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Board the Blue Bird train at Waterville, Ohio for a 15 mile round trip on the tracks of the Toledo, Lake Erie & Western Railway and Museum, Inc., once part of the Cloverleaf Division of the Nickel Plate Road. The trip takes 60 minutes and includes a spectacular views as you travel across Northwest Ohio.
Open to the Public: Charters welcome! Call toll free at 1-866-63-TRAIN. Our 2008 Passenger Service Season is in full operation. It's time to plan your 2008 trip on the Bluebird. With today's travel patterns many children, and even their parents, have never ridden a real passenger train. The Bluebird Passenger Train provides this opportunity. Click on the NEW/EVENTS button on the top of your screen for details on our special events. The 90+ minute round trip ride takes our passengers back to a more casual time when passenger trains where a primary form of transportation, governing our lives and influencing our priorities. Sit back and enjoy the ride past an original 185 year-old log cabin (built in 1817 and found down stream from Fort Megs). Then past a 100 year-old horse barn as you continue your journey over the last remaining ten miles of track from one of America's most prestigious railroads, The Nickel-Plate Railroad. (The Cloverleaf division of the Nickel-Plate provided rail service from Toledo, Ohio to St. Louis, Missouri between the mid 1800's and the early 1900's.) After your trip feel free to visit the locomotive engineer for a tour of the locomotive and converse with our train crew for a taste of what it was like to work on a railroad 100 years ago. Bring your cameras. If you look closely, you may even see two American Bald Eagle families nesting in the trees along our tracks near St. Rt. 295. Due to construction boarding locations may change. We may not be able to provide a ride across our Maumee River Bridge until construction has completed. Please call our depot at (419) 878-2177 or return to this site for final boarding locations and schedules prior to your trip. To TLEW Volunteers: Dear Kurt Teschendorf, I just wanted to thank you and the crew for the wonderful time all of us had riding the train and visiting the little log cabin. The children were all thrilled with the experience. Thanks for the old railroad spikes, and, especially, for the wonderful hospitality and patience of the Carmony family. They took the time to give five little children and several big children a chance to see the engine up close. My grandson, Alek, told me "I had more fun than you, Gramma! I got to blow the whistle." That's what we were hoping for - a fun day for Alek and his friends. We look forward to coming back when the tracks are repaired and we are able to cross the Maumee River. And of course, we will recommend the trip to other friends and family members. Sincerely, Mary O. Kolasinski, Petersburg, MI; June 6, 2002 To TLEW Volunteers: "Thank you so much for the memorable trip yesterday. Adam has not stopped talking about it all day. It was definitely a wonderful experience for him. You provide such a valuable experience for people of all ages, and the amount of history that you shared yesterday was exceptional. I know the next time we come to Grand Rapids, our train trip will be much different, but it will always be an adventure." Kristina ElSayed, Sylvania, OH; June 2, 2002 To TLEW President William Linebaugh: Bill, I just want to thank you and you're crew for a very fun filled evening !!!!! I really want to commend the crew, they were very organized and had great personalities !!! My little girl talked about the trip the whole way home!! If the public doesn't try at least one of you're halloween excursions they are truly missing out on a good time !!! You and the other members really have something going !!, Keep up the good work !! Jeff Sharp, Malinta, OH; October, 2001 To TLEW Volunteers: "Thank You Very Much for handling the WOKR meet tour and lunch on Friday July 20th. The Hobo Sack Lunch was delicious and the cold drinks really hit the spot. The members enjoyed their ride back in time to a slower pace of life and their experience of the way of transportation for our grandfathers and great grandfathers. The restoration of the coaches is beautiful and your volunteers should be commended on their hard work and many hours spent. WELL DONE!!! Thanks for setting up a special ride for our group." The Hamiltons,2001 WOKR Meet Co-Chairman; July 20, 2001 TRAIN SCHEDULE: Saturday, Sunday & Holidays (May 10th through October 31st): Trains Depart Waterville at 1:00 P.M., 2:30 P.M.and 4:00 P.M. Wednesday & Thursdays (June, July and August Only) Trains Depart Waterville at 10:30 A.M., 12:00 P.M. and 1:30 P.M.
The Toledo, Lake Erie & Western Railway and Museum, Inc., is a 501c3, non-profit organization run entirely by volunteers. Serving Northwestern Ohio since 1969. |