Eric is being generous in his description of Akron Junction to say the least. Of all of the trackage that used to be around Eastwood Av., the only part left is the through track of the former CT&V Sub, nominally part of the CVSR, but owned by Akron Metro Regional Transit and used by the Akron-Barberton Cluster of the Wheeling to switch local industry and interchange with CSX. No tracks cross Eastwood Av. anymore. There was an islolated gondola sitting on a short piece of track by the crossing, but I haven't been by there in awhile and don't know if that is still there. "Back in the day", former Grand Trunk Mike #4070 used to pass by the coaling tower when it was being turned on the wye for servicing there, so lots of us have photos of it passing the tower. Also C&O 614 was down there when it ran out of Akron in 1981 on the Chessie Safety Express, and I have a few images of it at the tower.
If you look at articles and images from B&O HS publications, you will find that at one time there was a balloon track that came off of the Valley sub in the middle of the wye, crossed the East leg of the wye on a diamond (also where both tracks crossed the Little Cuyahoga River), climbed steeply out of the valley, crossed the small yard towards the Evans Av. connection with the main on a trestle, and joined the main next to the coaling tower. This connection enabled trains to go from Southbound in the valley to westbound on the main, and was removed after the Cleveland-Wheeling local was discontinued in the early 1950's.
When all five local Akron railroads were active, the north end of Arlington St. in the Little Cuyahoga Valley was quite a railroad hot spot. In about 1/8 of a mile, every railroad that served Akron, except the Akron & Barberton Beltline, passed through there, either at-grade (Erie, B&O main/PRR CA&C), or under under it (CT&V sub and AC&Y). Now all that is left are the two CSX mains, the former AC&Y/Wheeling & Lake Erie line, and the Akron Metro/CVSR line (currently not being used by the CVSR; ownership of the line changes from the Park Service to Akron Metro on the south end of the Howard St. trestle - the Park Service owns the bridge). I'm not sure who owns the CVSR Akron Northside station, my guess would be the city owns the land it sits on, but I'm not sure, could be Metro RTA.
As to the future of the coaling tower, I would say it's not bright. I think it's lasted this long because it didn't interfere with railroad operations, and taking it down would have disrupted the lower yard, but since there are no longer any tracks on the lower level, nothing would be disrupted by toppling it over in that direction and removing it. However, the hopper unloading pit and coal conveyor to the top of the tower are on the upper level by the CSX main, which might be a hindrance to removing it. I think as long as it's structurally sound it will probably be around for awhile - unless some idiot gets hurt climbing around on it. There are two other steam-era railroad artifacts in Akron, the AC&Y turntable in the now Wheeling & Lake Erie Brittain Rd. yard, and a former Erie RR concrete water tower base, next to Kenmore Blvd. at the Barberton city line, adjacent to CP Lambert on CSX, where I-277/U. S. 224 crosses the tracks. It's very overgrown, but can be seen this time of year, behind a small brick building if you are crossing the bridge over the tracks westbound and look back as you cross. Akron's done a great job of generally erasing it's railroad heritage over the years.
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