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Cuyahoga Valley Scenic To Repower Two FPA4s

Cuyahoga Valley Scenic To Repower Two FPA4s

Published: February 19, 2026

A pair of classic, streamlined Alco/MLW FPA4 locomotives that have become signature power on the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad (CVSR) are slated for a major mechanical transformation: their diesel prime movers will be replaced with modern electric propulsion as part of a $3.5 million project supported by Ohio environmental funding. The initiative, announced in mid-January, is being framed as a way to keep beloved heritage equipment in frontline service while reducing the exhaust emissions produced by daily excursion operations through Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

Cuyahoga Valley Scenic FPA-4 #6777 is bringing up the rear of a southbound excursion at Independence, Ohio on September 24, 2022. Doug Kroll photo.

According to CVSR, the project will “repower” two 1959-built Alco FPA4 locomotives—units that currently handle a significant share of the railroad’s regular passenger schedule—by removing their diesel engines and installing “modern electric propulsion.” The total project cost is stated as $3.5 million, with approximately $2.1 million coming from Ohio EPA grant programs.

The funding is tied to diesel-emissions-reduction efforts and, as multiple reports note, is connected to the broader pool of Volkswagen Clean Air Act settlement dollars that states have used for cleaner transportation initiatives.

While “electric propulsion” can mean a range of technical solutions—from battery-electric systems to other forms of onboard energy storage or hybrid architectures—CVSR’s public statement does not yet provide detailed specifications such as the chosen vendor, energy source, range, charging strategy, or whether the locomotives will retain any form of onboard combustion generator. For now, the key takeaway is the intent: replacing the diesel prime movers with an electric drive system while keeping the historic locomotives operational on the railroad’s excursion trains.

CVSR operates within the boundaries of Cuyahoga Valley National Park, and both the railroad and Ohio EPA emphasized the air-quality benefits of cutting diesel exhaust in a heavily visited outdoor setting. CVSR estimates the two locomotives currently consume about 12,800 gallons of diesel per year and collectively emit more than 700 tons of carbon dioxide annually—figures that have been widely repeated in coverage of the announcement.

In a statement carried by CVSR, Ohio EPA Director John Logue said repowering the historic locomotives helps keep “Ohio heritage on the tracks” while reducing diesel emissions. CVSR President and CEO Larry Stevenson likewise called the grant a milestone that supports the railroad’s mission in the national park, improves efficiency, and keeps the locomotives running for future generations.

The preservation trade-off

Any project that swaps out the heart of a locomotive tends to spark debate, and this one is no exception. For some, the appeal of an FPA4 is inseparable from its prime mover sound and period-correct mechanics; replacing the original V-12 model 251B diesel engine is seen by many enthusiasts as erasing part of what makes the unit historically important. On the other hand, many heritage railroads face increasing pressure—financial, regulatory, and social—to reduce both emissions and operational costs, particularly when operating on publicly owned corridors or in sensitive environments.

CVSR is leaning into the latter argument: that modernization can be a preservation strategy in itself. In other words, if an electric repower is what keeps an iconic locomotive earning its keep on the head end, then the railroad can justify the change as “preservation through continued use,” rather than retirement or replacement with a modern diesel.

Timeline

As of the railroad’s January 15 update, CVSR had announced the grant and the broad scope—two FPA4s, modern electric propulsion, and the project’s cost and fuel/emissions baseline—but did not publish a firm schedule for when the conversions will be completed or how service will be handled during the work. Trains.com also noted it sought additional information from the railroad, including a project timeline.

Those next-step details will matter to riders and railfans alike: whether the conversions happen one unit at a time, whether the railroad will lease interim power, and what the converted locomotives will look and sound like in operation.

If CVSR’s plan moves from grant announcement to finished locomotives, it could become a closely watched test case for how far “green” technology can be integrated into heritage railroad operations without sacrificing the experience that draws riders in the first place. The big questions now are practical: what exact electric system will be used, how it will be fueled or charged, what performance it will deliver on a busy excursion schedule, and what lessons other tourist lines—especially those operating in environmentally sensitive areas—might take from the results.

About The CVSR

CVSR is a nonprofit excursion railroad best known for carrying visitors through the heart of Cuyahoga Valley National Park between the Akron area and the Cleveland suburbs. The railroad’s route is commonly described as about 26 miles, running through Cuyahoga and Summit counties along the Cuyahoga River valley.

For many visitors, CVSR is less about “getting somewhere” and more about experiencing the park from a different vantage point—especially in fall color season. The National Park Service highlights the scenic ride as a distinctive way to experience the park, and notes that schedules vary seasonally with primary stations including Rockside and Akron Northside.

Beyond traditional round trips, CVSR is also associated with trail-and-train experiences. The NPS describes a seasonal “Explorer” concept where visitors can bike, hike, or paddle one way and take the train back—an approach that ties the railroad directly into the park’s recreation network.

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