Pennsylvania Railroad and New York Central were the two main railroads serving Columbus, with each railroad operating lines in several directions. The PRR main line extended from New York and Pittsburgh to Indianapolis and St. Louis. A secondary PRR main line extended northwest to Logansport and Chicago. And the PRR Akron Branch extended northeast towards Cleveland, and the Sandusky Branch extended north to Sandusky. Columbus was on the NYC Big Four line from Cleveland to Cincinnati, and was also served by the NYC Ohio Central line from Toledo to Charleston WV. Also serving Columbus was the Baltimore & Ohio secondary main line between Pittsburgh and Cincinnati, the Chesapeake & Ohio line from Toledo to Ashland KY connecting with its main line from Cincinnati to Virginia, a C&O branch line to Athens OH, and the Norfolk & Western line to Portsmouth OH connecting with its main line from Cincinnati to Virginia. The B&O and PRR lines east towards Pittsburgh were actually a joint line, with joint operation ending in Newark OH. C&O trains arriving Columbus required a backup move from HV Jct., and trackage rights via PRR east of Dennison Avenue. C&O's Athens Subdivision diverged from the main line at Mosel, 8 miles south of Columbus. NYC Ohio Central trains used the NYC Big Four line between Union Station and Grandview, diverging at Grandview north to Toledo or diverging at GN Tower south to Charleston.
Significant Locations and Distances from Station
Newark (33 miles E) - east end of B&O/PRR joint line.
Joyce Avenue (2 miles E) - junction of PRR Akron Branch, Sandusky Branch, N&W with trackage rights.
Neilston (E of Station) - junction of B&O/PRR joint line, NYC Big Four.
US Tower (E of Station) - junction of B&O/PRR joint line, PRR Akron Branch.
High Street (W of Station) - junction of PRR Indianapolis, Logansport lines, NYC/B4.
Dennison Avenue (1/2 mile W) - junction of PRR Logansport line, C&O connection.
HV Jct. (1 mile W) - junction of C&O connection with main line.
GN Tower (2 miles W) - junction of NYC Big Four, B&O with trackage rights.
Grandview (3 miles W) - junction of NYC Big Four and Ohio Central lines.