Youngstown Belt Railroad
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Youngstown, Ohio |
| Reporting mark | YB |
| Locale | Ohio |
| Dates of operation | 1997–present |
| Technical | |
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge |
The Youngstown Belt Railroad (reporting mark YB) is a part of the Ohio Central Railroad System, which was bought by Genesee & Wyoming Inc. in 2008, serving the area northwest of Youngstown, Ohio. It began operations in 1997, mainly on ex-Erie Railroad trackage owned by the affiliated Warren and Trumbull Railroad (W&T), which acquired the "Lordstown Cluster" from Conrail in 1996. It also leases a short ex-Baltimore and Ohio Railroad segment from CSX Transportation, formerly operated by the W&T.
The company operates in three separate areas near Warren, Niles, and Youngstown, connected by trackage rights over the Norfolk Southern Railway. In addition to its connections with affiliated railroads – the Warren and Trumbull Railroad at Warren, Ohio and Youngstown and Austintown Railroad at Youngstown, Ohio – it interchanges in Youngstown, Ohio with Norfolk Southern at Youngstown, Ohio and with CSX at Ohio Junction. The track spans 5 miles and is rated for rail cars up to 286,000 pounds.