Conrail was formed in 1976 from the rubble of the bankrupt Penn Central (the largest bankruptcy in the nation's history), five other bankrupt northeastern railroads (Erie Lackawanna, Reading, Lehigh Valley, Jersey Central, and Lehigh and Hudson River), the ailing Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines, and some other shortlines.
There were 90 distinct types among the 5,038 locomotives Conrail inherited on April 1, 1976. This incredible assortment of motive power ranged from PRSL's ancient Baldwin diesels to a few modern second generation diesels, to the aging ex-PRR electric fleet. Conrail's mission was to standardize, modernize, and replace this fleet. The motive power fleet had to be upgraded if the new company was to survive. (Profitability wasn't even on the horizon back then, The primary mission was to avoid total collapse, or worse, nationalization.)
Come back to the early days of Conrail, when trains were led by colorful "dog packs" of badly maintained diesels. Recall the badly maintained track, the ancient signals, and motley freight cars of an era when the future of railroads was still in question.
(click for a larger view)
The Altoona Dead Line, July 7,1979
Visible in this incredible view taken from the roof of an ex-PC U25C are RS3's (ex-CNJ and ex-DL&W), an RSD12 not lucky enough to be rebuilt into an MT6 slug, a GP9B, a steam powered crane, and large numbers of ex-EL E and F Units. Conrail's early "rainbow era" was rapidly ending when I took this photo.
General Motors Electro-Motive Division (EMD) Four Axle Road Diesels
GP-20
EMD Six Axle Road Diesels
EMD Diesel Switchers
SW-900
General Electric Four Axle Road Diesels
U28B
U36B
General Electric Six Axle Road Diesels
U30C
Miscellaneous
Although my first railfan "jaunt" was on March 31, 1976 to the Morrisville Enginehouse in Morrisville, Pa., and I made countless other jaunts in the late '70s, I was a kid without a camera. My collection of the oldest and oddest is limited. I did not acquire a camera until Christmas, 1979. The Pentax K1000 I received that Christmas shot almost every photo on this site and thousands more. This rugged, totally manual beast is still my only camera.
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