That "Wheeling Feeling?"

[MilesWestern]

I have a question, WHY IN THE WORLD does the Wheeling & Lake Erie have an UNPATCHED RioGrande UNIT? (GP-40-3 #302)

heres a link to see what I speak of.

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=125137

 

[railohio]

Could be because they just don't have the ambition to repaint it. Their Brewster shops have an EPA-compliant paint booth that they never seem to use. It could also be because their chairman is a former Rio Grande exec, too.

 

[brakie]

I can see why they have a AC&Y unit since the have some exAC&Y trackage..I can only guess why the D&RG scheme and why the Wheeling uses tunnel motors.


http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=120379

 

[railohio]

The tunnel motor units were simply the best SD40-2s available on the market at the time. Other than their strange looks and modified air intakes they are exactly like a "normal" SD40-2. That's why B&LE, DM&IR, and KCS also ended up with fleets of them even though they don't have any tunnels to speak of. Even if an SD40-series unit isn't available, it's still more economical to rebuild an SD45 into one than purchase new power. A lot of the SD45s that are in lease fleets, namely CEFX's, have been rebuilt to SD40-3 specifications and only look like an SD45.

 

[brakie]

Brian,R.J.Corman also has tunnel motors..Numbers5353,5361,5372,5409,8307
8336,8569 and 8718 and has 3 SD40-2s numbers 3438,3478 and 3944.

 

[trainworm]

the W&LE bought several ex Rio Grande locomotives. I see them every once and a while when I drive through on I-76. I like their new Rio Grande inspired paint scheme too

 

[REflectiveMAN]

Wheeling owns 8 former D&RGW locomotives

GP35 3045
GP40-3 301,302,303
GP40 3080, 3087
SD40T-2 5391, 5413

mind you, the 300 series numbers are not the orignal DRGW numbers. They were 3000 and 3100 series units before being rebuilt by the wheeling.