Akron and Barberton Belt Railroad
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Railroad |
| Founded | 1901 |
| Defunct | 1994 |
| Fate | Acquired by Akron Barberton Cluster Railway |
| Headquarters | Akron, Ohio , United States |
Area served | Barberton and Akron, Ohio |
| Products | Freight transportation services (chemical freight cars, plastic pellets, coal) |
Akron and Barberton Belt Railroad
The Akron and Barberton Belt Railroad (ABB) functioned as a switching railroad servicing industrial clients in both Barberton and Akron. It was established through the merger of multiple independent rail lines amounting to , subsequently growing by acquiring additional tracks to connect with vital manufacturing locations.
Primarily, ABB handled the switching of chemical freight cars for prominent customers including Pittsburgh Plate Glass, Babcox and Wilcox Companies, and O.C. Barber's match factory situated in Barberton. Control of the railroad was shared among the Akron, Canton and Youngstown Railroad, Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, Pennsylvania Railroad, and Erie Railroad. ABB exchanged freight cars with the Erie Railroad at Barberton; with the Pennsylvania Railroad in both Barberton and Akron; with the Akron Canton & Youngstown at East Akron and Belt Junction; and with the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad at East Akron and Barberton. The railroad exclusively provided freight transportation services.
The East Akron route extended from south of Barberton, passing through Kenmore, South Akron, and East Akron, before ending at the Akron Canton and Youngstown Brittian Yard. Meanwhile, the Fairlawn line stretched northward from Barberton to connect with the Akron Canton and Youngstown Railroad at Belt Junction. Although the interchange yard at Belt Junction suffered damage in the early 1900s, it was rehabilitated around World War II to handle surplus traffic originating from the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing facility near Copley.
Between 1942 and 1972, ABB operated four Baldwin switching locomotives. Prior to this period, it utilized Pennsylvania Railroad-designed 0-6-0 switchers equipped with tender "doghouses" to accommodate crews due to a shortage of cabooses until the 1940s. In 1964, ABB added an ALCO RS-3 locomotive acquired from the Pennsylvania Railroad. By 1972, aging locomotives were dismantled as ABB shifted to leasing power units from Precision National Corporation and occasionally from its parent companies, notably the Norfolk and Western Railroad. Two EMD SW1500 locomotives were purchased from Conrail in October 1982, which remained in service until ABB ceased corporate operations.
A major setback occurred in 1984 when PPG Industries shut down most of its Barberton facilities, resulting in a loss of approximately 65% of ABB’s freight volume. Nevertheless, ABB expanded in 1985 by acquiring Conrail track segments in Rittman, thereby gaining access to plants operated by Morton Salt and Packaging Corporation of America.
In 1994, ownership of ABB transferred to the Akron Barberton Cluster Railway (ABCR), a subsidiary of the Wheeling and Lake Erie Railway. Subsequently, ABCR assumed control over sections extending from Firestone Park to W&LE’s Britain yard in east Akron, as well as the line running north from Barberton to Belt Junction in Fairlawn along with an industrial spur within Barberton. The primary yard underwent reconstruction in 2005 to accommodate the newly constructed Robinson Avenue viaduct. Present-day freight operations include shipments of plastic pellets destined for Landmark Plastics and Rubbermaid, coal deliveries occurring three times weekly, and distribution services for the Akron Beacon Journal.
Track ownership is held by Akron METRO, which also oversees local transit operations. Strategic initiatives are underway aiming to stimulate industrial development while restoring former Erie Lackawanna lines for both freight and passenger use connecting to Kent State University.
ABCR manages former Erie routes extending from Kent through Barberton to Rittman.
Plans are underway for a rail trail known as the Rubber City Heritage Trail along portions of this corridor.