The Toledo, Lake Erie & Western Railway and Museum (TLE&W) is announcing several administrative changes following recent board action. Rick Westphal has stepped down as President, longtime Treasurer Frank Oles is departing for medical reasons, Durrell Johnson has been elected the organization’s new President, and Andy Ciesler is transitioning from Director of Technology into the role of Director of Digital and Museum Programs.
Rick Westphal resigned as President effective August 8, 2026, after a brief transition period. A recently retired CSX locomotive engineer, Rick assumed leadership during a challenging time for the organization and helped guide it through the transition from the previous administration. At that point TLE&W was primarily focused on the Bluebird passenger train and a limited collection of historical assets along the line; the organization had not yet fully embraced its identity as a museum. Rick authored the four-phase plan to restore the Bluebird to service and initiated the effort to close and remodel the current museum building. His extensive knowledge of maintenance-of-way operations proved instrumental in shaping the Bluebird restoration plan.
The organization also extends its deep gratitude to Frank Oles, who is stepping away from the Treasurer role for medical reasons. Frank has given more than 30 years of dedicated service to TLE&W. In addition to his long tenure as Treasurer, he has served as a ticket agent for the popular motorcar ride in Grand Rapids, Ohio, and has volunteered across many aspects of the collection. Thank you, Frank, for your years of commitment and service.
On Saturday, August 15, 2026, the TLE&W board elected Durrell Johnson as President. Durrell brings 25 years of railroad experience with CSX, where he currently works as a machine operator in the Engineering Department. His previous management roles include Assistant Roadmaster at Willard Yard, Supervisor of Program Construction on the Florence Division (based in Florence, South Carolina), and Roadmaster in Fostoria, Ohio.
In a related change, Andy Ciesler, who has served as Director of Technology, is stepping into the newly defined role of Director of Digital and Museum Programs. Andy and his family have been part of the organization for nearly two years. In that short time he has fundamentally modernized how TLE&W operates. He rebuilt the museum’s website from the ground up, transforming it into a living digital extension of the physical collection and effectively virtualizing the museum experience for visitors near and far. He also led the interpretive signage initiative for the outdoor collection and developed the modernized asset catalog system that now underpins our preservation work. Professionally, Andy serves as a senior engineer and in fractional management roles at Arakyta, a managed service provider based in downtown Toledo.
A new Treasurer has also been appointed; additional details will be shared with members in the near future.
Looking ahead, TLE&W is energized about the path forward. Changes already underway—and expected to gain momentum in 2027—include project portfolio management, clearer delegation of tasks to reduce bottlenecks, greater investment in younger members so they can learn skilled trades from experienced volunteers, and a stronger emphasis on the organization’s educational mission. As an educational institution by nature, the museum will lean more intentionally into that role.
The Toledo, Lake Erie & Western Railway and Museum remains committed to preserving railroad history in Northwest Ohio and looks forward to the next chapter under this updated leadership team.
