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GROWTH OF THE RAILROAD
Orrville's growth and prosperity was tied closely to the growth of the railroad. The main lines of PRR, which was then the Pittsburgh, Ft. Wayne, and Chicago Railroad, was a single track. The C.A. & C. Railroad also ran through Orrville. The switching of cars from the Pittsburgh line to the C.A. & C. was done with a yoke of oxen. Then, locomotives burned wood which was piled along the right of way. Once, the supply of wood caught fire and threatened destruction of the village for several hours. It was finally extinguished by men, women, and children who formed bucket brigades. Today the single track railroad has been replaced by a two and four track system and engines are much heavier and more powerful. Seventy years ago the wood burning engines were replaced with coal burners, and the oxen team was replaced by steam and then with diesel. Because the two divisions of the PRR crossed here, W & LE surveyors thought this to be a necessary point for them to reach with their new railroad, consequently Orrville grew.
GROWTH OF THE RAILROAD
Orrville's growth and prosperity was tied closely to the growth of the railroad. The main lines of PRR, which was then the Pittsburgh, Ft. Wayne, and Chicago Railroad, was a single track. The C.A. & C. Railroad also ran through Orrville. The switching of cars from the Pittsburgh line to the C.A. & C. was done with a yoke of oxen. Then, locomotives burned wood which was piled along the right of way. Once, the supply of wood caught fire and threatened destruction of the village for several hours. It was finally extinguished by men, women, and children who formed bucket brigades. Today the single track railroad has been replaced by a two and four track system and engines are much heavier and more powerful. Seventy years ago the wood burning engines were replaced with coal burners, and the oxen team was replaced by steam and then with diesel. Because the two divisions of the PRR crossed here, W & LE surveyors thought this to be a necessary point for them to reach with their new railroad, consequently Orrville grew.