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This would be the final excursion of the NRHS 2006 Convention as most passengers would ride a circle trip from Dennison to Morgan Run, switch directions to Brewster, then back to Harmon then onto Bowerston where the train would reverse back to Dennison. We would be riding on the Ohio Central to near Brewster then Wheeling & Lake Erie to Bowerston then Ohio Central back to Dennison. The train would leave Dennison on this rainy morning at 8:00 AM and arrived at Morgan Run by 9:15 AM. Chris Parker and I would already be at the Morgan Run Shops that morning as we took the shop tour. When we got there the Ohio Central 1293 was already steamed up and ready to go. So you will see it here before the train arrived.
Ohio Central 4-6-2 1293, ex Steamtown, nee Canadian Pacific 1293 at the Morgan Run Shops which would be put on our train today from here to Sugar Creek.
The 1293 then backed out of the shop heading for the mainline.
The 1293 then came forward on the mainline
Our excursion train from Dennison pulling into Morgan Run with Ohio Central RS-11 1800, Orrville 471 and Ohio Central F40PH 271.
The 1293 waited to back onto the front of our train. I boarded the train very glad to be out of the rain and find the Car Host in the Pennsylvania Railroad Car RPCX 101 had saved some seats for us so I grabbed one for Chris and I. While I was doing that, the 1800 and 471 had cut off our train and went to the track the 1293 was on. Next the 271 pulled us down past that switch before the 1293 and friends backed down onto our train. With us now facing the right direction for Brewster, we departed Morgan Run.
The 1293 took us out of Morgan Run northeast.
Say goodbye to Morgan Run on a very wet day so far. They announced that we would do a Photo Ruby in a few minutes so everyone got ready. The train arrived at a farm crossing and we all got off many with umbrellas. The Photo Line would be the edge of Ohio Highway 93.
The 1293 waited to start its back up move. A call was made for all umbrellas to be put down and guess what it stopped raining.
The back up move.
Photo Runby # 1. It was a great Photo Runby and soon we were back onboard the train and continued north. Our next stop was announced that we would stop at the Pearl Valley Cheese Factory and we would be there for about an hour.
The green Ohio countryside.
When the train arrived at Pearl Valley it had to be split in two due to the factory entrance. When I got off I walked down to the front of our train for a few pictures.
Our train at Pearl Valley.
The 1293 at rest at Pearl Valley.
The Ohio Central Steam Crew.
The Pearl Valley Cheese Factory.
A different view of our train.
Chris Parker walking into the Cheese Factory.
The drumhead on the Track Inspection Car.
I had walked by barking dogs at the blue house and out of Pearl Valley in order to get our train's drumhead with the NRHS 2006 Convention Emblem on it.
A view of the train and Pearl Valley. All the passengers who had gotten off at Pearl Valley returned to the train and at Noon the 1293 with our train departed for Sugar Creek. I just sat back and enjoyed the ride to there having a Coca-Cola as the train climbed Baltic Hill. Right before Sugar Creek I got up to be ready for some pictures.
As we pulled into Sugar Creek we first passed Ohio Central passenger cars that were once used on excursion trains that ran out of here.
The other side showed even more passenger cars.
After the Ohio Central 1293 had cut off of our train and backed into a siding, we moved forward with the 471 and 1800 we passed the water plug that the steam engine used to be watered from back in the excursion days.
The Sugar Creek Station with more passenger cars behind.
We said our goodbyes to the Ohio Central 1293 and we thanked it for the two great trips it pulled our NRHS 2006 Convention Trains. I would now sit back and relax on this last convention trip.
The train continued to climb after we left Sugar Creek.
Our train passed several lakes on the way to Brewster. As we neared there, I used Chris Parker's cell phone to call Lets Talk Trains, that fantastic Internet Radio Show that airs 10-12 Pacific Time or in my case today being that I'm in the Eastern Time Zone it was 1-3 PM. The rains had started again but we were all happy it didn't do it both times we had been off the train. Once done with that, I got ready for our arrival into Brewster.
Our train took a tight curve as we crossed a local highway.
Our train entered Wheeling & Lake Erie tracks that we would be on this afternoon until we reached Bowerston.
The train curved onto the W&LE mainline and headed to the W&LE Station.
We passed a W&LE motive power set.
The Wheeling & Lake Erie Station where we picked up our W&LE Crew for our trip to Bowerston. Once the crew was on we continued to pull forward.
A W&LE Caboose at the Brewster Historical Society.
Views of the Wheeling & Lake Erie yard and shops. The train then backed down to the wye at Harmon which is where the W&LE Line to Cleveland takes off.
We backed down on the northwest leg of the wye and would take this leg to be pointed eastward again.
The train now facing forward takes this leg of the wye to reach the W&LE Mainline.
We have returned to the W&LE Mainline and took off at the fastest speed of this entire NRHS Convention.
The railfans found us again on this bridge. Most we wouldn't see again until Bowerston.
Rolling at 40 MPH down a very well maintained railroad.
Passing another Ohio farm on the way to Bowerston.
We took a curve in Zoar.
Curving at W&LE MP 44.
We crossed mostly muddy rivers on this trip from the rains we had.
Another farm and I loved all the green Ohio had to offer me!
This signal told me we were closing in on Bowerston.
The train arrived at Bowerston and we stopped to change the position of our engines. First the engines cut off from the train. Next the Ohio Central 1800 cut off and went west onto the Ohio Central. Next the 471 backed onto our train again and pulled us onto the Ohio Central mainline.
The 1800 returned to our train and pulled the train forward to unloaded us for a double Photo Runby. Once our train unloaded, our train backed up to do the first runby.
Photo Runby #2.
Photo Runby #3.
Photo Runby #4.
Photo Runby #5. Our passengers then reloaded the train for the final miles of this last NRHS 2006 Convention Excursion Train. We returned to Dennison and that last trip was all over. Special thank you to both the Ohio Central and Wheeling & Lake Erie Railroads. I was first off and on the first bus in the front seat to New Philadelphia. Chris Parker and I went to Hog Heaven for one last time for yet another excellent meal before relaxing our last night in New Philadelphia. Tomorrow we both head home, Chris on an airplane and myself on Amtrak but that will be the last story of this trip.
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