Ohio EPA Partners with CVSR to Electrify Historic Locomotives

Ohio EPA News

Published January 12th, 2026

Detected March 22nd, 2026

Summary

The Ohio EPA is partnering with the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad (CVSR) to repower two historic diesel locomotives with electric engines, allocating $2.1 million in grants from the Diesel Emission Reduction Act and Diesel Mitigation Trust Fund. This initiative aims to preserve railroad heritage while reducing significant carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions impacting Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

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What changed

The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio EPA) has announced a partnership with the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad (CVSR) to fund the conversion of two historic diesel locomotives to electric power. The project, costing approximately $3.5 million, will be supported by $2.1 million in grants from Ohio EPA's Diesel Emission Reduction Act (DERA) and Diesel Mitigation Trust Fund (DMTF). This initiative is funded by dollars allocated to Ohio from a settlement with Volkswagen for Clean Air Act violations and aims to reduce annual emissions of over 700 tons of carbon dioxide and significant nitrogen oxide pollution.

This project will modernize CVSR's 1959 Alco FPA4 diesel engines, which currently consume 12,800 gallons of diesel annually. The conversion is expected to improve efficiency, support CVSR's mission within Cuyahoga Valley National Park, and preserve railroad heritage. While this is a grant-funded project and not a direct regulatory mandate on other entities, it highlights a trend towards emission reduction in the transportation sector, particularly for legacy equipment operating in sensitive environmental areas. Compliance officers should note the source of funding (Volkswagen settlement) and the environmental benefits achieved, which may inform future grant opportunities or environmental initiatives.

Source document (simplified)

January 12, 2026

COLUMBUS, OH (January 12, 2026) – Ohio EPA is partnering with the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad (CVSR) to repower two historic diesel-powered locomotives with electric engines. The project will preserve Ohio’s railroad heritage while reducing emissions in one of the state’s treasured natural areas.

The approximately $3.5 million project will modernize locomotives that have served generations of visitors traveling through Cuyahoga Valley National Park (CVNP). Ohio EPA’s Diesel Emission Reduction Act (DERA) and Diesel Mitigation Trust Fund (DMTF) grants will support $2.1 million of the total project cost.

“By repowering these historic machines with electric engines, it’s helping to keep Ohio heritage on the tracks, while not having to worry about diesel emissions,” Ohio EPA Director John Logue said. “Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad provides such a unique opportunity for Ohioans to explore some of the most picturesque landscapes in the Midwest, and it’s an honor to contribute to that cause for generations to come.”

The two locomotives currently contain 1959 Alco FPA4 diesel engines and operate as primary power for CVSR's scenic excursion trains. Both units are in daily seasonal service, logging more than 1,500 hours annually and pulling 4-8 passenger cars along the 26-mile route between Cuyahoga and Summit counties. Each trip carries more than 300 riders, offering one of the most scenic rail experiences.

These legacy engines consume approximately 12,800 gallons of diesel each year and collectively emit more than 700 tons of carbon dioxide. This directly impacts air quality in the national park that is visited by more than two million people annually.

“This grant from Ohio EPA marks an important milestone for Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad,” CVSR President and CEP Larry Stevenson said. “Repowering our heritage locomotives from diesel to electric improves efficiency, supports our mission within Cuyahoga Valley National Park, and, most importantly, allows us to preserve the legacy of railroad travel by keeping these historic locomotives on the rails for future generations. We are grateful to Ohio EPA for their partnership and support.”

"Building a strong partnership with Ohio EPA has been both productive and energizing,” CVSR Director of Development and Community Relations Michele Savoldi said. “Our shared excitement in pioneering this historic initiative within a national park right here in Ohio demonstrates what collaboration can achieve.”

The grants were funded with dollars allocated to Ohio from the settlement of an enforcement action taken against Volkswagen and its affiliated companies by the U.S. EPA and the state of California for violations under the Clean Air Act. The grant program invested $75 million over a 10-year period to reduce nitrogen oxide pollution in Ohio.

A settlement filed in federal court allocated funds to states based on the number of vehicles with the illegal devices that were registered in each state.

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About Ohio EPA
The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency was created in 1972 to consolidate efforts to protect and improve air quality, water quality and waste management in Ohio. Since then, air pollutants dropped by as much as 90 percent; large rivers meeting standards improved from 21 percent to 89 percent; and hundreds of polluting, open dumps were replaced with engineered landfills and an increased emphasis on waste reduction and recycling.