Chasing I&O C40-8W’s On The CFE’s East End, Plus Afternoon Railfanning In Lima, OH! 08-04-26

I decided to take a day to go out to the Lima, OH area to try and find the two Indiana & Ohio Railway Dash 8 locomotives that were recently sent to the CF&E in return for two of their own Dash 8’s. As we came into Lima, we noticed that the westbound Lima to Fort Wayne turn wasn’t set up to run, so we went eastward towards the east end of the CF&E yard, and then on towards the diamond with the CSX in downtown. As we pulled up, the two I&O Dash 8’s were stopped just before the diamond with a CWR train. We immediately got set up for them just as they started to get moving after a CSX train cleared. We initially thought that it was a transfer to the I&O. However, we noticed them crossing over the I&O when we pulled up to the intersection of State Rd. 81 and Sugar St., meaning that this was bound for Crestline, OH. So with that being said, we made a chase eastward, making stops in Lafayette, Ada, Dunkirk, Forest, Bucyrus, and North Robinson. After leaving it behind at North Robinson, we headed back west to Lima to enjoy the rest of the day there. The 2 I&O Dash 8’s came back west with hoppers from the brand new Luis Dreyfus facility in Upper Sandusky, OH. We also got several CSX trains before hearing the I&O northbound from Washington Courthouse coming up into town, which had the 2 CFE Dash 8’s that were traded with the I&O ones, as well as one of the I&O’s own Dash 9’s. After that, the I&O’s Lima Yard Switcher pulled out to do some work with a GP38-2. After that, we got the overnight NS local departing Lima for Findlay, OH, and then caught it again at the junction between the NS and the I&O. I chose to shoot it at the rare NKP-era signal that guards the east end of the diamond. After that, the sun was completely set, and we went home for the day. Very productive day to say the least! Enjoy the video!