GP38-2 Locomotive Photos | Conrail Cyclopedia

CR 7951

PC 7951

It's been six months since the creation of Conrail, and here we see an unusual sight. First, all three Penn Central locomotives are still in their original paint scheme without CR stencils. Seeing a lashup of original units was not unusual at this time, of course, but a pure Penn Central train traversing the old bridge in Allentown was an unusual sight since PC black did not roam this area of PA prior to Conrail.
Location: Allentown, PA
Photo Date: 10-76
Photographer: Vic Mailloux Added: January 8, 1999

CR 7961

PC 7961

It's late 1976, and the Rainbow era of Conrail is in full swing. Here we see PC 7961 GP38-2 still in its original paint leading a freight. The second unit is LV 507 U23B still in its original numbers as well.
Location: Cleveland, OH
Photo Date: 11-76
Photographer: Roger Durfee Added: July 14, 2005

CR 8007

Location: Unknown
Photo Date: 4-78
Photographer: Joe Testagrose Added: October 23, 2020

CR 8035

CR 8035 (former PC 8035) is sitting under the wires outside Philadelphia. Notice how Conrail had to shift the cab number as far as possible to the left instead of centering them due to the cab vent.
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Photo Date: ?-93
Photographer: John Bondura Added: June 4, 2002

CR 8045

Unlike when NS and CSX took over Conrail in a methodical and efficient manner, the creation of Conrail was chaotic and highly contentious. Here we see one of the many unusual "paint out" schemes. CR 8045 (xPC 8045) has had its old Penn Central heralds painted black, but instead of the typical CR stencils applied over them CR 8045 has the full "Conrail" applied to its nose and a small "Conrail" applied to the long hood.
Location: Gang Mills, NY
Photo Date: 9-7-85
Photographer: Kevin DeGroff Added: July 8, 2002

CR 8047

CR 8047 (xPC 8047) GP38-2 is on the lead of four other black GP38-2's on the west leg of the Newberry Yard engine house wye in Williamsport, PA at 9:46 am, catching the morning winter sun.
Location: Williamsport, PA (Newberry Yard)
Photo Date: 2-9-80
Photographer: Randall Rook Added: March 21, 2025

CR 8047

Painted in the Operation Lifesaver scheme, CR 8047 (former PC 8047) is the sister unit of GP38-2 CR 8090. In the 1990's, both locomotives were based in Harrisburg, PA.
Location: Harrisburg, PA
Photo Date: 7-21-98
Photographer: Tom Wolfgang Added: August 8, 1998

CR 8049

CR 8049 is behind the old car shops in Reading Yard.
Location: Reading, PA (Reading Yard)
Photo Date: 7-2-98
Photographer: John Schodowski Added: November 18, 2018

CR 8050

Location: Bradley Beach, NJ
Photo Date: 4-30-78
Photographer: Joe Testagrose Added: October 23, 2020

CR 8059

Location: Rochester, NY
Photo Date: 8-9-99
Photographer: Wes Reminder Added: November 18, 2018

CR 8060

Six years after the formation of Conrail, the black paint used to paint out the Penn Central heralds has been wearing off to reveal most of the original Penn Central on the long hood, which looks like it never had CR stencils applied to it. Of course, the nose got the stencils, as the photo shows.
Location: Philadelphia, PA (Frankford Junction)
Photo Date: 10-31-82
Photographer: John Bondura Added: June 4, 2002

CR 8065

CR 8065 (former PC 8065) has been repainted in Conrail's updated scheme with white number boards and safety stripe but still no ditch lights.
Location: Ashtabula, OH (Ashtabula Harbor Yard)
Photo Date: 10-22-92
Photographer: Dave Trenn Added: December 24, 2005

CR 8065

A view of the cab signals inside the cab. These allow the crew to see the next upcoming signal.
Location: Rochester, NY
Photo Date: ?-99
Photographer: Wes Reminder Added: November 18, 2018

CR 8065

An overview of the 8065's entire control stand.
Location: Rochester, NY
Photo Date: ?-99
Photographer: Wes Reminder Added: November 18, 2018

CR 8065

The conductor side of the cab looking forward.
Location: Rochester, NY
Photo Date: ?-99
Photographer: Wes Reminder Added: November 18, 2018

CR 8091

Location: Fort Wayne, IN
Photo Date: 8-11-78
Photographer: Arnie Morscher Added: November 18, 2018

CR 8072

Location: Elizabethport, NJ
Photo Date: 7-78
Photographer: Bob Dobrowolski Added: September 10, 1999

CR 8073

Location: Altoona, PA
Photo Date: ?-98
Photographer: Mike Stolter Added: April 25, 2006

CR 8074

CR 8074 (former PC 8074) literally is fresh out of the Juniata Back Shop repainted into the Conrail Quality scheme along with new ditch lights.
Location: Cresson, PA
Photo Date: 3-26-99
Photographer: Roger Durfee Added: March 28, 2003

CR 8085

CR 8085 leads a freight as it climbs Horseshoe Curve at Bennington Curve.
Location: Bennington Curve, PA
Photo Date: 10-85
Photographer: Tom Haag Added: August 5, 2001

CR 8088

CR 8088 GP38-2 is paired with CR 8121 GP38-2 as it takes westbound HBBE (Harrisburg, PA to Bethlehem, PA) out of Reading yard after setting off cars, which was typical for this train. When this photo was taken in 1997, CR 8088 (former PC 8088) recently had gotten ditch lights applied to the front and rear pilot. The front cab door on the conductor's side also has a thick rubber gasket around it, which is unusual.
Location: Reading, PA (CP Belt)
Photo Date: 2-13-97
Photographer: Robert Waller Added: May 27, 1998

CR 8090

Here we see CR 8090 shortly before it got rebuilt and repainted into an Operation Lifesave unit seen below.
Location: Reading, PA (Reading Yard)
Photo Date: 1-95
Photographer: Robert Waller Added: February 5, 2022

CR 8090

The major oil leaks prove CR 8090's faulty prime mover was not overhauled before being repainted into Operation Lifesaver colors.
Location: Wyomissing, PA
Photo Date: 1-8-97
Photographer: Robert Waller Added: August 10, 2001

CR 8091

CR 8091 had been freshly repainted into the safety scheme with new number boards and stripes.
Location: Ashtabula, OH (Ashtabula Harbor Yard)
Photo Date: 3-93
Photographer: Dave Trenn Added: December 24, 2005

CR 8093

The cab signal box on the engineer's side has been removed; it used to sit in front of the engineer's door where the big rust mark is. CR 8093 was lead unit of an NS run-through train that day.
Location: West Reading, PA
Photo Date: 7-96
Photographer: Robert Waller Added: October 15, 1998

CR 8095

PC 8095

Location: Danbury, CT
Photo Date: 11-77
Photographer: Vic Mailloux Added: July 10, 1998

CR 8095

Location: Altoona, PA (Horseshoe Curve)
Photo Date: 9-16-81
Photographer: Glen Beans Added: August 10, 2001

CR 8095

CR 8095 is on an eastbound. It's still in its original Conrail paint scheme, which it would have gotten at least ten years earlier.
Location: Wyomissing, PA
Photo Date: 10-95
Photographer: Robert Waller Added: March 24, 2022

CR 8098

CR 8098 (former PC 8098) had seen better days when this photo was taken in 1996. When CR 8098 was first painted blue, it got a smaller-than-normal "Conrail" on the long hood along with the typical black number boards. Instead of pushing the cab number far to the left to avoid the cab vent, the paint shop split the unit's number around the cab vent instead. Also, somewhere along the line the unit got the edges of its steps painted white. It all adds up to an odd unit.
Location: Laureldale, PA (CP Laurel)
Photo Date: 8-96
Photographer: Robert Waller Added: October 15, 1998

CR 8108

They say to never shoot into the sun, but sometimes there is no choice when we want to "record history"! CR 8108 is working westbound WPRE (Way Freight / Philadelphia Division / Reading, PA) as is passes under Furnace Road just outside Wernersville, PA, on the Harrisburg Line. A couple hours later its counter-part from Lebanon (WPLE-33) will pass by the same spot going east. I never noticed this until I re-edited the photo in 2020, but it looks like the conductor has his portable radio wedged behind the snowplow?
Location: Wernersville, PA (Furnace Rd.)
Photo Date: 3-26-96
Photographer: Robert Waller Added: November 17, 2020

CR 8108

CR 8108 on WPRE continues at track speed on its way west, no longer coming out of the sun though it is still midday.
Location: Wernersville, PA (Furnace Rd.)
Photo Date: 3-26-96
Photographer: Robert Waller Added: November 8, 2020

CR 8109

Location: South Amboy, NJ
Photo Date: 2-20-78
Photographer: Joe Testagrose Added: October 23, 2020

CR 8109

CR 8109 has been updated into the 'Safety' scheme, with white boards and stripe.
Location: Reading, PA (CP Belt)
Photo Date: 12-95
Photographer: Robert Waller Added: March 24, 2022

CR 8111

Location: Philadelphia, PA
Photo Date: ?-83
Photographer: John Bondura Added: June 4, 2002

CR 8113

Location: Ashtabula, OH
Photo Date: 8-16-89
Photographer: Dave Trenn Added: July 24, 2004

CR 8121

Location: Netcong, NJ
Photo Date: 1-19-78
Photographer: Bryan Flint Added: February 13, 2002

CR 8121

CR 8121 painted in the Conrail Quality scheme was a middle unit on HBBE (Harrisburg, PA to Bethlehem, PA) coming out of Reading Yard that day and paired with CR 8088 GP38-2.
Location: Reading, PA (CP Belt)
Photo Date: 2-13-97
Photographer: Robert Waller Added: April 28, 1999

CR 8123

Even though CR 8123 recently had been repainted into the Conrail Quality scheme, the middle section of the white safety stripe is missing along with some of the letters in "Conrail" on the nose.
Location: Wyomissing, PA
Photo Date: 2-97
Photographer: Robert Waller Added: May 8, 1998

CR 8127

Location: Philadelphia, PA (Frankford Junction)
Photo Date: 7-6-83
Photographer: John Bondura Added: June 4, 2002

CR 8130

Location: Elizabethport, NJ
Photo Date: 8-27-78
Photographer: Joe Testagrose Added: October 23, 2020

CR 8132

Paired with CR 8139 GP38-2, CR 8132 is coming back to Reading Yard after working a local run in the snow.
Location: Reading, PA (CP Belt)
Photo Date: 1-96
Photographer: Robert Waller Added: April 7, 2022

CR 8133

CR 8133 is the lead unit of a westbound light engine move (ENG-101) of at least six units. They are running opposite through Wyomissing.
Location: Wyomissing, PA
Photo Date: 3-26-96
Photographer: Robert Waller Added: November 8, 2020

CR 8139

It's always good to keep a broom handy to sweep out fouled switches or just keep the snow off the pilot.
Location: Reading, PA (CP Belt)
Photo Date: 1-96
Photographer: Robert Waller Added: April 7, 2022

CR 8145

CR 8145 was the lead power for Conrail work train WOR-431 on track 1 at milepost CP127.8 on the Chicago Line.
Location: Ashtabula, OH
Photo Date: 7-27-90
Photographer: Dave Trenn Added: July 24, 2004

CR 8146

It's 1983 and CR 8146 still has not been repainted. A great catch by Brian! Of course, CR 8146 remained on roster until 1999, so we know it had to get repainted. As of posting this photo, the earliest I can find of it being in blue is May 12, 1984.
Location: Sharonville, OH
Photo Date: 9-25-83
Photographer: Brian Ambrose Added: January 25, 2022

CR 8149

The brake stand on the engineer's control stand in CR 8149.
Location: Massena, NY
Photo Date: ?-83
Photographer: Paul Charland Added: November 18, 2018

CR 8149

According to some engineers from the early days of Conrail, the GP38-2 control stand made operating the locomotive easy, especially during reverse movements. Many felt the GP38-2's were the best of EMD GP's that Conrail ever owned. The SD40-2's would claim that title for EMD's SD units. Also, notice the bay window cabooses on the tracks ahead.
Location: Massena, NY
Photo Date: ?-83
Photographer: Paul Charland Added: November 18, 2018

CR 8150

Location: Gang Mills, NY
Photo Date: 4-6-86
Photographer: Kevin DeGroff Added: December 17, 2002

CR 8151

Location: Ashtabula, OH (Ashtabula Harbor Yard)
Photo Date: 7-27-90
Photographer: Dave Trenn Added: December 24, 2005

CR 8169

Location: Wallbridge, OH
Photo Date: 8-19-77
Photographer: Earl Minnis Added: September 26, 2004

CR 8173

Dave photographed CR 8173 over the course of several years, with some of those photos featured on this page. You can see the rust progress across the unit with each photo.
Location: Paynes Corners, OH
Photo Date: 3-20-92
Photographer: Dave Trenn Added: October 25, 2019

CR 8173

CR 8173 GP38-2 is looking well-worn in its original paint scheme and numberboards at Middle Rd. in Ashtabula at 12:50pm. On this day at, it was the power for CEIC-0.
Location: Ashtabula, OH
Photo Date: 4-4-97
Photographer: Dave Trenn Added: August 14, 2019

CR 8173

CR 8173 is the lead power on local CEIC-0.
Location: Ashtabula, OH
Photo Date: 1-5-98
Photographer: Dave Trenn Added: July 24, 2004

CR 8175

Location: Detroit, MI
Photo Date: 8-19-77
Photographer: Earl Minnis Added: September 26, 2004

CR 8177

Location: Netcong, NJ
Photo Date: 1-19-78
Photographer: Bryan Flint Added: February 13, 2002

CR 8180

CR 8180 GP38-2 and CR 3113 GP35 plus a stenciled GP35, and three other EMD units.
Location: Kearny, NJ
Photo Date: 3-18-78
Photographer: Joe Testagrose Added: October 23, 2020

CR 8180

CR 8180 GP38-2 and CR 3113 GP35 plus a stenciled GP35, and three other EMD units.
Location: Kearny, NJ
Photo Date: 3-18-78
Photographer: Joe Testagrose Added: October 23, 2020

CR 8180

A westbound light engine move kicks up a pigeon. CR 8180 has been repainted into the safety scheme with side-sill stripe and new number boards.
Location: Cleveland, OH (Collinwood Yard)
Photo Date: Unknown
Photographer: Dave Trenn Added: December 24, 2005

CR 8182

Location: Ashtabula, OH (Ashtabula Harbor Yard)
Photo Date: 9-27-97
Photographer: Dave Trenn Added: December 24, 2005

CR 8183

CR 8183 was purchased new in 1978. More interestingly is the white gaskets around the window on SW1500 CR 9524.
Location: Baltimore, MD (Bayview Yard)
Photo Date: 5-86
Photographer: Ralph Molesworth Added: April 22, 2015

CR 8189

Location: Ashtabula, OH (Ashtabula Harbor Yard)
Photo Date: 10-14-97
Photographer: Dave Trenn Added: January 31, 2006

CR 8193

CR 8193 has been repainted in the Quality Scheme and is working at Asthtabula Harbor Yard coupled to CR 7658 GP38, which also sports its Quality scheme. Notice the different sizes of the logos between these two units.
Location: Ashtabula, OH (Ashtabula Harbor Yard)
Photo Date: 8-14-96
Photographer: Dave Trenn Added: August 14, 2019

CR 8194

Location: Olean, NY
Photo Date: 11-3-89
Photographer: Kevin DeGroff Added: December 17, 2002

CR 8196

Location: Ashtabula, OH
Photo Date: 12-31-91
Photographer: Dave Trenn Added: July 24, 2004

CR 8198

Engineer Bob Stowers is at the throttle of Conrail local CEIC-O as it awaits the signal to proceed west on Conrail's Chicago Line at MP 127.9.
Location: Ashtabula, OH
Photo Date: Unknown
Photographer: Dave Trenn Added: January 31, 2006

CR 8199

Location: Ashtabula, OH (Ashtabula Harbor Yard)
Photo Date: 5-5-92
Photographer: Dave Trenn Added: December 24, 2005

CR 8201

CR 8201 on June 21, 1990 works CEIC-0 at milepost 127.9 on track 1 of Conrail's Chicago Line in Ashtabula, Ohio.
Location: Ashtabula, OH
Photo Date: 6-21-90
Photographer: Dave Trenn Added: November 8, 2022

CR 8208

Conrail GP38-2 8208 has been repainted for the Operation Lifesaver program. Along with Conrail GP38-2 8222, it leads a westbound freight.
Location: Conway, PA
Photo Date: 7-98
Photographer: Dave Trenn Added: October 25, 2019

CR 8215

GP38-2's 8215 and 8221 work the "21 Job" at Ashtabula Harbor Yard.
Location: Ashtabula, OH (Ashtabula Harbor Yard)
Photo Date: 9-7-93
Photographer: Dave Trenn Added: July 16, 2021

CR 8219

CR 8219 lead a unit train at MP 56.
Location: Youngstown, OH
Photo Date: 4-22-92
Photographer: Dave Trenn Added: October 25, 2019

CR 8220

Conrail GP38-2 8220 and fellow GP38-2 8239 are working their regular duty in this great overhead shot.
Location: Ashtabula, OH (Ashtabula Harbor Yard)
Photo Date: 8-10-94
Photographer: Dave Trenn Added: July 17, 2021

CR 8220

Another slightly different shot the same day as above of 8220 and 8239 working the transfer facilities at Ashtabula Harbor.
Location: Ashtabula, OH (Ashtabula Harbor Yard)
Photo Date: 8-10-94
Photographer: Dave Trenn Added: July 16, 2021

CR 8231

Location: Olean, NY
Photo Date: 12-21-85
Photographer: Kevin DeGroff Added: December 17, 2002

CR 8233

CR 8233 GP38-2 in an updated paint scheme with white number boards leads CR 2031 B30-7R (former Monongahela 2301).
Location: Conway, PA
Photo Date: 3-96
Photographer: Dave Trenn Added: August 14, 2019

CR 8238

CR 8238 GP38-2, L&N 1600 U25B, and CR 7705 GP38 are at the engine facilities at the old Sharonville Yard.
Location: Sharonville, OH
Photo Date: 9-18-83
Photographer: Brian Ambrose Added: January 25, 2022

CR 8239

CR 8239 GP38-2 and CR 8207 GP38-2 work the local traffic eastbound at Milepost 128.
Location: Ashtabula, OH
Photo Date: 8-7-94
Photographer: Dave Trenn Added: August 14, 2019

CR 8258

Location: Lancaster, PA (Dillerville Yard)
Photo Date: 8-94
Photographer: Robert Waller Added: January 26, 2022

CR 8258

Location: Lancaster, PA (Dillerville Yard)
Photo Date: 8-94
Photographer: Robert Waller Added: January 26, 2022

CR 8262

CR 8262 is working on the local out of Lancaster, PA, on the old Reading Company's Reading & Columbia branch. I caught the local switching out the Wilbur Chocolate factory.
Location: Lititz, PA
Photo Date: 7-95
Photographer: Robert Waller Added: February 18, 2022

CR 8262

Looking from the rear on the engineer's side of CR 8262.
Location: Lititz, PA
Photo Date: 7-95
Photographer: Robert Waller Added: February 18, 2022

CR 8262

Another shot of CR 8262 from a different angle. I rescanned this 23 years after first posting it. Such a better scan!
Location: Lititz, PA
Photo Date: 7-95
Photographer: Robert Waller Added: February 18, 2022

CR 8262

Location: Reading, PA (CP Belt)
Photo Date: 10-96
Photographer: Robert Waller Added: April 28, 1999

CR 8262

Location: Reading, PA (CP Belt)
Photo Date: 10-96
Photographer: Robert Waller Added: July 14, 2005

CR 8262

Location: Reading, PA (CP Belt)
Photo Date: 10-96
Photographer: Robert Waller Added: November 18, 2018

CR 8263

Nothing unusual that I can see.
Location: Lancaster, PA (Greenbriar Rd.)
Photo Date: 8-94
Photographer: Robert Waller Added: January 27, 2022

CR 8274

When Conrail repainted 8274 in the Quality scheme, the classification on the side of the cab is 'GP38' instead of GP38-2. Now, I didn't realize this until after I developed the film in 1994. I assume the same happened on the conductor side of the cab, but I cannot say 100%. This is those fun little anomalies I used to love modeling.
Location: Lancaster, PA (Dillerville Yard)
Photo Date: Unknown
Photographer: Robert Waller Added: January 26, 2022

CR 8274

Man, what did they do this locomitive when they repainted it! It has no C or N in its CONRAIL on the rear nose. Plus the R and I are almost gone. O Rail anyone? (Letters rubbing off seemed a common problem.)
Location: Lancaster, PA (Dillerville Yard)
Photo Date: 8-94
Photographer: Robert Waller Added: January 26, 2022

CR 8278

Location: Roanoke, VA
Photo Date: 3-2-87
Photographer: Craig Zeni Added: June 3, 1999