PENINSULA: The nonprofit scenic railroad in Ohio’s Cuyahoga Valley National Park says it logged about 214,000 passengers last year, reaching the highest ridership in its five decade history.
The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad says more than half of those were riders on the train’s scenic round trips at the Northeast Ohio park. Others came aboard for special event trains and programs.
One of the biggest draws is a holiday program tied to the popular story about a young boy’s winter journey on “The Polar Express.” That drew over 42,000 passengers last year.
The railroad says about 24,000 passengers hopped on the train through another ticket program offered to bicyclists, runners and hikers who need one-way rides.
Formed as a hobbyist railroad in the 1972, today the popular excursion railroad that runs through the Cuyahoga Valley National Park generates annual revenues of more than $3 million.