W&LE Tunnel Motors Running as a Pair

The money shot of the chase was catching these two Wheeling & Lake Erie tunnel motor locomotives crossing the Huron River in Monroeville.

I was watching an outbound Norfolk Southern train slowly make its way westward through the mini plant in Bellevue.

I heard a Wheeling 90 talk on the radio, but it appeared to be switching in the yard.

I looked up and there it was about to enter the Brewster Connection.

I grabbed my camera and sprinted for an open area at the end of East Street.

The train was led by a pair of former Denver & Rio Grande Western tunnel motors. I’ve seen two tunnel motors paired together before, but it is not necessarily a common sight.

The train was moving slowly and there was a track crew ahead working on the rails. I knew I had time to get to Monroeville ahead of the train.

In Monroeville, it was a short walk on the North Coast Inland Trail to the bridge over the West Branch of the Huron River.

The black water of the river reminded me of a line from a Dobbie Brother song, “Oh black water, keep on rollin.’ ”

Both the train and the river did just that.

Article and Photographs by Craig Sanders

Making its way onto the Brewster Connection.

Crossing East Street in Bellevue, which dead ends where I am standing.

The going away shot.

Clear track ahead on the Brewster Connection in Bellevue.

Just starting out on the bridge.

Looking down the North Coast Inland Trail on a bridge once used by New York Central trains.

Tags: Bellevue Ohio, Monroeville Ohio, Railfanning in Bellevue Ohio, W&LE 5391, W&LE 5413, W&LE Hartland Subdivision, W&LE in Bellevue, W&LE in Monroeville, Wheeling & Lake Erie