The first steam engine traveled down the new Valley Railway in 1880, beginning an era of progress for the Cuyahoga Valley. Regional industrial growth increased demand for coal and other raw materials, and the railway connected mineral fields in the south to factories in the north. Promoters called it "the best coal and mineral railroad in Ohio." The railway accelerated industry, carried passengers on scenic day trips through the countryside, and made depots into community hubs where people gathered for mail and telegraphs. Today, the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad follows much of the same route through Cuyahoga National Park and the Ohio and Erie Canalway.
