It’s Western Ohio, Not Kansas

On Wednesday I chased the Napoleon, Defiance & Western in Western Ohio. This is a short line that runs a former Wabash line between Woodburn, Indiana, and Napoleon, Ohio.

They roster about a half dozen engines including two GP20s still lettered for the Santa Fe.

We chased it from Okalona, Ohio, to Napoleon where it switched a Campbell’s food warehouse and then returned to Defiance.

In the top photography the train is leaving Okalona. Then it is shown leaving Napolean after switching and passing the elevator at Okalona.

The next set shows the train crossing the Maumee River at Defiance, a pair of the GP20s in  Defiance and the return trip at Okalona.

Article and Photographs by Todd Dillon

Tags: GP20s, Napolean Definance & Western, Ohio short-line railroads, railfanning in western Ohio, Santa Fe GP20s, Santa Fe locomotives, Santa Fe motive power, Short line railroads, Todd Dillon photography, western Ohio