In 1976 when the Central Railroad of New Jersey was folded into Conrail, CNJ had less than 2,000 cars in its entire rolling stock fleet. Most were covered hoppers, many which were obsolete by 1976. All the covered hoppers in class CC70C had been built by Bethlehem Steel Car. Originally painted in CNJ's famous red 'Coast Guard' scheme, this car had been stenciled and renumbered for Conrail in the Reading shops sometime in February 1978.
Class: CC70C
Location: Youngstown, OH
Photo Date: 3-79
Photographer: Roger Durfee     Added: October 28, 2002

In the late 1950's, the Pennsylvania Railroad bought many H40 Airslide covered hoppers. In the early 1970's, Penn Central had General American (GATX) rebuild many of them and paint them in PC green. Penn Central then leased the cars from GATX, which is why the cars had GATX-style lettering instead of the standard PC font. In 1976, Conrail assumed the lease. The cars were once again shopped at GATX in their East Chicago, Indiana, facilities and emerged in light grey paint with a basic Conrail scheme. These cars carried a stenciled 'leased to Conrail' clause under the right-hand car shaker casting.
    Not all the PRR H40 covered hoppers were rebuilt under Penn Central. As a result, Penn Central and then Conrail owned these cars outright. The PRR applied end-sills to their later production H40 covered hoppers, increasing the cars' capacity. Like most railroads, Conrail used their Airslide covered hoppers primarily to transport flour and starch.
    Built as one of the earliest PRR H40 covered hoppers, CR 875117 got rebuilt and then leased from GATX. On this day, it was being sent back to the shops as an out of service 'bad car.'
Class: H40
Location: Allentown, PA
Photo Date: ?-97
Photographer: Lon Godshall     Added: July 9, 1999

Originally a CNJ covered hopper in series CNJ 1000-1099, this 2700 cuft 2-bay was built by AMF Beaird in 1967 and leased from North American. Very few of this class survived by 1999. Series CR 875284-875383.
Class: CC12A
Location: Allentown, PA
Photo Date: 2-97
Photographer: Lon Godshall     Added: July 9, 1999

Erie Lackawanna purchased 50 2,790 cubic-feet covered hoppers from ACF in June 1967, placing them in the series EL 21350-21399. Conrail renumbered them as CR 876312-876361, making CR 876361 pictured here as the last car in the series. CR 876361 was on its way to Hollidaysburg as a shopped car, so its life was probably over the day I snapped this photo. Series CR 876306-876374.
Class: CE12B
Location: Wyomissing, PA
Photo Date: 1-8-97
Photographer: Robert Waller     Added: December 17, 2004

A 37', 75-ton 2-bay covered hopper most likely based on a Pullman-Standard design. The Conrail Color Guide to Freight Equipment doesn't mention anything about these cars.
Class: H33
Location: Manville, NJ
Photo Date: Unknown
Photographer: Reed Estabrook     Added: May 3, 2005

It's no secret that Conrail was not fond of covered hopper movement since it was one of the least profitable of all commodities. Out of all the covered hoppers the railroad owned, the C13A was the only car class that Conrail purchased itself instead of inheriting from the predecessor railroads. In 1977, Conrail purchased 400 of these 3,000 cubic-feet cars from Pullman-Standard's Butler, PA shops. With close-spaced ribs reinforcing the sides, these cars hauled dense commodities, such as sand for glass and foundry industries. The odd looking yellow hazmat sticker proclaiming '3077' on CR 883677 pictured here refers to the type of chemical that it hauls.
Class: C13A
Location: Unknown
Photo Date: 10-9-97
Photographer: Robert Russell     Added: October 30, 1999

Class: C13A
Location: Norristown, PA (Abrams Yard)
Photo Date: 8-17-04
Photographer: Sean McDonell     Added: December 17, 2004

Class: C13A
Location: Bridgeport, PA
Photo Date: 3-7-13
Photographer: John P. Almeida     Added: August 12, 2020

You can easily read the "New 9-77" on the side of CR 883956, which still wears the same paint scheme it did in 1977.
Class: C13A
Location: Reading, PA (CP Belt)
Photo Date: 6-97
Photographer: Robert Waller     Added: October 22, 1998

Built in the early 1960's by American Car & Foundry for Erie Lackawanna, these 3-bay CenterFlow covered hoppers took the series EL 20000-20024 and class CE14A. Conrail placed them mainly in series CR 884130-884157, with some being renumbered outside this series. These cars mainly were used for shipping sand, clay, salt, grain, and bulk plastics.
Class: CE14A
Location: Cleveland, OH
Photo Date: 4-21-85
Photographer: Roger Durfee     Added: October 28, 2002

A former PRR 3140cuft class H50 built by Pullman-Standard. Series CR 884363-884420.
Class: H50
Location: Bellows Falls, VT
Photo Date: 2-95
Photographer: Leo Landry     Added: October 26, 2001

These Pullman-Standard 3,018 cubic-feet covered hoppers with trough hatches were originally built for the Pennsylvania Railroad in the mid-1960s. They passed to Penn Central and then onto Conrail.
Class: H49
Location: Reading, PA (CP Belt)
Photo Date: 6-97
Photographer: Robert Waller     Added: October 22, 1998

Checking out the reporting marks in the upper right, the CE16B's were originally Erie Lackawanna cars. CR 886041 is sitting on the siding for Agway Fertilizer Blending Plant in Blandon.
Class: CE16B
Location: Blandon, PA
Photo Date: 9-94
Photographer: Robert Waller     Added: January 27, 2022

Class: CE16A
Location: Lansdale, PA
Photo Date: ?-97
Photographer: Lon Godshall     Added: July 9, 1999

In 1965, American Car & foundry built the 3-bay, 4650 cuft covered hopper class 958H for New York Central, placing them in series NYC 886226-886325. 43 cars still in their NYC numbers made it onto Conrail, taking series CR 887959-887999 and CR 888006-888007. 55 cars that had been renumbered as PC 886227-886325 were renumbered as CR 886227-886325. Since Conrail sprayed over existing predecessor paint schemes, the NYC and PC heralds and numbers are viable. CR 886293 was on PISE-9B (Pittsburgh, PA - Selkirk, NY)
Class: 958H
Location: Wyomissing, PA
Photo Date: 3-1-96
Photographer: Robert Waller     Added: April 14, 2022

Another shot of CR 886293 on PISE-9B later that afternoon.
Class: 958H
Location: Laureldale, PA
Photo Date: 3-1-96
Photographer: Robert Waller     Added: April 14, 2022

Larry DeYoung, a Conrail freight expert, has the theory that cars in mineral or chemical service were painted grey, while those in agriculture service were painted red. Of course, there are many exceptions to this rule.
Class: CE16B
Location: Allentown, PA
Photo Date: 7-98
Photographer: Lon Godshall     Added: July 9, 1999

Class: Unknown
Location: North Walpole, NH
Photo Date: 11-92
Photographer: Tim Stevens     Added: November 17, 2004

These Pullman-Standard 4,785 cubic-feet covered hoppers were built for the New York Central and then eventually passed into Conrail service in 1976.
Class: 138H
Location: Reading, PA (CP Belt)
Photo Date: 6-97
Photographer: Robert Waller     Added: October 22, 1998

In its Hollidaysburg shop in 1969, Penn Central built 861 4,600 cubic-feet H51C's based on General American Dry-Flo designs. Conrail used these cars mostly in agriculture service hauling grain. By this time in 2000, CR 887764 was in Norfolk Southern service on a northbound CSX freight.
Class: H51C
Location: Folkston, GA
Photo Date: 2-25-00
Photographer: Robert Waller     Added: December 17, 2004

I'm not sure what class this car is. Conrail painted over its original New York Central paint. Here it's on PISE-9B (Pittsburg, PA - Selkirk, NY). That is not a scratch on my negative. That is on the car itself.
Class: Unknown
Location: Wyomissing, PA
Photo Date: 3-1-96
Photographer: Robert Waller     Added: April 14, 2022

CR 887985 was still numbered as an NYC car when it was repainted and renumbered for Conrail. Still running in 1995, CR 887985 is an example of the many versions of covered hopper "paint schemes" the shops applied during the early years. On the lower right, it still has its multicolored ACI label intact.
Class: 958H
Location: Allentown, PA
Photo Date: 3-95
Photographer: Lon Godshall     Added: July 9, 1999

CR 887996, another 958H, wears three pain schemes. This is one of the New York Central cars that came onto Conrail without being renumbered for Penn Central. You can see the NYC herald and reporting marks coming though. Then it got stenciled for Conrail, with those numbers visible. Later it got totally repainted for Conrail. CR 887996 is on HBAL-2B (Harrisburg, PA - Allentown, PA).
Class: 958H
Location: Wyomissing, PA
Photo Date: 3-3-96
Photographer: Robert Waller     Added: April 14, 2022

We caught up with HBAL-2B later that day, were I shot several cars a second time.
Class: 958H
Location: Laureldale, PA
Photo Date: 3-3-96
Photographer: Robert Waller     Added: April 14, 2022

In 1967, Pullman Standard built the 138H class 3-bay covered hopper for New York Central, numbering them as NYC 886826-887025. In 1968, Penn Central renumbered 112 of these cars as PC 886826-887025, which became CR 886826-887025. The NYC cars not renumbered for PC were placed in series CR 888254-888366. Several cars did not make it onto Conrail.
    CR 888261 is former-NYC 886854 and has been repainted in the Quality scheme.
Class: 138H
Location: Wyomissing, PA
Photo Date: 3-1-96
Photographer: Robert Waller     Added: April 14, 2022

The H54 is one of the most common of Conrail's covered hopper classes. In 1971, Pullman-Standard built 1,250 of these PS-2CD, 100-ton, 4785 cuft covered hoppers and then leased them to Penn Central, where they took series PCB 888749-889999. Since they were in bankruptcy at the time, Penn Central gave these cars special 'PCB' reporting marks, indicating that Penn Central had used special financing outside of the bankruptcy proceedings to purchase the cars.
    When Conrail acquired Penn Central in 1976, the special reporting marks were no longer needed. Unfortunately, class H54 covered hoppers were dispersed throughout the Conrail rolling stock roster. CR 888312 has been repainted in the Quality scheme.
Class: H54
Location: Norristown, PA (Abrams Yard)
Photo Date: 8-17-04
Photographer: Sean McDonell     Added: December 17, 2004

In the late 1960's, just before the Penn Central merger, American Car & Foundry (ACF) built 184 5,700 cubic-feet cars for New York Central's lot 131H. These cars were used to carry low density products, such as animal feed and minerals across the Conrail system.
Class: 131H
Location: Wyomissing, PA
Photo Date: 5-30-96
Photographer: Robert Waller     Added: December 17, 2004

The 4,650 cubic-feet H45 was built in 1965 by ACF for the Pennsylvania Railroad. There is a H45A subclass, the only difference being that the H45 has gravity discharge gates, while the H45A has pneumatic outlets. Other than that, the classes are nearly identical. You can see the old PRR paint scheme showing through the paint scheme, plus the stenciled CR reporting marks.
Class: H45
Location: Wyomissing, PA
Photo Date: 3-95
Photographer: Robert Waller     Added: March 2, 2022

Whatever they shipped in the H45, it had a horrible effect on the car's paint. As is often the case with Conrail covered hoppers, the old PRR paint scheme is showing through the oxide red. Plus, new CR reporting marks have been re-applied.
Class: H45
Location: Wyomissing, PA
Photo Date: 3-97
Photographer: Robert Waller     Added: December 17, 2004

When new in 1971, this car would have had the PCB reporting marks. Instead, Conrail simply rollered over the PCB and slapped on a new CR decal. Series CR 888749-889948.
Class: H54
Location: Reading, PA
Photo Date: ?-98
Photographer: John Schodowski     Added: October 23, 1998

I love this former Penn Central PS-2CD 4785 cubic foot covered hopper by Pullman Standard. The first versions rolled out of the Butler, PA plant in 1967. Being one of the larger PS covered hoppers, they could carry a large variety of products. I always associate them with hauling grain, but minerals were also a common commodity. CR 889207 began its life as PCB 889207. The Penn Central identifications have been painted over long ago, but the original number remains. The "CR" stencil is different. I wish I had a shot of the other side of this car, but so far, I don't see it in my 1994-95 collection. For those interested in modeling the H54 class, ScaleTrains makes an excellent model in HO and N scale as of this writing.
Class: H54
Location: Reading, PA (CP Belt)
Photo Date: 1-95
Photographer: Robert Waller     Added: October 6, 2022

Another H54, this one has an interesting paint scheme. Since Conrail from the beginning never invested much in its large covered hopper fleet, most times the paint shops simply painted right over the predecessor paint without even washing or priming the car. This car is a perfect example of what time and rain eventually did to these cars. CR 889309 was painted in November 1978 in Hollidaysburg. It got the big CONRAIL right over the old PC green. Because they painted over the car's dirt and grime, the brown paint eventually washed away, leaving what you see here. The numbers were re-stenciled because the old CR ones had faded away from the poor original paint job.
Class: H54
Location: Allentown, PA
Photo Date: 7-98
Photographer: Lon Godshall     Added: December 17, 2004

CR 889457 was on westbound ALNS (Allentown, PA - NS/Haggerstown, MD)
Class: H54
Location: Wyomissing, PA
Photo Date: 3-4-96, 3:40pm
Photographer: Robert Waller     Added: April 14, 2022

CR 889836 had been recently repainted in the Quality scheme when John caught it in 1994. Series CR 888749-889948.
Class: H54
Location: Binghampton, NY
Photo Date: 10-7-94
Photographer: John McCluskey     Added: September 5, 1998

Although heavily rusted, CR 889945 still has the original logo from the 1970's.
Class: H54
Location: Mount Joy, PA
Photo Date: 8-12-94
Photographer: Robert Waller     Added: February 18, 2022

The original PRR scheme and numbers are showing through on CR 891065. Yet another covered hopper from PISE-9B that day.
Class: H45
Location: Wyomissing, PA
Photo Date: 3-1-96
Photographer: Robert Waller     Added: December 19, 2022

Same car and train, just late that afternoon.
Class: H45
Location: Laureldale, PA
Photo Date: 3-1-96
Photographer: Robert Waller     Added: April 14, 2022