Eastern Railroad Discussion > CSX and the Wheeling in Lake Erie Land

Sunday November 2, 2025
North Central Ohio
Temps in the 50's, chilly and poor light

1. & 2. Down in CSX Land, the old Big Four (CCC&St.L) west of Cleveland; this is Quarry Road Crossing just west of Wellington. CSX Train ..... ** well at this time I am not sure. Either I-157 or I-161, an intermodal that has come off the former NYC Lake Shore line on the east side of Cleveland. If it was the 157, he orginated in Baltimore, MD and is heading to Bedford Park (Chicago). If he is the 161, then he originated in Dewitt (Syracuse, NY) and will terminate in North Baltimore, OH. So if anyone can verify, please chime in. Power is CSX 5213 and 4744. In image #1 a Hi-Rail truck on track patrol rolls east on Track 1 (tracks are reverse here, and I don't know why). In image #2 he splits the Safetran V20R style signals installed when this line was re-double tracked in the pre-Conrail breakup era in the late 1990's. I have heard these signals will soon be replaced.

3. Just to the east along the verdant fields of the Zacharias Farm on Jones Road we catch Train M363 a merchandise freight out of Selkirk (Albany, NY) to Avon Yard in Indianapolis, IN. Looks like CSX has a major tie replacement program planned here. Power is CSX 3237 and 3308. The rear end of this train is just clearing the W&LE diamond.

The Big Four, for those not familiar with it, became part of the New York Central / Penn Central / Conrail. Then this line went to the CSX when Conrail was broken up between NS and CSX.

The light totally sucked. This was around about noon time.

** - confirmed later this is the I - 161 Dewitt, NY to North Baltimore, OH. **



Edited 8 time(s). Last edit at 11/02/25 17:13 by train1275.

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4. Then it is off to the Wheeling & Lake Erie at Spencer. Here comes Train 237 the Brewster - CSX Willard Yard job. He's coming off the old W&LE and turning onto the former Akron, Canton & Youngstown line west. This train was HUGE and had quite a few propane tanks. From here he follows the AC&Y west to New London, then joint track over the Big Four (CSX) line to Greenwich and onto the B&O west to Willard Yard. Power is W&LE 7009 and 7012.

5. In the little yard here is the 7013 and 7001. I am not sure what job this is .... the 661 or 662 out of Medina ?

6. And now Train #3 comes through, this is Train 221 the Brewster to Hartland job that goes straight over the AC&Y diamond and straight shot old historical W&LE out the Bellevue / Toledo Line. Hartland is just a ways east of Bellevue. Train 221 has W&LE 7010 and 7023 as power.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/02/25 16:31 by train1275.

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7. - 9. After the 221 passes, the local job comes light power west across the diamond on the AC&Y. With those W&LE locomotives there is no doubt who they belong to !

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10. After coming across the diamond they stop at the little yard office.

11. In the meantime, Train 221 has only gotten as far as Wellington. Apparently he's had to stop at the Big Four (CSX) diamond. The Wheeling sure is a roller coaster of a railroad !

And that ended the day out.

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Nice bunch. Really like the WLE.
JB

A couple of these could easily qualify as calendar shots, nice work.
—Mac

Thanks for the great photos. Who, again, has recently acquired the W&LE? When will that go into effect?

Victor Baird

wabash2800 Wrote:
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> Thanks for the great photos. Who, again, has
> recently acquired the W&LE? When will that go into
> effect?
>
> Victor Baird

FTAI Infrastructure

https://www.cantonrep.com/story/business/2025/08/14/ftai-buys-wheeling-lake-erie-rail-co-in-brewster-for-1-billion/85651109007/

I don't have any more of an update, maybe someone else out there knows more.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/04/25 08:12 by train1275.