Passing through someone’s backyard west of Robertsville.
The past two Fridays I was lucky enough to catch the Wheeling & Lake Erie local returning from Carrollton.
This branch comes from Canton and winds about 25 miles down to Carrollton to serve a couple industries. It only runs one day a week, currently on Fridays.
Branch line railroading has a charm that you don’t get on the mainline. This line is rural and very scenic and with low speeds (5-10 mph) it’s an easy chase. There is even a tunnel at Robertsville, about halfway down the line.
This is railroading in the style of the Abingdon branch made famous by O. Winston Link. I can picture a small 4-6-0 or 2-8-0 steam engine making it’s way through farms and backyards.
Article and Photographs by Todd Dillon
Passing through East Canton.
Rounding a curve at East Canton.
Approaching an old feed mill in Robertsville.
Passing through Oneida where the W&LE’s Carrollton branch once crossed a branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad that ran to Marietta, Ohio.
Passing through the tunnel at Robertsville. (Photograph by Matt Sell)
