Don's Rail Photos

This was one of the largest and most important interurban lines in the country. It was organized in 1901 out of several predecessor companies. It served the area between Toledo and Cleveland and was a financial success until the depression. Then it collapsed. In 1933 it went into receivership. They continued to operate in the expectation that the situation would again improve. A strike of freight employes in 1937 ended freight service which was suffering from the loss of connecting lines by that time. Passenger improvements were being made in 1937 with the existing heavyweight equipment. Other lines had gone to lightweight cars. The end came shortly after a receiver's auction on January 4, 1938. The only bidder was a finance company which was owed $800,000. They continued service for a short time until May 14, 1938, when all rail service ended.

1 thru 23 were built by Barney & Smith in 1900 and 1902 for the Toledo Fremont & Norwalk Ry as 1 thru 22. TF&N 13 became LSE 8000 in 1902 and was renumbered 23 in 1903. 18 was numbered 24 between 1903 and 1906. 1 was rebuilt as freight motor 30 in 1924. 2 and 3 were stored in 1932 and retired in 1938. 4 was wrecked and burned on December 13, 1902. 5 was rebuilt as a combine in 1927, stored in 1932, and retired in 1938. 6 was rebuilt as freight motor 26 in 1926. 9 was wrecked and burned on December 18, 1917. 10 was stored in 1932 and retired in 1938. 11 burned on October 15, 1906. 12 was stored in 1932 and retired in 1938. 14 was stored in 1932 and retired in 1938. 15 was stored in 1928 and retired in 1939. 16 was rebuilt as a combine in 1927, stored in 1932, and retired in 1938. 17 was stored in 1932 and retired in 1938. 18 was rebuilt as double end in 1927 and retired in 1938. 19 was rebuilt as freight motor 27 in 1926. 20 was stored in 1932, rebuilt in 1937 as double end, and retired in 1938. 21 was rebuilt as freight motor 28 in 1926. 22 was rebuilt as freight motor 29 in 1925. 23 was rebuilt as double end in 1927 and retired in 1938.

26 was formerly passenger car 6 and was stored in 1937.

27 was formerly passenger car 19 and was stored in 1937.

28 was formerly passenger car 21 and was stored in 1937.

29 was formerly passenger car 22 and was stored in 1937.

30 was formerly passenger car 1 and was stored in 1937.

31 was built by Barney & Smith in 1900 as Toledo Fremont & Norwalk 31 and was rebuilt to double end in 1927. It was retired in 1939.

32 was built by Barney & Smith in 1900 as TF&N 32 and was stored in 1937.

33 was built by Barney & Smith in 1900 as TF&N 33 and was rebuilt to double end in 1927. It was retired in 1939.

1^st 34 was built by Jewett in 1917 and destroyed in 1919.

2^nd 34 was built by LSE in 1919. It was wrecked and stored in 1932 and scrapped in 1938.

35 was built by Jewett in 1918, stored in 1937, and retired in 1938.

36 was built by LSE in 1918 and destroyed in 1928.

37 was built by LSE in 1919 as 470. It was rebuilt to 37 in 1920 and retired in 1939.

38 was built by LSE in 1920. It was stored in 1937 and retired in 1939.

1^st 39 was built by Jewett in 1901 as Sandusky & Interurban 28 "Delta". It was converted to a line car in 1907 and later renumbered 453.

2^nd 39 was built by LSE in 1920 and retired in 1938.

40 was built by LSE in 1920. It was wrecked and stored in 1935 and scrapped in 1938.

1^st 41 was built by Brill in 1898 as Lorain & Cleveland 56. It was rebuilt as a freight motor in 1907 , renumbered 49 in 1929, stored in 1930, and retired in 1938.

2^nd 41 was formerly passenger car 145 and was stored in 1937 and retired in 1938.

42 was formerly passenger car 141 and was stored in 1937 and retired in 1938.

43 was formerly passenger car 146 and was stored in 1937 and retired in 1938.

44 was formerly passenger car 148 and was stored in 1937 and retired in 1938.

45 was formerly passenger car 147 and was wrecked and stored in 1932. It was retired in 1938.

46 was formerly passenger car 152 and was stored in 1937 and retired in 1938.

60 thru 69 were built by Brill in 1903. 60 was destroyed in 1925. 61 was stored in 1932 and retired in 1938. 62 and 63 were rebuilt as line cars 455 and 456 in 1931. 64 was stored in 1932 and retired in 1938. 65 was retired in 1938. 66 was destroyed in 1903. 67 was destroyed in 1907. 68 was stored in 1932 and retired in 1938. 69 was rebuilt as double end in 1937 and retired in 1938.

2^nd 66 was built by Kuhlman in 1904 and destroyed in 1928.

141 thru 149 were built by Niles in 1907. 141 was rebuilt as freight motor 42 in 1929. 142 was destroyed in 1915. 143 was lengthened in 1923 and retired in 1938. 144 was destroyed in 1915. 145 was rebuilt as freight motor 41 in 1929. 146 was rebuilt as freight motor 43 in 1929. 147 was rebuilt as freight motor 45 in 1929. 148 was rebuilt as freight motor 44 in 1929. 149 was lengthened in 1923 and retired in 1938.

150 thru 159 were built by Niles in 1906. 150 and 151 were retired in 1938. 152 was destroyed in 1906. 153 was destroyed in 1914. 154 was destroyed in 1917. 155 thru 159 were retired in 1938.

2^nd 152 was built by Niles in 1907 and was rebuilt as freight motor 46 in 1929.

160 thru 164 were built by Niles in 1907. 160 was retired in 1938. 161 was destroyed in 1918. 162 was retired in 1938. 163 was wrecked and stored in 1930 and scrapped in 1931. 164 was retired in 1938.

165 thru 166 were built by Jewett in 1911. 165 was wrecked and stored in 1935 and scrapped in 1938. 166 was retired in 1938.

167 thru 169 were built by Jewett in 1915. 167 was retired in 1939 and has been given a cosmetic restoration (see notes below). 168 was retired in 1939. 169 burned in 1918, was rebuilt by Jewett in 1919, and was retired in 1939.181 were built by Jewett in 1918. 170, 171, and 180 became Des Moines & Central Iowa 1710, 1712, and 1714 after being rebuilt as combines in May 1939. 167 has been given a cosmetic restoration (see notes below).

170 thru 172 were built by Jewett in 1917. They were retired in 1939 and 170 was rebuilt in May 1939 as Des Moines & Central Iowa 1710. It was scrapped in 1951. 171 became a diner in Monroeville and was acquired by Seashore Electric Ry Museum where it is awaiting restoration.

173 thru 181 were built by Jewett in 1918. 173 and 174 were burned in 1918 and rebuilt by Jewett in 1919 and retired in 1939. 175 was wrecked and burned in 1929. The underframe was rebuilt as 409 in 1930. 176 thru 178 were retired in 1939. 179 and 180 were retired in 1939 and rebuilt in May 1939 as Des Moines & Central Iowa 1712 and 1714. They were scrapped in 1951. 181 was retired in 1939.

182 was built by St. Louis Car in 1916 and was formerly Michigan Rys. 851 until 1929. It was rebuilt in 1930 and retired in 1938.

183 was built by St. Louis Car in 1916 and was formerly Michigan Rys. 853. It was rebuilt in 1932 and retired in 1938.

400 was built by Brill in 1897 as J. It was renumbered 400 in 1911, rebuilt in 1925, and retired in 1940.

401 was built by Barney & Smith in 1900 as K. It was renumbered 401 in 1911, rebuilt in 1927, and sold to Fremont Power Co as 401 in 1939. It was retired in 1953.

402 was built by LSE in 1908 as F. It was renumbered 402 in 1914 and scrapped in 1938.

403 was built by LSE in 1908 as G. It was renumbered 403 in 1914, stored in 1932, and scrapped in 1938.

404 was built by LSE in 1910 as H. It was renumbered 404 in 1914 and scrapped in 1939

405 was built by Taunton in 1918 and scrapped in 1938.

407 was built by LSE in 1922 and scrapped in 1940.

408 was built by LSE in 1923 and scrapped in 1939.

409 was rebuilt from passenger car 175 and retired in 1939.

410 was built by LSE in 1932 and scrapped in 1940.

452 was built by LSE in 1914 and was converted to a wrecker in 1931. It was retired in 1938.

453 was rebuilt from passenger car 39 and was retired in 1939.

454 was built by LSE in 1914 and retired in 1938.

455 was rebuilt from passenger car 62 and retired in 1938.

456 was rebuilt from passenger car 63 and retired in 1939.

A and B were built by McGuire Mfg Co in 1904 and were retired in 1938.

C was built by McGuire as Michigan Rys 550. It was purchased in 1929 and retired in 1938.

A car for scrapping the line was apparently built in the company shops.

One of our correspondents sent up the following information regarding car 167:

Dennis Lamont & his brother Richard (Westlake, OH as of 1970) had bought, and moved to Westlake and started restoration of an LSE steel car which I recall to be 167(not sure). About 1966 they had also purchased ex-Indiana RR 714 from American Aggregates for use as a source of trucks (Baldwin 84AA), motors, parts & control for the restoration of 167. IRR 714 had been shortened, equipped with a Cummins diesel & generator, but was functional as a locomotive until at least 1968. It was stored in the American Aggregates gravel pit in (I think) Greenville, IN. When the replacement diesel that AA had bought was down for repairs, they would use 714 and pay per deim! The Lamonts would be in their late 50's and early 60's now, but I have lost track of them and don't know if the project was ever completed. They had seating purchased from the South Shore to re-equip 167.

And above you can see the results of Dennis and Richard's efforts.

AMDG

9/20/2003

Memorial of Saint Andrew Kim

Choose Life

The God of glory thunders.

In His temple they all cry "Glory".

Psalm 29:9