
system = Flats Industrial Railroad
status =
locale = Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio
start = "CP Knob" switch connection with CSX/NS
end = 1. Train Avenue and Willey Road 2. Carter and Scranton road 3. Carter and Old River road 4. FIR siding, Fall and French street 5. FIR siding, Fall and French street 6. FIR siding, Fall and French street 7. flour mill, Merwin street 8. flour mill, Merwin street 9. flour mill, Cuyahoga River 10. flour mill, Cuyahoga River
stations =
routes =
open = 1996
close =
owner = Flats Industrial Railroad
operator = Flats Industrial Railroad
character = Class III railroad
stock =
linelength = Convert|4|mi|km
tracklength = Convert|4|mi|km
notrack = 1 to 3
gauge = RailGauge|usstandard|al=on|lk=on
speed =
elevation = Convert|571|ft|m

Flats Industrial RailroadCleveland Union Terminal Branch
map_state = collapsed

Accidents

In 2005, FIR reported a single Highway-Rail Crossing incident, no other accidents, and no one killed or injured. [Cite web
title=Railroad Safety Statistics 2005 Annual Report
publisher=Federal Railroad Administration, United States Department of Transportation
url=http://safetydata.fra.dot.gov/Objects/bull2005-book.pdf
format=PDF
accessdate=2008-07-28] In 2004, FIR did not report any accidents (train, highway-rail crossing, other incidents). [Cite web
title=Railroad Safety Statistics 2004 Annual Report
publisher=Federal Railroad Administration, United States Department of Transportation
url=http://safetydata.fra.dot.gov/Objects/bull2004-book.pdf
format=PDF
accessdate=2008-07-28]

See also

*Cleveland railroad history
*List of crossings of the Cuyahoga River
*List of Ohio railroads
*Connecting or Neighboring Railroads::*Cleveland Commercial Railroad Reporting mark|CCRL:*CSX Transportation Reporting mark|CSXT:*Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad Reporting mark|CVSR,CVSX:*Cleveland Works Railway Reporting mark|CWRO:*Norfolk Southern Corporation Reporting mark|NS:*Newburgh and South Shore Railroad Reporting mark|NSS:*Wheeling and Lake Erie Railway Reporting mark|WE

Notes

Cnote|C|"CP" as in "CP Knob" refers to "Cleveland and Pittsburgh", a railroad subsidiary of Penn Central Railroad (PRR). FIR operates on what used to be the "Clark Branch" and the "DK Yard". The other bridge across the Cuyahoga River (OX/Flats Tower/Carter-Old River) in no longer used. FIR's interchange connection at "CP Knob" is to the CUT branch/main line. [Cite web
title=Lake Region - Cleveland Division Lakefront
publisher=Penn Central Railroad Online
url=http://pc.smellycat.com/pics/lake/clevlake/index.html
format=HTML
accessdate=2008-07-19] Cnote|D|Department of Transportation, Surface Transportation Board, STB Finance Docket No. 33044 Flats Industrial Railroad Company--Acquisition and Operation Exemption--Consolidated Rail Corporation Flats Industrial Railroad Company, a noncarrier, has filed a verified notice of exemption under 49 CFR 1150.31 to acquire by purchase, and to operate, approximately Convert|4|mi|km of rail lines owned by Consolidated Rail Corporation between M.P. 14 at Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, OH, and M.P. 10 at Carter Road, Cuyahoga County, OH, including the industrial lead to Cereal Food Processors, Inc. The proposed transaction was to have been consummated on or after October 1, 1996. Decided: October 3, 1996. [Cite web
title=DoT Report #21 - October, 1996
publisher=TrainNet.Org, Federal Register, Surface Transportation Board, United States Department of Transportation
url=http://www.trainnet.org/Libraries/Lib001/DOT-21.TXT
format=HTML
accessdate=2008-07-19]

References

General References

*Cite web
title=Railroad (RR) Codes and Names (Alphabetical Order by Name)
publisher=Federal Railroad Administration, United States Department of Transportation
url=http://safetydata.fra.dot.gov/Objects/rrcode.PDF
format=PDF
*Ohio Department of Transportation:*Cite web
title=RAILROADS IN OHIO
publisher=Ohio Department of Transportation
url=http://www.dot.state.oh.us/ohol/OHIO%20RRs.htm
format=HTML:*Cite web
title=OHIO RAILROADS EMERGENCY CONTACT LIST CODE
publisher=Ohio Department of Transportation
url=http://www.dot.state.oh.us/ohol/railroad%20emergency%20telephone%20numbers%20rev.%207-1-07.pdf
format=PDF
*Cite web
title=Railroads
publisher=Public Utilities Commission of Ohio
url=http://www.puco.ohio.gov/apps/regulatedcompanylist/index.cfm?IID=53
format=HTML
accessdate=2008-07-19
*Cite web
title=Short Line Details - 519 Flats Industrial Railroad Co.
publisher=Norfolk Southern Railway
url=http://www.nscorp.com/nscportal/nscorp/Customers/Shortline/shortline-directory.html?showshortlinedetail=true&road=FIR&state=OH
format=HTML
accessdate=2008-07-19

External links

*Expand list|date=June 2008