Conrail's Toledo Branch

Conrail's Toledo Branch was an ex NYC branchline that ran from Stanley yard in Toledo, OH down to Columbus, OH, a distance of 126 miles.  From Toledo to Ridgeway, the line is signaled CTC and probably the busiest part of the line with trains turning on and off of it at Ridgeway.  From Ridgeway on south to Columbus, the line was dispatched with Form-D's and called the Scottslawn Secondary, named after one of the two most important customers on the line, Scotts fertilizer Co.(the other is the Honda plant in Marysville, OH).  It was also a photographers delight on sunny mornings as you could usually count on 3 or 4 regular southbound trains each day.  As an aside note, this line would gain noteriety in 2000 or 2001 when CSXT 8888(ex CR) led an umanned runaway train down the line until finally being stopped north of Kenton, OH.  Most of the photos you'll see date from 1996 thru 1999. 

CR 3325 on INST-1 Portage, OH

In a dramatic shot, INST-1 with the 3325 as lone power is northbound as a thunderstorm develops behind it just south of Portage, OH on May 1, 1996

CR 6107 with STBN-2 at Galatea, OH

STBN-2 with the 6107 on the point is southbound at Galatea, OH on May 22, 1999

CR 6138 on STCO-2 at Galatea, OH

STCO-2 with the 6138 on the point is southbound on the Toledo Branch at Galatea, OH(CP 34) on May 22, 1999

CR 6187 on STBN-9 at Galatea, OH

On my way to Oak Harbor that morning I grabbed this shot of CR 6187 leading STBN-9 at CP34 Galatea, OH on December 9, 1998. Chris Howe photo

CR 6207 on COEL-0 at Arlington, OH on April 20, 1999

CR 6207 and a NS GE lead train COEL-0 northbound at Arlington, OH on April 20, 1999. Chris Howe photo

CR 6217 on STBN-6 at Galatea, OH

CR 6217 and fellow GE power STBN-6 southbound at CP34 Galatea, OH on September 26, 1997.

CR 6256 on STCO-2 Van Buren, OH

Conrail STCO-2 on the Toledo Branch at Van Buren, OH on March 12, 1996

CR 6522 on ELCO-2 Galatea, OH

Conrail 6522 on ELCO-2 north of Galatea, OH on March 12, 1996

CR 6575 on STCO-5 Ridgeway, OH

STCO-5 with 6575 on the point at Ridgeway, OH on June 25, 1996

CR 6738 on INST Galatea, OH

INST-3 on the Toledo Branch approaches the diamond with the CSX ex B&O mainline at Galatea, OH on April 13, 1996

CR 6809 on ML451X at Galatea, OH

CR 6809 and CR GE leads train ML451X northbound at Galatea, OH late in the day on April 10, 1999. Chris Howe photo, which was taken on my birthday

CSXT 8142 on STBN-8

CSXT 8142 and 8521 lead train STBN-8 at Van Buren, OH on December 18, 1998

UP 6008 on TV220

UP 6008 and a Conrail GP40-2 power train TV220 at Marysville, OH on June 25, 1996