It’s been a while since we’ve visited the Wheeling & Lake Erie. So let’s go down to Navarre on the Cleveland Subdivision where we catch SD40-3 No. 3049 leading a train on Aug. 21, 2013. The unit was built in October 1966 as an SD40 for Union Pacific.
Photograph by Robert Farkas
WE SD40-2 No. 6350 has entered the eastbound Norfolk Southern main in the NS yard in Canton on April 13, 2012. The crew will bring the train east and then back up into the NS yard to interchange cars. The 6350 was built for Canadian Pacific and later rebuilt by Alstom.
Photograph by Robert Farkas
A pair of Wheeling & Lake Erie GP35-3 locomotives, Nos.100 and 102 are at the east end of the yard in Brewster on Nov. 10, 2016. Both units were once owned by the Southern Railway with the 102 once having served the Central of Georgia. The Wheeling rebuilt the 100 in July 2000 while the 102 was rebuilt in December 2000. The 100 carries the name Lynn R. Shook under its cab.
hotograph by Robert Farkas
Here are three images made in Akron on July 30, 2022. In the top image, Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad FPA-4 No. 6771 is southbound approaching Akron Northside Station as the train crosses over the remains of the Ohio and Erie Canal.
In the middle image, the 6777 is is being towed south and will be the lead unit on the northbound trip.
In the bottom image Wheeling & Lake Erie SD40-2 No. 7006 is on the connecting track between CSX and the W&LE. In a few minutes the former CEFX unit will pull forward bringing its train onto the Wheeling. Then it will back down to Brittain Yard.
The Wheeling acquired the 7006 in December 2015 and quickly pressed it into revenue service.
Photographs by Robert Farkas
Today’s two for Tuesday features two trains in Northeast Ohio on Oct. 24, 2022, amid varying degrees of autumn color.
In the top image, CSX GP40-2 No. 6248 is about to leave the stub track where power is kept for the local working from Warwick Yard in Clinton.
In the bottom photo Wheeling & Lake Erie SD40T-2 No. 5411 is sitting about a third of a mile down the track crossing Elton Street SW, which is located west of the west end of the W&LE yard in Brewster.
Photographs by Robert Farkas
I started Saturday by going to Willard trying to catch the new CSX Operation Lifesaver unit. Unfortunately, it went west about 20 minutes before I arrived.
I then went to Bellevue for a few hours and caught about 10 Norfolk Southern trains. On the way home I followed the Wheeling Lake Erie Hartland Subdivision.
Stopping in Hartland, I found a couple of parked engines but no activity. Continuing to Wellington, an eastbound train was sitting just west of the Lorain County Fairgrounds.
Assuming it was waiting for clearance to cross the CSX Greenwich Subdivision, I waited east of the diamonds. After a CSX train went west it quickly came, making a lot of smoke in doing so.
I chased this train to Spencer where it continued on to Brewster. I got word on social media that a 291 was coming west from Medina.
I set up at a crossing east of Spencer and caught this train. I then proceeded to Akron where I caught 261 with seven engines doubling back into the yard.
Not a bad finish for a less than promising start to the day.
Article and Photographs by Todd Dillon
Today’s two for Tuesday features a pair of Wheeling & Lake Erie trains in Spencer from April 12, 2014. Both units worked for EMD leasing before winding up on the Wheeling where they ran around for years in their blue and white EMD livery. Both locomotives are SD40-2 models. The 6314 is still on the Wheeling motive power roster and still wearing the livery seen above. The 6382 is off the Wheeling’s roster.
Photographs by Robert Farkas
Wheeling & Lake Erie GP35-3 No. 112 is heading west on CSX in Akron toward Barberton to interchange cars on Feb. 28, 2012.
Photograph by Robert Farkas
Last Saturday was a nice day weather wise but I didn’t have a specific plan for railfanning.
I went to Berea and then saw on social media that an eastbound Wheeling & Lake Erie train was powered by the Rio Grande tunnel motor pair.
I drove to Wellington in hopes of catching it. I then saw it was still waiting for a crew so I drove to Bellevue following the line just in case.
I got there about 11 a.m. and found them sitting outside of town where I took these photos. I stayed at the railfan platform hoping they would get a crew and then chase them east.
Another Wheeling train from Norwalk showed up about 3:30 p.m. and went into the Norfolk Southern yard.
I took photos of that, also. I waited until dark but, sadly, no crew ever showed up so I drove home.
Later I found out that the other Wheeling train combined the trains together on the return to Norwalk.
W&LE 5412 was formerly Rio Grande 5391 but was renumbered last winter. Sister unit 5413 retains its original Rio Grande unit number.
I also can confirm that NS is indeed using the hump at Bellevue yard again.
Article and Photographs by Todd Dillon
Last Saturday I caught the Wheeling & Lake Erie Train 262 at Akron. The 262 is a daily train between Akron and Brewster.
On Saturdays it ferries locomotives to Brewster that need maintenance and it can have a large lash-up. Saturday’s train did not disappoint with 12 engines total.
They included Nos. 7012, SD40-3, ex Milwaukee Road; 7011, SD40-3; 7024, SD40-3, 30th Anniversary unit; 7015, SD40-3, unrecorded, SD40-3; unrecorded, SD40-3; 6997, SD40-3, ex Union Pacific still in UP paint; Akron Barberton Cluster 4005, GP40, ex-Rock Island; 4602, GP9R, ex-Grand Trunk Western; 303, GP40, ex-Rio Grande still in D&RGW paint; 108, GP5, high hood ex-Southern; and 301, GP40, ex-Rio Grande.
I chased this train south but due to shadows I really didn’t get any better photographs than I did at Akron. Still, it was an interesting train.
Article and Photographs by Todd Dillon
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