Toledo, Lake Erie & Western Tourist Train - "The Bluebird"

Shot this in June 1994 while staying in Toledo over the weekend. This is the TLE&W train that runs on the former NKP "Clover Leaf" line running from Waterville to Grand Rapids, OH.

In the opening sequence, the conductor had just yelled "All Aboard" before the tape started rolling. The engineer did not hear him, so the conductor had to come forward and bang on the side of the locomotive cab to give him the highball. I thought it was humorous.

I understand that the train equipment was recently vandalized (May 2011), which may keep the train from running for a while. Also, I understand the train no longer crosses the Maumee River bridge at Grand Rapids due to structural defects. So, the parts of this video showing the river crossing and running at Grand Rapids is now "rare mileage". Too bad.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Toledo
• tourist
• train
• ohio
• maumee
• bluebird
• NKP
• clover
• leaf

[ohiofoamer7612]

@mbta100 We will run again, but it will take time,money, and alot of hard work from dedicated volunteers. Our railroad may not run this year but it will happen soon. As for grandrapids that will take more time.

[metraF40PH163]

@mbta1000 What? We will run again. We will also be in Grand Rapids, Ohio again. It will take some time but, it will happen

[dodge6206]

The locomotive sounds beautiful, its too bad that Matt will be taking the railroad over, attempting to haul feight.

[metraF40PH163]

@Megahammerheadshark Yes, we get donations of money sometimes

[Megahammerheadshark]

@metraF40PH163 You got donations?! ☺How mush do you have now?

[metraF40PH163]

@Megahammerheadshark What? The damages reached around $75,000. The bridge does not need much done to it just new railroad ties need to be installed on it. We have also got donations recently

[Megahammerheadshark]

@ohiofoamer7612 and @metraF40PH163 I don't know bro they stole lots of stuff that will cost millons of dollars and berfor that appened they were trying to fix the bridge but they could not afford to. Pluss you guys got no donation. :(

[mbta1000]

I wish the TLEW still ran like it did in this video, but that won't happen.

[metraF40PH163]

The reason we don't run in Grand Rapids anymore is due to a culvurt that collpased about a 1/2 a mile from the bridge. Our bridge is inspected yearly and all we need to do to operate across it s replace about 150 bridge ties. The rest of our eqyipment is cut offf from Grand Rapids due to the culvurt. The bridge's super structure is actully in great shape.

[locohog91]

ahh the good old days. my dad was still president then i think. and he K5LA was still ABF on the 112