Akron, Bedford and Cleveland Railroad
| Company type | Interurban railroad |
|---|---|
| Industry | Transportation |
| Founded | November 18, 1895 |
| Defunct | 1932 |
| Fate | Merged to form Northern Ohio Traction and Light Company |
| Headquarters | Akron, Ohio , United States |
Area served | Akron to Cleveland, Ohio |
| Products | Passenger rail transport |
The Akron, Bedford and Cleveland Railroad (commonly known as ABC or the Alphabet Railroad) commenced operations on November 18, 1895, linking Akron with Cleveland, Ohio. At its inception, it held the distinction of being the world's longest electrified railway line. Passengers could journey from Akron to Cleveland's Public Square in approximately two and a half hours for a fare of fifty cents. The route passed through several communities, including Stow, Cuyahoga Falls, Hudson, Brandywine, Macedonia, Northfield, Bedford, Warrensville Heights, and Shaker Heights before arriving at the Cleveland Union Depot. Around the turn of the 20th century, ABC merged with other nearby railroads to create the Northern Ohio Traction and Light Company (NOT&LCo), which managed operations until 1932.
Remaining traces
Although the railroad ceased functioning nearly eight decades ago, tangible evidence of its presence still exists. In Macedonia, Ohio, at the intersection of Route 82 and Route 8, a brick structure built in 1905 by NOT&LCo—now owned by FirstEnergy—served as the Macedonia station. Adjacent to this building once ran double tracks parallel to what is now the southbound lanes of Route 8. The original single-track section extended through Northfield Center from Fells Corner (Olde 8 and Route 82) to Chittenden's Corner (Olde 8 and 303), which was abandoned in 1916. This alignment corresponds with today's Olde Eight Road. Northward, the line followed Broadway Avenue from Bedford into Cleveland. Much of the former railroad corridor lies beneath present-day thoroughfares such as Route 8, Northfield Road, Hudson Drive, and Broadway Road. At the junction of Olde Eight Road and Route 303, bridge abutments remain where ABC once spanned over the Lake Erie & Pittsburg Railway / New York Central Line. Various segments have been repurposed as bicycle and pedestrian trails or function as access routes for utilities.
Heritage
This railway played a crucial role in laying groundwork for subsequent transportation infrastructure and influenced regional growth patterns. Its path is still discernible through satellite imagery by way of paved streets, contemporary rail lines, historic edifices, neglected corridors, and surviving stone bridge supports.