The Wheeling Way

Wheeling's 663 crew has just secured their train on the Solon Branch after a long day that started in Akron. Two rookie conductors were guided by a nine year vet engineer. They did fine. Safety first, The Wheeling Way. 

Wheeling GP35-3 110.  Solon Branch.  3-29-12

Wheeling & Lake Erie GP40-3 303

From time to time, a Wheeling GP40 or SD40 can be found on the 663 local. And if that unit is in Rio Grande paint, it only makes the find that much better. Only four units on the Wheeling currently remain in Rio Grande paint. Born at EMD in October 1969 to become DRGW 3085. This unit would only have a brief retirement. Uncle Pete put the 3085 on the sideline in May 2001, the Wheeling picked it up that same year in December. Maybe it was Larry Parsons 21 years with the Rio Grande that played a deciding factor to bring the 3085 east for more action. Rebuilt by Brewster in June 2005 to Q-tron dash-3 standards. The 303 is no longer handling a hot Railblazer, only locals and manifest trains for the Wheeling now.

 

Wheeling and Lake Erie GP40-3 303 on the Solon Branch. 2-12-2012

Wheeling GP35-2 103

One day in the future, these old GP35's that currently roam on the Wheeling will be no more. Folks are currently missing the good old days when the SD40 was the standard on almost every train. Just wait, these 35s will be gone. Who knows what will replace them when that time comes. They are indeed a rare beast in today's modern world of EMD's 710Eco and GE's Evo fuel misers. Until that day comes, I'll just keep on snagging these old EMD classics hauling freight on the Wheeling.

W&LE GP35-3 103 at Falls Jct on 2-5-12

W&LE GP35-3 at Falls Junction with the 663 on 2-5-12.

Wheeling GP35-3 106

I don't know what it is about these Wheeling GP35 units I like to shoot so much. There is nothing really fancy about them except the Q-Tron system. The control stands are old school EMD, no AAR standard here. Not too long ago, I had to move a trio of them onto a train we interchanged to the WE to keep the air pumped up. No need to have another conductor do a Class 1 test. I notched up that trio of 35s and we started to move. Running these old high hood units is fun. There is something about these old 35s that I can't explain.

Today, I caught 106 on the 663 local shoving cars up the Solon Branch at MP16.5

Wheeling and Lake Erie GP35-3 106   1-22-12

Wheeling 6355 @ Falls Junction

Wheeling's SD40-2 6355 idling away at Falls Junction.  

 W&LE SD40-2 6355.  Falls Junction. 4-27-2011

Second Career on the Wheeling

After serving 29 years on the Union Pacific, she was sent to the deadline at West Colton yard.  No worries. This would only be a short rest from hauling freight.  Purchased and shipped east to become part of the LTEX family of locomotives.  Like kids trading baseball cards, the Wheeling and Lake Erie traded seven GP35 units for three SD40-2 units from Larry.  Now part of the Wheeling family, it received some of that Brewster TLC to roar back to life. Renumbered to 6355 and in grey primer, hauling freight as intended for the Wheeling now.

Brewster Locomotive Shop  1/2011

Tribute to Wheeling's GP35

They have been here since the 1990 spin off from the Norfolk Southern. Hauling all type of trains over Wheeling tracks and gain over Sand Patch. Once the backbone for the fleet, the daily workhorse. One unit was ordered by the P&WV. Southern had theirs built with Alco trucks from RS3 trades. Pure Southern units to the bone, the overhead walkway lights can still be found in use some nights. Eventually, the best ones made it into the Brewster shop to receive a new lease on life. Some recently ended up at LTEX for three SD40-2 units. A sign in Brewster serves a small reminder about the role of the GP35 on the W&LE.

Wheeling & Lake Erie GP35 Sign. Brewster Locomotive Shop

W&LE GP35 200.  Falls Junction Yard. Glenwillow, Ohio

W&LE GP35 2662 and 108.  Falls Junction

P&WV GP35 101. Falls Junction

W&LE GP35 2662. 

W&LE GP35 2645 at LTEX.

W&LE GP35 2664 at LTEX.

 

W&LE GP35 2650 at LTEX.

Riding in Classics....

Located somewhere in the Wheeling and Lake Erie Railway’s Brewster Locomotive Shop, there is a sign that says : " GP35 LOCOMOTIVE BUILT:1965 BY GENERAL MOTORS (EMD) HORSEPOWER:2500...WEIGHT 266,000LBS. FUEL:2,300 GAL. ...LUBE OIL: 243 GAL. COOLING WATER:275 GAL. ...CYLINDERS 16 WELCOME ABOARD....."

As part of the 1990 sale agreement to the newly created Wheeling and Lake Erie Railway, Norfolk Southern included about 25 locomotives, specifically EMD’s GP35 model. This battalion was made up from mostly former Southern Railroad units. Over time, units underwent rebuilding at Brewster and emerging with Q-Tron microprocessor controls to bring them up modern control standards. Not all units were lucky to receive a rebuild to extend their service life. The un-rebuilt units were called to duty from time to time in traffic surges, otherwise laid-up hoping for a returned call for duty.

Recently, six un-rebuilt GP35 models left the fleet for three SD40-2 models in a sign and trade deal with LTEX. Another GP35 is being kept around for parts, but will leave Wheeling once depleted. The remaining GP35s will soldier on for some years to come. Units are currently being cycled through Brewster for their second rebuild.

I clearly remember the first time I stepped on 2645 and thought how many other railroaders had stepped aboard the battle weary unit. And weary it was indeed. 2645 responded when asked to move some cars by rattling everything on board. 2645 struggled to move cars. After that run, a call was made and another unit was shipped up for us to use........

A picture of the 2645 and the five others going to LTEX
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=327756&nseq=0

Shortline Tour, Part 1

I work for a short line railroad that runs from Glenn Willow, Ohio to Cleveland, Ohio. Our little line hauls scrap metal from a huge junk yard in Cleveland destined for steel mills near the Ohio~Pennsylvania boarder area. Once and awhile, we receive a coiled wire type of steel that is used to make rebar. This steel arrives in very nice cars from the CN railroad for a customer along our line. We interchange with the Wheeling and Lake Erie Railway (WE) at Falls Junction Yard. The WE brings us empty gondolas and sometimes coiled steel for delivery. In return, we bring them loads of scrap metal. We have a very basic and simple operation that only requires us usually to run once a day during the week. If we have more than 19-20 loads, we will usually make 2 trips to avoid stalling on our little hill.

I've decided to start posting about and sharing photos of our line to give folks a better idea of my stories. This is picture was taken in the same area of my famous bunny story.


Here is a picture taken from the Havard Road bridge near East 103 Street. Currently the crew is sorting out cars using the passing track and house track in the 93rd Street Yard..