Our Pittsburgh & Lake Erie bay window caboose, number 518, was built in 1960 by the Morison International Corporation of Kenton, Ohio. While part of the New York Central System, the P&LE ordered ten such cars numbered 510-519. Learn More
Car Specifications
| weight | 46,200 |
| length | 36′ 7.5″ |
| Date Built | December 1960 |
| Purchase Cost | 16,000 (aprox.) |
A Long Way From Home
In the 1980s and 90s, the Pittsburgh & Lake Erie (P&LE), Chicago & North Western (C&NW), and CSX railroads worked together to transport coal from southwest Pennsylvania and northern West Virginia to the Oak Creek power plant in Wisconsin.
The WEPX trains were loaded in two stages. The process began at Consol Energy’s Blacksville #2 Mine near Wana, WV, where each hopper was loaded halfway. Then, the cars were filled to the top at Consol Energy’s Bailey mine near Graysville, Pennsylvania. The fully loaded trains then traveled north over the P&LE to New Castle, PA, where CSX would continue the westward journey to Chicago. The C&NW would then make the final delivery to Oak Creek. Locomotives for these WEPX trains were provided by C&NW and CSX, while the cabooses were often provided by P&LE. 518 was a regular traveler of this route.
Featured In Print
Source
Stellpflug, M., & Davidson, D. W. (2014, April 7). CSX 6541. Flickr. https://www.flickr.com/photos/85501582@N03/13692656065
Jambor, J. (2024, September 16). Pittsburgh & Lake Erie Railroad Interest Group. Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/groups/955781497921360/posts/3005639806268842/?comment_id=3005866656246157
qnyla. (2008, March 8). Wisconsin Electric WEPX trains CSX/CNW/MGA. Trainorders.com Discussion. https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?11%2C1749186
Under construction:
P&LE 518 – In Service – gallery
P&LE 518 – Discovering the Door – gallery
P&LE 518 – The Unpleasant Album – gallery