(erielack) E-L Main Cortland, Oh.

[RJFlei_@_aol.com]

Fellow Listers,
    NS has once again used the 2nd District mainline between Warren and 
Cortland for storing a string of intermodal cars, as they did last Winter. 
Hopefully, this Spring, the ore trains will be running again to WCI Steel via 
this trackage. These are the only trains to use this trackage.
    WCI is in financial trouble due to the dumping of foreign steel. WCI has 
decided not to reline the Warren blast furnace do to tight finances. Sometime 
in the future the furnace will HAVE to be relined. If not, and the furnace is 
shut down, it will be the end of iron making in the Mahoning Valley,  and 
probably the end of the old 2nd Dist. for the most part (except for Ohio 
Central's switching operations around North Warren).
    It should be noted that at one time, the Warren  blast furnace, was the 
largest in the world.
    I should also note that NS has been replacing ties and adding some new 
ballast along the line during the Fall.

Rick Fleischer
Cortland, Oh.

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