Marion, Ohio

Other great locations to see and photograph trains include the concrete coaling tower on NS that is visible north of the city, adjacent to the U.S. 23 bypass. You’ll get great views of CSX in downtown Marion and of the yard from Ohio 309/Kenton Avenue. Also, the Warehouse Italian Restaurant, occupying the former Columbus, Delaware & Marion interurban station, is located on Center Street.

Both railroads operate about 40 trains a day with a good mix of traffic, including automobiles, auto parts, coal, grain, and intermodal. CSX’s traffic is split evenly between its two lines. There is a connection between the two in the northwest quadrant that sees 5 to 7 trains a day. All three lines through Marion are operated timetable direction east and west.

CSX and NS both operate locals based here. CSX’s C799 serves the Mount Victory Sub and is based out of the former Erie yard; the H792 local serves the C&O and is based out of Parsons Yard in Columbus. NS local L38 is based out of its yard in Marion.

CSX container trains Q107 and Q106, to and from the Kansas City Southern at Rose Lake (East St. Louis), Ill., originate and terminate five days a week at the Marion Industrial Center. Both regularly have KCS power. CSX also originates an overnight turn, known as Q109, that moves traffic between Marion and the railroad’s North Baltimore, Ohio, container facility. Trains arriving and departing from the intermodal yard can be viewed from a park adjacent to Route 309 at the west end of the facility, as well as from the museum complex.