Muskingum Electric Railroad
John Benson Photo • Doug Harrop Collection • March 18, 1985
The Muskingum Electric Railroad was a unique 20-mile private electrified rail line in southeast Ohio. Built by American Electric Power and opened in 1968-1969, it shuttled coal from the Central Ohio Coal Company's Muskingum mine near Cumberland to the Muskingum River Power Plant at Relief.
The railroad utilized overhead catenary to power two custom-built General Electric E50C electric locomotives, and gained fame as the first automated, driverless heavy electric railroad in the USA.
As local surface-mining operations wound down and economic reserves depleted, the captive railway shut down in January 2002.
Muskingum Electric Railroad
John Benson Photo • Doug Harrop Collection • March 18, 1985
The Muskingum Electric Railroad was a unique 20-mile private electrified rail line in southeast Ohio. Built by American Electric Power and opened in 1968-1969, it shuttled coal from the Central Ohio Coal Company's Muskingum mine near Cumberland to the Muskingum River Power Plant at Relief.
The railroad utilized overhead catenary to power two custom-built General Electric E50C electric locomotives, and gained fame as the first automated, driverless heavy electric railroad in the USA.
As local surface-mining operations wound down and economic reserves depleted, the captive railway shut down in January 2002.