Cincinnati, Columbus, and Hocking Valley Railway Bed
Also known as the Kingman Branch of the DT&I Railroad or the Waynesville, Port William & Jeffersonville Railroad
My in-laws have a driveway that is about 1/4 mile long. When my wife and I first started dating, we used to drive around their property and I noted how the driveway was raised somewhat and continued on into the woods like that. It was then when Rachel told me that the driveway used to be a railroad bed! I thought that was too cool!!
My brother and I are BIG railroad fans, and to think that I might one day be related to someone with a historic railroad bed through their property was pretty neat.
Over the years I have tried to learn more and more about the railroad, and below are some bullet points of what I know (so far). There is also a Google Map I created below that shows the railroad bed as it is today, and the locations to note along the way.
- Railroad was called a “grasshopper” railway for how the small light-duty locomotives looked like a grasshopper
- Short line linking the grain mill in Port William to McKay station off McKay Road
- Many railways sprung up in the early 1800s (including this one) but most failed due to capacity, funding, or traffic.
- I’ve heard that the line once continued on to Jamestown from Port William, but that is not confirmed.
- The line was bought by the Hocking Valley Railway before it was finally disbanded around 1850.
View Cincinnati, Columbus, and Hocking Valley Railway Bed – Clinton County, OH in a larger map
If you have information on this railway bed, especially historical photos of the train, cars, stops, or crossings, please send them my way! I’ll add them to this page and credit you!! There is a guy in Port William that is said to be an expert on that line, but I’ve never been able to talk to him
I’m also interested in trying to see about converting the old freight line that still runs through Wilmington into a recreational line that takes passengers from Wilmington, OH to Circleville, OH on day trips for fun. Maybe one day even taking folks to Hocking Hills, not much further east! Let me know if you have ideas on how to start such a plan into action…
11 COMMENTS
I didn’t know that the old Morrow-to-Trinway rails were still in place between Wilmington and Circleville–is that the case? I grew up in Clarksville, and the rails disappeared from there long ago, in the 80s probably. They tore up the trestles that were near towns. I believe they left the ones out in the wilderness between Morrow and Clarksville, though.
I assume that the old DT&I crossed U.S. 68 at some point, but I didn’t remember ever seeing an old ROW when I traveled that road in the 60s. My dad pointed out where the “grasshopper” line ended in Kingman, and there was nothing at that location that would have marked it as a endpoint. I don’t remember any of the houses there looking like a converted station, for instance.
It looks like you are right on the Circleville connection. The line in Wilmington runs from the east-west line in Midland, north-east to Wilmington, then heads to Washington Court House. From their it goes on to Columbus and beyond. The spur in Washing CH only goes about 2 miles then becomes bikepath/trail to Circleville. I now recall the area you mentioned no longer having tracks. Well, my plan can be edited to destinations, but a train trip to Columbus sounds pretty cool too! Maybe I can find a group willing to put a steam locomotive into the mix for planning… That would be cool too! I think Midland still has an old junction station in place. Thanks for comment and please keep in touch!
The DT&I would have been gone in the Wilmington area by the 60s.
I would like to get together with you about the Grasshopper Line. I know alot of railroad fans and almost no one knows about this line. I think most of it was torn-up in 1933 or so. Thanks for your time. Robert
Robert, I’d still like to get with you on this too!- Roger
Re: Claysville Junction. I think I found it on the Clinton / Warren Co Auditors Web site. On the web site map, About a half mile south of Roxanne on the bike path ~ the old PRR rail line, is a piece of property that looks like a right hand turnout. What folks call a switch. I am a Realtor and a model railroader. I’ve found the auditors maps to be great tools for finding the old railroad lines. This is at the end of Collett Rd at Spring Valley Lake. I went there and could not find anything remaining of the station. Sorry, not much to see. Also, Roxanne was re-named to honor a longtime post mistress, the original name was Claysville. And winter is the best time to look for old rail lines. Hope this helps. Looking for info. On railroads in New Burlington and Osborn. Thanks.
Cool, thanks Bill! I am hoping to get with Mike Mason soon. He’s hard to track down, but is supposed to be the expert on the old grasshopper line in the area. I was hunting off the top of the trestle in my in-laws field this past week. Just sat there pondering the old line and the work they did to add it. Found another cool tip, using Google Earth and using the terrain you can see places where the old line(s) were leveled out. If any of you all are in the area at all, it might be fun to meet-up to chat about these old lines. Maybe I can wrangle Mike to meet too. – Roger
For those following this post, I spoke to Mike Mason tonight and am supposed to meet with him next Saturday at his house to talk about the grasshopper railway. He refers to it as the DTI railway. Hoping to get some good info, and start putting together content for a book on this line and others like it!
Today was the 3rd Saturday I’ve spent talking to Mike Mason about the old “grasshopper” or DT&I Kingman branch line. I’ve added a longer route and more point markers to the map above. I’m working on a book with him! Very good info and history!
I have some information someone may find useful. I live NE of Bowersville, Oh and can see the “Grasshopper” railroad bed a short distance from my front door. The Station House in Bowersville is still standing but not visible from the street. When I was a kid, I found a railroad spike that I believe is from the Grasshopper.
According to a couple of different sources, the tracks were removed in the early 1930’s.
Hi Mark! I would be very interested in talking to you! I am working with a man who is likely the most knowledgeable person living on the old Grasshopper, and I am writing a book with him. The time frame you mentioned is spot-on. Any information, items, or photos you may have from the old line, would be very interesting to us! Call or text me sometime: 937-287-0145. I’m just down the line from you on Port William Road. – Roger