ABOVE: While not the Colorado Rockies, the tunnel motors do look good in the late afternoon light as they cruise north just a few miles north of Toledo on August 13, 2007.
LEFT: Ann Arbor No. 7802 pulls the ramp at Chrysler’s North Toledo Assembly Plant on August 14, 2007. This was the last unit wearing the orginal orange paint from the 1980s incarnation of the Ann Arbor Railroad. This line is now operated by Watco Industries.
Grande tunnel motors across the state of Ohio through areas I had never visited previously. The next day was another beauty,
with lots of sunshine in the forecast. My information said that I could expect the empties to arrive back into Toledo sometime around noon. My flight home was that evening so I hoped with any kind of luck I could grab a shot at Hallet and follow the empties south for
a bit before discontinuing the chase and heading for Columbus and my flight back to Colorado. There is much to shoot around Toledo and I managed to snag my first-ever shots of the Ann Arbor. The hours continued to tick away and soon I was growing short on time. I decided to wait at the tower as long as I could before heading for Columbus. Eventually time ran out and I had to leave. I made my way to the freeway on-
ramp and while waiting for the signal to turn green I heard what I had waited all day to hear — “5391 to Hallet Tower.” I made a quick U-turn and made my way back to the tower. I didn’t have to wait long until the empties arrived. I took my shot and we both headed our separate ways. I returned home to Colorado, while Nos. 5391 and 5413 continue to soldier on for the Wheeling & Lake Erie. In retrospect, it was an excellent and exciting way to end the trip. I have since made a couple more trips to photograph the Wheeling & Lake Erie, but I have never been fortunate enough to catch both tunnel motors together, let alone the sole power for a train. I no longer live in Colorado but still hope to return for another shot of what remains of the once-ubiquitous Rio Grande tunnel motor fleet.
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