Join the “Friends” at their 2026 Annual Meeting this year in Bellaire, Ohio. Enjoy engaging presentations and a guided walking and driving tour that brings to life the sights and sounds of Ohio’s last narrow-gauge railway – the Ohio River and Western Railway.
Learn about the railroad’s origins, explore historical and modern images of Bellaire. Discover the story of the last run and learn about our ongoing preservation efforts of the remaining equipment. The walking and driving tours include stops in the Bellaire and Shadyside areas.
The Library’s Local History Room will be open during the meeting and BPL’s Frank Curtis Narrow-Gauge Railroad collection will be available to view, along with other railroad related collections.
Agenda:
Registration: 9:45 am-10:00 am
Morning: 10:00 am – 10:15 am
- Annual Business Meeting
- Will Lawson, Friends Director
PowerPoint Presentations: 10:15 am – 12:30 pm
- John Sullivan and the Great Stone Viaduct, presented by Daniel Frizzi, author & historian
- Bellaire to Shadyside narrow-gauge origins, presented by Bill Logan, rail historian
- OR&W Preservation Efforts, presented by Bo DeCoy, modeler, Friends Director
Lunch: 12:30 – 1:00 pm
Afternoon Tour: 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm
- Great Stone Viaduct
- OR&W/B&O Station locations
- John Sullivan Memorial and Park
- OR&W turntable location
- Avondale Station
- Shadyside Station
- Coach #15
- Webb Mine location
- Lashley Station
- Mapleton Station
End of Tour: Dinner Shadyside on your own.
