would it be possible to convert the abandoned Randall park mall and the Adjacent Thistledown race track into an inter-modal facility?

 

I know it would not be cheap or easy, but could it be done?

 

Is the site large enough?

 

Is the near by freight line adequate enough to supply a yard?

 

 

I'm not sure the need exists at this time. The existing intermodal yards at Maple Heights (Norfolk Southern) and Collinwood (CSX) are growing, but they haven't maxed out their physical capacity yet. And I suppose the North Randall area has the physical space, but the land is not situated correctly. For example, an efficient intermodal yard needs to be accessible by rail from both ends, so it needs to be several miles long along the existing rail corridor and perhaps only 250-750 feet wide.

 

Also the owner of Randall Park Mall has other ideas, including as a business incubator. The nearby freight line was the former Erie-Lackawanna First District between Cleveland and Youngstown, with through service on its own lines to the East Coast, and trackage rights over the Pittsburgh & Lake Erie to Youngstown. It was single-tracked east of the North Randall Yard circa 1965 and abandonment east of Mantua Township was approved on Nov. 30, 1981 and the tracks were pulled up the following summer.....

 

Before the Interstate Commerce Commission (today's Surface Transportation Board):

 

B 167 (SUB,302) 11-30-81 11156NRA

CONSOLIDATED RAIL CORPORATION

 

For approval of the abandonment of the Mantua Secondary Track in Portage and Trumbull Counties, State of Ohio, Limits of proposed Abandonment Mantua Milepost 27,5, Leavittsburg Milepost 49.5, Length of Line: 22.0 miles.