The Cincinnati and Muskingum Valley Railroad

The Cincinnati and Muskingum Valley Railroad connected Trinway, OH with Morrow, OH. At Trinway, it seamlessly connected to Cleveland Akron & Columbus Railroad, of whom both lines were part of the Pennsylvania Railroad System.



Incorporated in 1851, the road began construction from Morrow and reached Zanesville five years later, reaching its full extent in 1870. After an 1863 foreclosure, it was reorganized as the Cincinnati & Zanesville Railroad, only for the Pennsylvania to assume control of the line seven years later, when it was extended to Trinway. It formally merged with the aforementioned CA&C Railroad in 1911.

Right of way at the red arrow. Image: Map showing the route and connections of the Bellaire, Zanesville and Cincinnati Railway. Library of Congress

The line continued to operate under Pennsylvania's control in its entirety until the 1950's, when passenger service was abolished. But by the 1970's, Pennsylvania's successor railroads, the Penn Central Railroad and Conrail began to abandon large parts of the line,

Cincinnati & Muskingum Valley (PRR Zanesville Branch) trestle along Kunker Road in Salem Township, looking west along the top of the trestle. Image: Jeffrey B. Jakucyk

Save for a small stretch of operation at Circleville, an 89 mile stretch of line has been abandoned between Morrow, OH to Lancaster, OH, as is a 5.7 mile stretch between North Berne and Bremen, OH, and finally a 15 mile stretch between Zanesville and Trinway notated on the map as Killbuck, OH to N of Zanesville, OH, as since the entire stretch of that right of way is abandoned and was under Pennsylvania control or its successors for the vast majority of its life, it was given a single line on the map. 

The 89 mile mainline abandonment on our Abandoned Railroad Map.

Finally, between Washington Court House and Wilmington, OH, the line was closely paralleled by the B&O Railroad, and this line still survives to this day. This section of the line is now the Clinton Fayette Friendship Trail. The rest of the line not mentioned above remains in service today.

Thanks as always for reading!

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