Toledo, Lake Erie and Western Railway facts for kids
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Grand Rapids, Ohio |
| Reporting mark | TLEW |
| Locale | Lucas / Wood counties, Ohio, US |
| Dates of operation | 1969–present |
| Technical | |
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge |
The Toledo, Lake Erie and Western Railway is a special kind of train line. It is a non-profit group, which means it uses its money to keep old trains running for fun and history. This railway operates on about 10 miles (16 km) of tracks. These tracks used to belong to other railroads, like the Norfolk and Western.
A cool part of the railway is its bridge over the Maumee River. This bridge is 901 feet (275 meters) long and was built in 1916. It's the biggest bridge owned by a tourist railway east of the Mississippi River! The TLEW owns the track from Waterville to Grand Rapids, Ohio. They also used to lease a shorter section through Waterville.
Contents
Train Adventures and Challenges
The Toledo, Lake Erie and Western used to run a passenger train called the Bluebird. However, train rides stopped in 2009. This was because the tracks needed repairs. Sadly, some problems like vandalism made it hard to reopen in 2010.
In 2013, one of their locomotives, #5109, was painted back to its original Chesapeake and Ohio colors. Soon after, a special train horn that was meant for #5109 went missing. There was also a plan in 2011 to work with a freight company, but that partnership ended.
After these challenges, volunteers from the Museum worked hard. They started fixing the passenger cars, locomotives, and tracks. Their goal was to get everything running again.
New Museum and Future Plans
On February 14, 2014, the TLEW got a new place: the Waterfront Electric Railway Museum. This museum is in Grand Rapids, Ohio. It includes a building for train cars, a workshop, and a small brick building. The brick building is now a gift shop and shows old photos and displays.
This new museum also came with a former Chicago train car and a snow sweeper. Since the main track was controlled by the freight company for a while, volunteers focused on making the new museum a great place. They had their first open house there on May 10, 2014, and it was a big success!
The TLEW also has a "Museum Train" in Grand Rapids. This train has locomotives #1 and #202, a tool car, a caboose, and a passenger coach. Now, this train is mostly used for special events and meetings.
Even though the Bluebird Passenger Train hasn't run since 2009, volunteers are still working hard to bring it back. They are accepting donations to help fund the repairs. Also, during summer weekends, you can take special motorcar rides over the Maumee River. These rides let you see the beautiful river and the area around it.
Train Equipment
The Toledo, Lake Erie and Western Railway has several interesting pieces of equipment.
Locomotives
These are the powerful engines that pull the trains.
| Number | Builder | Type | Build date | Serial Number | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Whitcomb | 44-DE-22 | 1941 | 60035 | Stored, waiting for repairs |
| 62 | American Locomotive Company | S-2 | 1946 | 74663 | On display |
| 112 | American Locomotive Company | S-2 | 1942 | 69921 | On display, waiting for cosmetic repairs |
| 202 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 0-6-0 | 1920 | 52792 | On display, possible repairs in future |
| 5109 | American Locomotive Company | S-4 | 1953 | 80633 | Working |
Former Locomotives
These are engines that used to be part of the railway's collection.
| Number | Builder | Type | Build date | Serial Number |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | H.K. Porter, Inc. | 0-6-0ST | 1917 | 5966 |
Passenger Coaches
These are the cars where people ride.
- No. 403 - Used on the Museum Train
- No. 404 - Planned for the Bluebird Passenger Train
- No. 407 - Currently being repaired
- No. 408 - Planned for the Bluebird Passenger Train
