Day of Rio Grande Heritage

Catching wind that Wheeling train 764 was heading west on the Cleveland sub with the two Rio Grande tunnel motors, I ran out to chase them. While I’ve railfaned the wheeling my whole life, this is the first time I’ve been able to chase the tunnel motor duo. Built for the Denver and Rio Grande Western in March of 1980, SD40T-2 5413 served admirably with D&RGW and its successor, Union Pacific, until the early 2000’s. In 2002, it was acquired by the Wheeling and Lake Erie and retained its original DRGW paint scheme.
Alongside of 5413, 5412 is another SD40T-2 built in August of 1978 for the D&RGW, as well. Unlike 5413, though, 5412 was repainted in Southern Pacific colors when the D&RGW was bought out by SP. When acquired by The Wheeling in 2002, it was repainted back into its original paint scheme to reflect its heritage and more closely resemble the Wheeling’s own paint scheme. Beside the tunnel motors, 764 was also lead by ABC (ex-Missouri Pacific) GP40-3 4005 and WLE (ex-KCS) SD40-3 6354. Interestingly, 6354 was one of the main locomotives used in Unstoppable from 2010.
Filmed off IPhone 13 and edited in IMovie.

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Sorry about being in your shots

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All good 😊

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W h e r e

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Kent, Brimfield, and Akron, Ohio.