Most of the grade crossing gates in Van Wert have been replaced. Just some or most all the gates themselves.- They were in one of the 2 40' containers down by the junction in town. Have too see what else is in the containers.
MKT_fan11, the ex-GT units have been working between Lima and Fort Wayne quite a bit. Always a possiblity they could stray from there. The CF&E actually goes east from Lima to Crestline,OH. Not much trafffic that way except for the Proctor & Gamble plants just east of Lima a little. The Cole St. yard in Lima is CF&E's yard in Lima. Usually some locos in the yard somewhere. It is along St. Rt. 309 in Lima. You may see if you get permission from the office there. While your in Lima I would also recommend going over to the I&O on the eastside of town. Hopefully, some IORY power and even possibly CF&E could be there. You could check for permission at the I&O yard office there. Sometimes it's pretty bare in there if the LSL Lima South Local has already left.
In Fort Wayne they have Piqua Yard for the CF&E. They have opened the newly built Shop and office building there. Most likely where the GWI/CFE units will be painted in time. I've never asked for permission to go onto the grounds there. Not that we woudn't, but we never needed to yet. The NS Triple Crown yard is at the yard also. The yard is where we saw the SCRF 6412/64156 together for our first time. Since they opened the new shops/office we've always saw power in the yard or by the shops. if you take Coliseum Blvd south from 930 and continue going south you will go by the old International Harvester complex. The road eventually turns to the west and -down the road aways is the CF&E Piqua Yard and tower. Across from the tower to the south is shop/office.
Don't know much about Warsaw, IN but it does generate some good traffic for the CF&E. There probably is a good chance they keep a unit in Warsaw. Hamlet does generate unit grain trains once in awhile. Also, Decatur,IN would be a good 20 mile drive south of Fort Wayne. It has a huge Bunge grain facility. Lots of grain hoppers and tankers when it's pumping them out. Lots of tracks back in the plant. You would take 27 South out of Fort Wayne and when you're nearing Decatur you can't miss the Bunge facility. You can't miss it or your sleeping!. Bunge also has their own power there that you can occasionally see.
There is also a Bunge facility in Delphos, OH between Lima and Van Wert on the CF&E. Usually alot of grain cars there also. Both Bunge facilities are beaneries. Hope it helps some. Like always it's always good if you're lucky when your railfanning.
PW
