I found this photo on the internet this morning:

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 478&nseq=0

First of all, let me say that I realize that 44-ton Whitcomb #1 in the photo, is not one of the locomotives that the TLE&W has used in the past on their Bluebird passenger train out of Waterville, Ohio. They have some Alco S-2 and S-4 switchers that they were using on that train. However, I tried to pull up their website and it gives me the "home page" and no way to get anything else. I looked for old threads on the TLE&W here on RyPN, and found one on a theft of various materials. There were many comments on that thread, but apparently none from anyone connected with the TLE&W. I wonder if there is anyone who posts here on RyPN, that is actually a member there, or at least has a personal knowledge of what is going on. I know that they were, at one time, trying to raise funds to repair a long culvert under their line that prevented their passenger train from crossing over the long Maumee River bridge and going in to their other terminal location of Grand Rapids, Ohio. That effort was apparently ongoing before the above mentioned thefts took place. So, is there anyone here that has any current info on this line?

Thanks.

Les

A few good friends of mine are working like crazy to get the operation up and going again. They have a very active faceook page that you can check out.

http://www.facebook.com/messages/100000 ... 091460569/

firefighter25dfd -

Thanks for this reference. I tried to go through the site to find out what is going on. Obviously there has been some recent work, but the pages are confusing. Here is what I found going through the appoximately 50 photos:

1. Work on passenger car (welding, sandblasting) being done
2. New concrete crossing parts to be put in
3. Recent repaint of Detroit Edison 0-6-0 #202 (restoration to running discussed)
4. A number of historic photos/paperwork but not sure how old the photos
5. Passengers riding (assume old photos)
6. Baldwin number plate 202 reproduction with copies offered as fundraiser
7. Bridge/culvert problems discussed (new ties/new paint/monies needed)
8. Whitcomb diesel restoration being undertaken
9. Graffiti covered ADM S2 photos shown (effort being made to acquire unit?)
10. Roof vent window frame made for coach

Could identify maybe 5 folks currently working on the line (Mike, Jim, Brad, Ryan, Matthew); maybe there were more. As I said, I thought the page was a bit confusing. Maybe it was just me. Maybe there is a firm plan in place. I just couldn't see it from this.

Les

Yes, it's amazing how active they are on Facebook. It's almost like the Catskill Mountain Railroad's RyPN posts... but on Facebook LOL! You just have to know where to look.

A real surprise... folks in TLE&W discovered some equipment belonging to SMRS, another railroad museum 40 miles distant, of which I have recently become reinvolved. The thread went on 5 or 6 messages before someone explained about the other organization. At that point, what happened was really heartwarming. The TLE&W volunteers were wondering how they can help that group. Folks at SMRS had said the very thing about TLE&W after hearing about last year's theft. It just goes to show how insular we all tend to be, and also, how good.

Any current info on this operation? I tried to pull up the facebook reference above and had no luck this time. Maybe my bad. Apparently there were no trains operated on the line again this year. I found a photo of one of their passenger cars apparently being cut up, but not sure how old that photo is. Also, there is a note about cars being stored on the line in an effort to raise revenue, but again, not sure if that is an up to date situation. Anyone current info appreciated. Thanks.

Les