The Monessen Express

On April 22nd, 1998 we traveled to Orrville Ohio to ride The Monessen Express. The train was sponsored by the Orrville Railroad Heritage Society, and pulled by W & LE 3049. The round trip took over 15 hours via historic W & LE and Pittsburgh & W.V. tracks. We took some great scenery shots from the train, but they really don't fit in the railfanning purposes of this page. What follows are pictures we took a few weeks later of some of the bridges we went over. At the bottom of this page are shots we took of the Pittsburgh Flyer on August 1st, 1998 On April 17-18, 1999 a trip to Connellsville PA was operated and the pictures can be seen by clicking here.

Click here to visit the Wheeling & Lake Erie unofficial web-site.

Click on the images to see a larger photo.

Click here to view a schedule of the Monessen Express as we passed various points.

Enroute to Orrville, we got this shot outside the W & LE headquarters at Brewster OH (16K) Click on the image to see a full size photo >
W & LE caboose 0217 is on display across from the headquarters in Brewster OH (37K) Click on the image to see a full size photo >
W & LE 3049 prepares to hook up to "The Monessen Flyer". We rode in car 103. (31K) Click on the image to see a full size photo >
The Monesson Express passing through Avella PA Photo by William Shaffer
W & LE 3049 leads the Monesson Express Eastbound at Old Ridge Road, Woodrow PA Photo by William Shaffer
The I-70 highway bridge across the Monongahela River at Belle Vernon PA. (30K) Click on the image to see a full size photo >
The Ann Marie pushes a tow of barges beneath the train as we cross the High Bridge over the Monongahela River. (32K) Click on the image to see a full size photo >
The view of the W & LE bridges over Tyrol Blvd in Monessen PA. The low bridge is the spur that leads to CSX (former P & LE) in Monessen. (15K) Click on the image to see a full size photo >
The W & LE high bridge over the Monongahela River. The spur to CSX is seen in the foreground. (34K) Click on the image to see a full size photo >
This view of the I-70 and the W & LE bridges was taken from alongside the CSX at Belle Vernon PA. (25K) Click on the image to see a full size photo >
This bridge crosses over the road that leads to Charleroi PA from the "Lover" exit of I-70 (35K) Click on the image to see a full size photo >
Bridge near Van Voorhees PA (37K) Click on the image to see a full size photo >
Looking up at the Van Voorees Bridge. (12K) Click on the image to see a full size photo >
The curve on the Van Voorhees bridge (11K) Click on the image to see a full size photo >
The bridge at Mingo Creek County Park. Just off of PA Route 88 between Finleyville and Monongahela PA (38K) Click on the image to see a full size photo >

In the area of Westmoreland County where I live, there have been at least four fatalities in the last four years. Over 10 years ago a very good friend of mine met a train on the Mingo Creek bridge (last picture above). It was the last train he ever saw. By the time the engineer sees you, he cannot possibly stop. So do us all a favor and stay at a safe distance.

1997 was the first year on record, that more trespassers were killed on railroad property, than people were killed in grade crossing accidents.

Visit Operation Lifesaver.

The Pittsburgh Flyer

On August 1st, 1998 we chased the Pittsburgh Flyer from Avella PA to Rook Yard. The train was sponsored by the Orrville Railroad Heritage Society, and pulled by W & LE 3046. Due to road construction at Bridgeville PA, the train got ahead of us and we missed some good shots we had planned on getting.

Click on the images to see a larger photo.

Wheeling & Lake Erie 3046 leads the Pittsburgh Flyer into Avella PA
The B & O first class car carries the markers as the Flyer passes under the PA Route 50 bridge in Avella.
A full view of the Flyer east of Avella.
W & LE 3046 leads the Pittsburgh Flyer across PA Route 50 between Hickory and Avella PA
The Flyer approaching a back road crossing South West of Hickory.
The Flyer has cleared the crossing and is nearing the Hickory Tunnel.
A forlorn view of Rook Yard from the Mansfield Ave bridge. I remember when it was filled with auto racks on the right, bringing new Ford's to Pittsburgh, and a piggy-back ramp on the left. Not to mention all the tracks in the middle filled with all manner of cars.
W & LE 3046 has run around the train and is coupled onto the B & O First Class Car.
A full view of the Flyer in Rook Yard. The train is ready to be backed further into the yard and parked for the night. On August 2nd, it will return to Orrville OH,

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