Rio Grande of the East: Part 2

Last weekend the Wheeling & Lake Erie sent its two Rio Grande painted tunnel motors to Connellsville, Pennsylvania.

For many years seeing either one of these on the east end was a rarity. It was pokicy to keep them west of Brewster because of their larger wheelbase.

Recently this has changed. As a result of CSX and NS converting to Positive Train control the Wheeling has been equipping many of their engines with PTC to run on those lines.

The two former Rio Grande tunnel motors have not and will not be so equipped.

As a result they will be confined to ares of the railroad that do not require PTC use. I caught the pair leading a train into Connellsville this past Saturday.

Article and Photographs by Todd Dillon

Tags: D&RG tunnel motors, Railfanning the Wheeling & Lake Erie, Todd Dillon photography, tunnel motors, W&LE tunnel motors, Wheeling & Lake Erie, Wheeling & Lake Erie locomotive power, Wheeling & Lake Erie locomotives, Wheeling & Lake Erie motive power