Ohio River and Western Railroad
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Railroad |
| Predecessor | Bellaire and Southwestern Railway |
| Founded | 1875 |
| Defunct | 1931 |
| Fate | Abandoned and dissolved in 1935 |
Area served | Southeastern Ohio |
| Products | Rail transport |
The Ohio River & Western Railroad was a narrow gauge railway established in 1875, operating from approximately 1877 or 1878 until its closure in 1931 across southeastern Ohio. Its route connected Bellaire on the eastern end to Zanesville on the western side.
Initially constructed in 1876 under the name Bellaire and Southwestern Railway, the line originated at Bellaire along the Ohio River. Service commenced in the late 1870s and reached Woodsfield by 1880. By 1884, the railway had extended its reach to Zanesville, incorporating nine miles of track leased from the Muskingum County Railway for its western portion. Around this period, the company was renamed Bellaire, Zanesville and Cincinnati Railroad. To access the final mile into the Zanesville station, trackage rights were obtained through an agreement with the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad.
In 1903, the railroad adopted the title Ohio River and Western Railway.
Beginning in 1928, the company started downsizing its operations by selling off the segment west of Lawton to the PO&D. Subsequently, the portion between Lawton and Woodsfield was abandoned. Operations were fully discontinued in 1931; in April of that year, the section from Key to Bellaire was transferred to the Pittsburgh, Ohio Valley and Cincinnati Railroad. The final train ran on May 30, 1931, followed immediately by complete abandonment of the line. The corporation was officially dissolved in 1935.