In 2015, service was restored to a short portion of the former B&O Lake Branch between Painesville and Grand River, Ohio. CSX abandoned the line in 2003, citing diminished traffic volume, despite customer protest. There was enough interest shown from potential purchasers for the line to be abandoned in place and not ripped up.

Its chance came in 2015 when the Great Lakes Port Corporation purchased the line to service Morton Salt's Grand River mine. In the intervening years, the line deteriorated greatly: ties rotted, ballast disappeared, and rails kinked. The new carrier spent the spring rehabilitating the line with new ties and ballast. Service on the Grand River Railway began in June using a leased CSX GP-38.

In October, the first of two SW-1200s leased from the Age Of Steam Roundhouse arrived. Number 1202 was built in 1954 for Aliquippa & Southern. It has been updated with snowplow pilots and a block heater to help get it through the Lake Erie winter.