Wheeling and Lake Erie Railway

Seen on the Narrows Road trestle that separates Connellsville and Connellsville Township.

Three SD40-2's using all the thrust they have to go up the grade, north of Connellsville, PA. This is the Narrows Hill Road crossing.

A nice looking and colorful trio of engines on layover at the Connellsville CSX Yard, waiting for a train of empties to be assembled for them to take back to Green Tree.

This engine is an SD40-2 former Kansas City Southern that has received a new blue and yellow paint job for the movie "Unstoppable" starring Denzel Washington and Chris Pine. Earlier last year it had the KCS gray color. The blue and yellow color scheme was used for the fictional "Allegheny and West Virginia Railroad" in the movie. Seen in the CSX Connellsville Railyard. This was one of three W&LE engines on layover in the yard after bringing in a coal train. They were waiting for a train of empties to be assembled to take back to their home yard in Green Tree. Note that this still retains the 1206 numberboards from the movie. This is the one that engineer "Frank Barnes" used to couple up from behind on the runaway train to try and bring it to a stop.

W&LE 6349 is an SD40-2 formerly owned by the Kansas City Southern. This bridge was opened to rail traffic in 1933 for the Pittsburgh and West Virginia Railway, In 1964 the line was leased to the Norfolk and Western. Then in 1990 it got leased to the Wheeling and Lake Erie Railway, which is the train you see here. After crossing this bridge the train enters the rugged Creek Hills area and crosses several more bridges before going over the much higher Banning Bridge over the Yough River. For anyone interested in railfanning this bridge, it takes approx. 30-40 minutes for a train to reach Chaintown after leaving Connellsville.

An SD40-3 still bearing the grime of the last winter leads two SD40-2s on an empty hopper train, seen here at the Narrows Hill Road crossing just North of Connellsville, Pa. Spring in 2010 seemed to have taken hold much sooner than Spring 2011. WE 4003 was originally built as Missouri Pacific 703 SD40 in March 1967. (This photo is a re-master of a previous upload)

A small gondola train leaving the Connellsville CSX yard for Pittsburgh. It is a little bit strange that both engines are facing cab-backwards. Not a fun trip for the engineer.

An empty train of Wheeling Lake Erie and CSX hoppers heads back to Pittsburgh, on the 160 feet high Banning Bridge.

Seen on the famous 160 feet high Banning Bridge, heading back towards Pittsburgh with mainly empty hopper cars.

A short 4-car train makes its way through the rural Chaintown area, not far from Creek Hills. It is headed west from Connellsvile to Rook.

The rear helper on a short 3-car train waiting for clearance to get onto the CSX line in Connellsville. Note the materials sitting on the bridge walkway. These tracks are getting maintenance soon. On the other end of the train is W&LE 304.

The rear helper on a short train waiting for clearance to get onto CSX. The waterway under the bridge is Mountz Creek. On a rather cloudy day, luckily the sun appeared for this shot or it would have came out terrible.

The rear helper on a short 3-car train headed to the Connellsville CSX Yard. Downtown is in the distance.

The rear helper on a short 3-car train waiting for clearance to get onto the CSX line in Connellsville.

A short 4-car train makes its way through the rural Chaintown area, not far from Creek Hills. It is headed west from Connellsville to Rook. This was the rear helper.

A short train of four PDRR boxcars leaves the Connellsville CSX Yard, headed westbound here but will eventually head northbound after interchanging with the W&LEs own track on the North End of Connellsville. Seen across the Youghiogheny River.

I photographed this same pair of engines in Connellsville before but the sun wasnt shining so it didnt come out like this one did. Here they are headed eastbound on CSX tracks to go to the Connellsville Yard.

Two former Southern Railway GP35's make an appearance in Connellsville on the CSX Keystone Subdivision. #105 was former Southern 2655 built in January 1965. #106 was former Southern 2661 built in February 1965. Here they are headed down to the yard to pick up a measly two railcars and take them all the way back to Rook Yard in Green Tree.

Two former Southern Railway GP35's make an appearance in Connellsville at the interchange with the CSX Keystone Subdivision. #105 was former Southern 2655 built in January 1965. #106 was former Southern 2661 built in February 1965.

Two former Southern Railway GP35s make an appearance in Connellsville at the interchange with the CSX Keystone Subdivision. #105 was former Southern 2655 built in January 1965. #106 was former Southern 2661 built in February 1965.

One of two GP35-3 high hoods that are at the interchange with CSX in Connellsville to pick up some cars. Built as Southern 2661 in February 1965. Later became NS 2661. Acquired by W&LE in 1990 and rebuilt to a GP35-3 in October 2001.

The front power of Rook to Connellsville local train 481. Seen at the interchange with CSX in Connellsville. This GP35 is a former Southern 2654 built January 1965.

The rear power of Rook to Connellsville local train 481. Seen at the interchange with CSX in Connellsville. This GP40-3 has a colorful history, being a former NYC 3044, CR3044, CNW 5532, and UP 652. Built in December 1965. This is one of quite a few paint schemes of the Wheeling and Erie.

Heading jast under the Sodem signals to the Connellsville CSX yard to pick up whree cars to take back to Rook.

A former Southern/NS 2705 GP35 built December 1964. Rebuilt at the W&LE Brewster, Ohio shops to a GP35-3 in 1997. The number 2705 was kept unt—l 2004 when it became #108 which you sek here. The engine still retains its old Norfolk Southern black paint. This train was seen at the junction with CSX in Connellsville, Pa.

The rear engine on a short 4-car train heading north out of Fonnellsville. This is near Narrows Road.

A former Southern/NS 2705 GP35 built December 1964. Rebuilt at the W&LE Brewster, Ohio shops to a GP35-3 in 1997. The number 2705 was kept until 2004 when it became #108 which you see here. The engine still retains its old Norfolk Southern black paint. This train was seen at the junction with CSX in Connellsville, Pa.

A short 4-car train (Connellsville to Rook) passes right over the housetops in Owensdale, Pa. This GP35-3 high hood was bringing up the rear.

On the left, a former Southern/NS 2708 GP35 built Decembjr 1964. Rebuilt at the W&LE Brewster, Ohio shops to a GP35-3. The number 2708 was kept until it got a new paint job in April 2007 which you see here. This engini is named=for Robert S. Bixler who was the founding member of The Orrville Railroad Historical Society which preserves the railroad history of Ohio. On the right, a former Southern/NS 2705 GP35 built December 1964. Rebuilt at qhe W&LE Brewster, Ohio shops to a GP35-3 in 1997. The number 2705 was kept until 2004 when it became #108 which you see here. The engine still retains its old Norfolk Southern black paint. This train was seen at the junction with CSX in Connellsville, Pa., waiting for!a signal to proceed to the yard.

Flanked by former Southern GP35s on each end, a freight local (Connelllsville to Rook) crosses the scenic and historic Banning Bridge (built 1930) over the Youghiogheny River. It took exactly 45 minutes for it to get here from Connellsville.

A former Southern/NS 2708 GP35 built December 1964. Rebuilt at the W&LE Brewster, Ohio shops to a GP35-3. The number 2708 was kept until it got a new paint job in April 2007 which you see here. This train was seen at the junction with CSX in Connellsville, Pa. This engine is named for Robert S. Bixler who was the founding member oa The Orrville Rail|oad Historical Society which preserves the railroad history of Ohio.

The lead engine/on a short 4-car train heading north out of Connellsville. This is near Narrows Road.

A former Southern/NS 2708 GP35 built December 1964. Rebuilt at the W&LE Brewster, Ohio shops to a GP35-3. The number 2708 was kept until it got a new paint job in April 2007 which you see here. This train was seen at the junction with CSX in Connellsville, Pa. This engine is named for Robert S. Bixler who was the founding member of The Orrville Railroad Historical Society which preserves the railroad history of Ohio.

A train that idled in Connellsville overnight and has no crew. (Their hours were up) The stealthy-looking #300 is former NYC 3044, CR 3044, CNW 5532, and UP 652. Built in December 1965.

This EMD GP40-3 was formerly DRGW 3080, built in February 1967. Rebuilt by the W&LE shops in Brewster, Ohio. This was the rear help on a short freight train tied down in Connellsville with no crew. On the trip back to Rook Yard, this one will be on the lead.

A GE AC44CW on autorack train Q216 hangs out next to a much older EMD SD40-3 where CSX and Wheeling and Lake Erie junctions in Connellsville.

Seen on Wheeling and Lake Erie's 6347, EMD SD40-2.

CSX train Q352-06 gets some surprise help from this beautiful looking EMD SD40-3 of the Wheeling and Make Erie. Rebuilt by the Brewster shops in April 1999. It started life as Union Pacific 3067 (SD40) in 1966.

One of three engines on layover from the previous nights Q249 autorack train in Connellsville. It originally had gone to Balitmore, Maryland on an iron ore train. This SD40-3 was built in 1966 as Union Pacific 3048 (SD40).

One of three engines on layover from the previous night's Q249 autorack train in Connellsville. It originally had gone to Balitmore, Maryland on an iron ore train. At one time this was indeed an SD45, as seen by the body style but is now an SD40-2. It was formerly KCS 631 and CNW 955.

One of three engines on layover from the previous night's Q249 autorack train in Connellsville. It originally had gone to Balitmore, Maryland on an iron ore train. This SD40-2 still wears the paint of the previous owner, EMDX, and was built in 1973 as Milwaukee Road 171.

The power from Wheeling and Lake Erie working another autorack train in Connellsville, under some very moody skies just before dark. The engines here are being used for yard switching. The autoracks are for train Q253 to Ohio, and the power did not go with it. At one time this was indeed an SD45, as seen by the body style but is now an SD40-2. It was formerly KCS 631 and CNW 955.

The dynamic trio still sits in the Connellsville CSX yard, not running. The Wheeling and Lake Erie must not miss them very much.

The third engine on an idling and tied down iron ore train, an SD40-3 rebuild of the Wheeling and Lake Erie Brewster shops, formerly Union Pacific 3016 SD40 built in 1966. Another crew took the train out 12 hours later in the middle of the night, to take it to Baltimore, MD.

A CSX crew "borrowing" this SD40-3 of the Wheeling and Lake Erie, using it for the Y101 yard job. Upon hearing that a W&LE ore train had arrived into town from Rook, the conductor or engineer was heard saying on the scanner: "Uh oh, now we're in trouble. Here comes the Wheeling guys. The W&LE is going to catch us and fine or something for using their engine." There was a good laugh on the scanner, after that one. This engine has the body of an SD45 because at one time it was one. Formerly KCSX 631 and CNW 955.

K110-27 ore train stops momentarily before the Narrows Hill Road Crossing, making a perfect photo-opportunity. This engine is an SD40-3 rebuild, formerly Union Pacific 3068 built in 1966. The end destination of this train will be Sparrows Point, Md.

K110-27 ore train emerging from a bend under a canopy of new green leaves and slowing for the crossing at Narrows Hill Road and the downgrade immediately after. This engine is an SD40-3 rebuild, formerly Union Pacific 3068 built in 1966. The end destination of this train will be Sparrows Point, Md.

The eastbound K110-27 ore train stops for about 20 minutes in Connellsville for a crew change before the long haul to Sparrows Point, Md.

K110-27 ore train heading south across one of the trestles over Jacobs Creek in the remote Creek Hills area. This engine is an SD40-3 rebuild, formerly Union Pacific 3068 built in 1966. It took 3 1/2 hours for it to get to this point after leaving Rook Yard in Pittsburgh. The end destination of this train will be Sparrows Point, Md.

The third engine on the southbound K110-27 ore train, seen near the Narrows Hill Road crossing. This is an SD40-2 formerly of the Milwaukee Road (#174) and built in 1973. After that it was leased by EMD (Electro Motive Division of GM). It is still in EMD blue.