I have been broadening my horizons in recent years- going to new places to see trains. I hadn't been to Ohio since 1978 (at age 9), so it seemed like a good idea to return there this year. i chose Bellevue becuase it seems to be a hub of NS activity. A couple of websites claims Bellevue sees 100 trains per day and this assessment is correct! Between the expanded hump yard, ex-NKP main, Sandusky dsitrict and the Toledo district, this area just buzzes with NS activity.
My visit began with the hump yard. This was the 1st NS hump yard I have seen. (I've seen CSX and CN hump yards elsewhere.)
(https://www.jreb.org/ns/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi857.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fab139%2FErielackawanna%2F2015%2FMay%25202015%2F0522%2520Bellevue%2520OH%25201%2FDSC06961.jpg&hash=f38bb0f3e32344cd18e3fe1f23860fa5cd2712a5) (http://s857.photobucket.com/user/Erielackawanna/media/2015/May%202015/0522%20Bellevue%20OH%201/DSC06961.jpg.html)
A slide show for the rest of the hump yard action:
http://s857.photobucket.com/user/Erielackawanna/slideshow/2015/May%202015/0522%20Bellevue%20OH%201
After taking the yard shots, I moved to downtown Bellevue. This is a busy place_ I don't think wnet more than an hour between seeing trains:
Local at E Center St:
(https://www.jreb.org/ns/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi857.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fab139%2FErielackawanna%2F2015%2FMay%25202015%2F0522%2520Bellevue%2520OH%25202%2FDSC07024.jpg&hash=b8c82279fb4c0213b26fa28939a8122b5b630c16) (http://s857.photobucket.com/user/Erielackawanna/media/2015/May%202015/0522%20Bellevue%20OH%202/DSC07024.jpg.html)
A mixed freight (including an ex-UP SD90MAC) comes off the wye near E Center Street:
(https://www.jreb.org/ns/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi857.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fab139%2FErielackawanna%2F2015%2FMay%25202015%2F0522%2520Bellevue%2520OH%25202%2FDSC07133.jpg&hash=4f5eea61f2cfb5b424cf742adc5ce7539b1c0fa4) (http://s857.photobucket.com/user/Erielackawanna/media/2015/May%202015/0522%20Bellevue%20OH%202/DSC07133.jpg.html)
This Wabash dome car came off the wye on the tail end of another mixed freight and headed south. A fellow railfan told me it was headed to the 611 event:
(https://www.jreb.org/ns/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi857.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fab139%2FErielackawanna%2F2015%2FMay%25202015%2F0522%2520Bellevue%2520OH%25202%2FDSC07217.jpg&hash=1ddde56e57c24aff1ef14aba464956ac08b59b54) (http://s857.photobucket.com/user/Erielackawanna/media/2015/May%202015/0522%20Bellevue%20OH%202/DSC07217.jpg.html)
In addition to the all the live train action, the Mad River & NKP Museum was a "must see" for me, too. It was closed, but I still photographed alot of the equipment. I am a devout Alco fan (as some of you know) so this NKP RSD12 was my favorite piece of preservation:
(https://www.jreb.org/ns/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi857.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fab139%2FErielackawanna%2F2015%2FMay%25202015%2F0522%2520Bellevue%2520OH%25202%2FDSC07230.jpg&hash=064ab38998e2f41b417e598175419d2560b02e1f) (http://s857.photobucket.com/user/Erielackawanna/media/2015/May%202015/0522%20Bellevue%20OH%202/DSC07230.jpg.html)
The Toledo District runs right past the museum, and I caught this eastbound mixed freight with a high nose ex-Southern GP50 leading:
(https://www.jreb.org/ns/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi857.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fab139%2FErielackawanna%2F2015%2FMay%25202015%2F0522%2520Bellevue%2520OH%25202%2FDSC07256.jpg&hash=0093529b4e1ec0cf66618a861892156a6dc5ac2e) (http://s857.photobucket.com/user/Erielackawanna/media/2015/May%202015/0522%20Bellevue%20OH%202/DSC07256.jpg.html)
The Wheeling & Lake Erie RR also has a presence in Bellevue. i caught this ex-D&RGW GP40-3 heading up the Toldeo District:
(https://www.jreb.org/ns/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi857.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fab139%2FErielackawanna%2F2015%2FMay%25202015%2F0522%2520Bellevue%2520OH%25202%2FDSC07297.jpg&hash=cd659b882ee4dda7f3260f44c940e0e0347bb5eb) (http://s857.photobucket.com/user/Erielackawanna/media/2015/May%202015/0522%20Bellevue%20OH%202/DSC07297.jpg.html)
The NYC heritage unit comes off the Toledo District. This sighting was 364 days after I saw #1066 for the first time! She is leading auto rack freight 14T:
(https://www.jreb.org/ns/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi857.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fab139%2FErielackawanna%2F2015%2FMay%25202015%2F0522%2520Bellevue%2520OH%25202%2FDSC07384.jpg&hash=a98b3ab19798e29c038fa337c41de99cccb3a6b3) (http://s857.photobucket.com/user/Erielackawanna/media/2015/May%202015/0522%20Bellevue%20OH%202/DSC07384.jpg.html)
I also caught the Erie heritage unit (my personal favorite) for the 2nd time, as the 6th locomotive on mixed freight 146 at Mnoroe Street:
(https://www.jreb.org/ns/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi857.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fab139%2FErielackawanna%2F2015%2FMay%25202015%2F0522%2520Bellevue%2520OH%25202%2FDSC07480.jpg&hash=c9cf2631ef4ceb5f83d34322c3ffddfd74eddb17) (http://s857.photobucket.com/user/Erielackawanna/media/2015/May%202015/0522%20Bellevue%20OH%202/DSC07480.jpg.html)
After dinner, I returned to Monroe Street and stayed till evening twilight. A Wheeling & Lake Erie SD40T-2 idles on their wye:
(https://www.jreb.org/ns/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi857.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fab139%2FErielackawanna%2F2015%2FMay%25202015%2F0522%2520Bellevue%2520OH%25202%2FDSC07708.jpg&hash=d50d5593f1e2a4602a62c15ea0dd0faa09e5afa3) (http://s857.photobucket.com/user/Erielackawanna/media/2015/May%202015/0522%20Bellevue%20OH%202/DSC07708.jpg.html)
Catching some of the sunset through the slats of a center beam flatcar on a passing NS mixed freight:
(https://www.jreb.org/ns/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi857.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fab139%2FErielackawanna%2F2015%2FMay%25202015%2F0522%2520Bellevue%2520OH%25202%2FDSC07723.jpg&hash=666f5b39a61916830c90c888a2e09fb1b62f7a6a) (http://s857.photobucket.com/user/Erielackawanna/media/2015/May%202015/0522%20Bellevue%20OH%202/DSC07723.jpg.html)
Complete slide show from downtown Bellevue-well over 100 pictures of action!
http://s857.photobucket.com/user/Erielackawanna/slideshow/2015/May%202015/0522%20Bellevue%20OH%202
All photos in this post and links were taken by me Friday 5/22/2015 in Belleuve, OH.
I stayed overnight at a local hotel and resumed train watching at the hump yard in the morning:
(https://www.jreb.org/ns/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi857.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fab139%2FErielackawanna%2F2015%2FMay%25202015%2F0523%2520Bellevue%2520OH%2FDSC07800.jpg&hash=3b825e1ef17b4daaa81346cea9421133a2af5da5) (http://s857.photobucket.com/user/Erielackawanna/media/2015/May%202015/0523%20Bellevue%20OH/DSC07800.jpg.html)
Sharp eyes may have noticed the C of G heritage unit in the previous photo. She was parked with some other locomotives, including an EMD doing a dead-on impersonation of an Alco. lol
(https://www.jreb.org/ns/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi857.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fab139%2FErielackawanna%2F2015%2FMay%25202015%2F0523%2520Bellevue%2520OH%2FDSC07814.jpg&hash=5e6395c8990249d7d122e6b0c437abb05c974ecd) (http://s857.photobucket.com/user/Erielackawanna/media/2015/May%202015/0523%20Bellevue%20OH/DSC07814.jpg.html)
This Pennsy coach was being shuffled in the yard:
(https://www.jreb.org/ns/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi857.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fab139%2FErielackawanna%2F2015%2FMay%25202015%2F0523%2520Bellevue%2520OH%2FDSC07820.jpg&hash=aa367f1f70761f2b642c06e40295c4ac3da75b3b) (http://s857.photobucket.com/user/Erielackawanna/media/2015/May%202015/0523%20Bellevue%20OH/DSC07820.jpg.html)
Prior to this trip, I had never seen a Norfolk Southerrn slug set in person:
(https://www.jreb.org/ns/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi857.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fab139%2FErielackawanna%2F2015%2FMay%25202015%2F0523%2520Bellevue%2520OH%2FDSC07824.jpg&hash=baca3c71717f5f2194f862b8fb3d29e719325655) (http://s857.photobucket.com/user/Erielackawanna/media/2015/May%202015/0523%20Bellevue%20OH/DSC07824.jpg.html)
The shots shown above were taken from the Route 4 bridge. I also parked at the Skadden Road crossing near the east end of the yard, and caught 310 departing. This train was headed to my birthplace- Elmira, NY.
(https://www.jreb.org/ns/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi857.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fab139%2FErielackawanna%2F2015%2FMay%25202015%2F0523%2520Bellevue%2520OH%2FDSC07849.jpg&hash=c8a5cc8d821a0151f52be4357c732c0e945a1c7d) (http://s857.photobucket.com/user/Erielackawanna/media/2015/May%202015/0523%20Bellevue%20OH/DSC07849.jpg.html)
The rest of the action form that morning is in this slide show:
http://s857.photobucket.com/user/Erielackawanna/slideshow/2015/May%202015/0523%20Bellevue%20OH
All photos in this post and the link were taken by me Saturday 5/23/2015 in Bellevue, OH.
I realized that I could catch some action on the Chicago Line, as it was about 20-25 minutes to the North of Bellevue. I don't have GPS and my my map didn't show this former NYC/PC/CR route, but I found it easily. I saw 8 trains at the Edgewater Avenue crossing.
This westbound intermodal had a brief issue that blocked the crossing for about an hour:
(https://www.jreb.org/ns/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi857.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fab139%2FErielackawanna%2F2015%2FMay%25202015%2F0523%2520Sandusky%2520OH%2FDSC07879.jpg&hash=2ec4ee57551d45901aec9a71c5b3d22ee91a854c) (http://s857.photobucket.com/user/Erielackawanna/media/2015/May%202015/0523%20Sandusky%20OH/DSC07879.jpg.html)
(https://www.jreb.org/ns/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi857.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fab139%2FErielackawanna%2F2015%2FMay%25202015%2F0523%2520Sandusky%2520OH%2FDSC07883.jpg&hash=cc58008bb771d9c7e853d2e35761df2e926a1ebf) (http://s857.photobucket.com/user/Erielackawanna/media/2015/May%202015/0523%20Sandusky%20OH/DSC07883.jpg.html)
A copule of eastbound trains passed the intemrodal before it elft, including this unit stone train:
(https://www.jreb.org/ns/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi857.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fab139%2FErielackawanna%2F2015%2FMay%25202015%2F0523%2520Sandusky%2520OH%2FDSC07890.jpg&hash=6b59aa3f8a2c0d325888127f2905b1d125bd4c20) (http://s857.photobucket.com/user/Erielackawanna/media/2015/May%202015/0523%20Sandusky%20OH/DSC07890.jpg.html)
This Conrail hopper seemed right at home:
(https://www.jreb.org/ns/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi857.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fab139%2FErielackawanna%2F2015%2FMay%25202015%2F0523%2520Sandusky%2520OH%2FDSC07946.jpg&hash=4cade153bdb9d811b6b6d354561ea929d6e86272) (http://s857.photobucket.com/user/Erielackawanna/media/2015/May%202015/0523%20Sandusky%20OH/DSC07946.jpg.html)
this westbound mixed freight crept of a branch (I think) and was over taken by a faster intermodal:
(https://www.jreb.org/ns/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi857.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fab139%2FErielackawanna%2F2015%2FMay%25202015%2F0523%2520Sandusky%2520OH%2FDSC08002.jpg&hash=0f110910b2e70853ce56ae37e1976dae2294b65e) (http://s857.photobucket.com/user/Erielackawanna/media/2015/May%202015/0523%20Sandusky%20OH/DSC08002.jpg.html)
(https://www.jreb.org/ns/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi857.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fab139%2FErielackawanna%2F2015%2FMay%25202015%2F0523%2520Sandusky%2520OH%2FDSC08018.jpg&hash=ae2e489f748289871616e5a7b9effff56eb3cf07) (http://s857.photobucket.com/user/Erielackawanna/media/2015/May%202015/0523%20Sandusky%20OH/DSC08018.jpg.html)
(https://www.jreb.org/ns/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi857.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fab139%2FErielackawanna%2F2015%2FMay%25202015%2F0523%2520Sandusky%2520OH%2FDSC08029.jpg&hash=0466f09e1077578702af12558ed1416900416bcf) (http://s857.photobucket.com/user/Erielackawanna/media/2015/May%202015/0523%20Sandusky%20OH/DSC08029.jpg.html)
Complete slide show from Edgewater Avenue:
http://s857.photobucket.com/user/Erielackawanna/slideshow/2015/May%202015/0523%20Sandusky%20OH
All photos in this post and the link were taken by me Saturday 5/2/30215 in Sandusky, OH.
So.... let's tally it up:
30+ trains
3 heritage units
6+ high nose EMDs
2 classic passenger cars
hump yard with slug sets
I'd say this trip was definitely worth my time and effort. I hope y'all enjoy the pics. 8)