Remembering the B&LE Erie Branch

I’ve never seen a train on the Erie branch of the former Besemer & Lake Erie, but some of you have. Edward Ribinskas sent along these photographs that he made over the years.

These images are from his “favorites over the years” series.

The top image of Norfolk & Western No. 611 was made on Aug. 11, 1984, when it was running a Buffalo, New York, to Albion, Pennsylvania, excursion.

It is shown crossing U.S. Route 20 in Girard, Pennsylvania, on Aug. 11, 1984.

Also shown are images made at Girar and Platea, Pennsylvania, on April 17, 1997, and at Girard on April 30, 1997.

Photographs by Edward Ribinskas

Tags: B&LE Erie Branch, B&LE locomotives, B&LE motive power, Bessemer & Lake Erie, Edward Ribinskas photograhs, N&W 611, N&W 611 excursions, Norfolk & Western 611, steam locomotives