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Conrail Cyclopedia
EMD SD-50: Photos
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Conrail received its first order of SD-50's in 1983. As one of the early units, 6702 has the older Flexicoil trucks, as opposed to the typical HT-C trucks, plus it has te smaller 4,000 gallon fuel tank. Since being delivered, 6702 received a fresh coat of paint, new numberboards, and a safety stripe along the frame.
Location: Reading, PA (CP Belt) 11-96
Photo Revised: August 17, 2005
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Bob Waller - Reading, PA (CP Belt) 11-96
CR 6702
Bob Waller (121K)
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On the geometry train on the west end of the yard at 11:06 AM.
Location: Allentown, PA 4-25-85
Photo Online: July 10, 2009
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Anthony N. Chando - Allentown, PA 4-25-85
CR 6703
Anthony N. Chando (175K)
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During the first Gulf War in 1991, many railroads painted special locomotives declaring the respective company's support of our troops in the Middle East. Many of the troops were railroad employees, who had to leave their railroad jobs to serve. This is Conrail's salute to supporting the troops, a basic yellow ribbon, made famous during the Vietnam War. Juniata released 6707 on April 17, 1991.
Location: Ashtabula, OH 9-15-91
Photo Online: January 31, 2006
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Dave Trenn - Ashtabula, OH 9-15-91
CR 6707
Dave Trenn (230K)
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Rich also caught 6707 in its new Gulf War paint scheme. The loco often ran on the line between Chicago and New York.
Location: West Conway, PA (Rochester Jct) 1991
Photo Online: June 18, 2004
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Rich Shirey - West Conway, PA (Rochester Jct) 1991
CR 6707
Rich Shirey (82K)
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Here is a closer view of the logo on the engineer's side.
Location: West Conway, PA (Rochester Jct) 1991
Photo Online: June 18, 2004
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Rich Shirey - West Conway, PA (Rochester Jct) 1991
CR 6707
Rich Shirey (95K)
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Here is an elevated close-up of the logo on the conductor's side. Unfortunately, the wires get in the way a bit.
Location: East Conway, PA 1991
Photo Online: June 18, 2004
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Rich Shirey - East Conway, PA 1991
CR 6707
Rich Shirey (128K)
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Side view of special "Support Our Troops" SD-50 shot by Rob Russell's dad.
Location: Enola, PA 1991
Photo Revised: August 17, 2005
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Joe Russell - Enola, PA 1991
CR 6707
Joe Russell (49K)
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A closer view of another unit, the 6707, shows the spotting features of the Flexicoil trucks, such as the different sideframes and holes, for lack of a more technical term. The SD-40-2 Prototype page details the differences between the Flexicoil and HT-C trucks.
Location: Unknown Location 1995
Photo Online: September 4, 1999
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Rob Russell - 1995
CR 6707
Rob Russell (46K)
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Once again a closer view of the rear Flexicoil trucks standard on the first three orders.
Location: Unknown 1995
Photo Online: September 4, 1999
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Rob Russell - 1995
CR 6707
Rob Russell (45K)
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Still fearful of the newer and though to be unreliable HT-C trucks, Conrail equipped the first three orders of their SD-50's with the older Flexicoil trucks, which can be seen in this photo of 6708 and subsequent photos below.
Location: West Springfield, MA 5-7-98
Photo Online: December 21, 1998
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Maciej Giedrowicz - West Springfield, MA 5-7-98
CR 6708
Maciej Giedrowicz (71K)
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Conrail received its first two orders of SD-50's (6700-6779) with 4,000 gallon fuel tanks; however, the final two orders (6780-6834) had larger 4,500 gallon tanks. The two types of tanks had slightly different styles, different fuel fill and gauge arrangements, as well as being of different lengths.
Location: West Springfield, MA 5-7-98
Photo Online: December 21, 1998
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Maciej Giedrowicz - West Springfield, MA 5-7-98
CR 6708
Maciej Giedrowicz (79K)
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The fuel fill arrangement of the first and second order, plus a closer look at the air compressor.
Location: West Springfield, MA 5-7-98
Photo Online: December 21, 1998
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Maciej Giedrowicz - West Springfield, MA 5-7-98
CR 6708
Maciej Giedrowicz (82K)
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Apart from the trucks, it appears as if the rear section of all four orders of Conrail SD-50's remained externally the same.
Location: West Springfield, MA 5-7-98
Photo Online: December 21, 1998
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Maciej Giedrowicz - West Springfield, MA 5-7-98
CR 6708
Maciej Giedrowicz (83K)
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Finally, a closer view of the rear pilot. This shot does provide us with a closer view of the hoses, knuckle holder, and stairwell lights. It will suffice until I get a better photo of the entire end.
Location: West Springfield, MA 5-7-98
Photo Online: December 21, 1998
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Maciej Giedrowicz - West Springfield, MA 5-7-98
CR 6708
Maciej Giedrowicz (99K)
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6710 is still in its as-delivered paint scheme and looking very worn as a result. It would make a good candidate for weathering if you were a modeler.
Location: Wyomissing, PA 2-97
Photo Revised: August 17, 2005
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Bob Waller - Wyomissing, PA 2-97
CR 6710
Bob Waller (131K)
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If you build a typical model railroad layout, you will be spending most of your time looking down on your models, which is completely the opposite of how we spend most of our time railfanning. As a result, roof details become extremely important, and photos such as this overhead view of the SD-50 nose and pilot become invaluable. Look closely at the photo, taking note of all the details you can add to your models. Notice how grimy the nose is, how the anti-skid black paint has been worn away, how the sand has spilled around the fill hatch. Did you notice the small trainline antenna, which can now be modeled?
Location: Selkirk, NY 1995
Photo Online: September 4, 1999
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Rob Russell - Selkirk, NY 1995
CR 6712
Rob Russell (72K)
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Resting between jobs.
Location: Ashtabula, OH 9-22-98
Photo Online: December 24, 2005
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Dave Trenn - Ashtabula, OH 9-22-98
CR 6716
Dave Trenn (143K)
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This unit is so abused that you have to love it! I think this locomotive demonstrated why I call Conrail SD-50's rust buckets. You will find I use that word as a term of endearment! I especially love the Conrail logo sprayed onto the fuel tank! A neat detail to add to your model.
Location: Wyomissing, PA 4-97
Photo Revised: August 17, 2005
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Bob Waller - Wyomissing, PA 4-97
CR 6725
Bob Waller (90K)
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Another shot of 6725 but from the engineer's side and the rear. The huge rust patch is there, as well as a major oil leak. With these two shots, you can now model the entire locomotive fairly closely. On this day, 6725 was leading a westbound coal drag along with SD-50's CR 6801 and CR 6828, all of which are posted below. Typical locomotives for that service.
Location: Wyomissing, PA 2-97
Photo Revised: August 17, 2005
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Bob Waller - Wyomissing, PA 2-97
CR 6725
Bob Waller (130K)
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In 1992 the Juniata paint shop painted 6726 to commemorate the Olympic cycle time trials in the area. The unit remained in the scheme for a number of years until being repainted in Quality.
Location: Unknown 11-95
Photo Revised: August 17, 2005
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John Almeida - 11-95
CR 6726
John Almeida (74K)
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Here you can see the nose of the unit. The paint is fading badly by this time. Microscale makes a decal set in HO and N scale for this unit.
Location: Unknown 11-95
Photo Revised: August 17, 2005
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John Almeida - 11-95
CR 6726
John Almeida (75K)
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A rear shot of the unit from the same side. The other side of the engine's paint was just as worn.
Location: Unknown 11-95
Photo Revised: August 17, 2005
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John Almeida - 11-95
CR 6726
John Almeida (79K)
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Looking nearly new, SD-50 6728 is in SBSE at State Line.
Location: Canaan, NY (State Line) 1-7-84
Photo Online: July 22, 2007
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Carl Weber - Canaan, NY (State Line) 1-7-84
CR 6728
Carl Weber (132K)
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For the long and winding tale of how the 6741 shock absorbers on the trucks, as told by Don Oltmann, see the Prototype Page.
Location: Unknown 1990
Photo Revised: August 17, 2005
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Rob Russell - 1990
CR 6741
Rob Russell (73K)
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Elevated view of unit. Note the replaced dynamic brake fan, located directly behind the cab.
Location: Altoona, PA (CP Works) 1995
Photo Revised: August 17, 2005
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Rob Russell - Altoona, PA (CP Works) 1995
CR 6745
Rob Russell (106K)
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White running board and new number boards adorn 6751.
Location: Lewistown (Lewistown Yard), PA 10-22-92
Photo Online: August 10, 2008
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Jim Appleman - Lewistown (Lewistown Yard), PA 10-22-92
CR 6751
Jim Appleman (140K)
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The last time I saw this unit in the standard Conrail logo was on March 27, 1996, hauling MAIL-3 with a UP SD-50 as the second unit. Less than a year later, I caught it again in fairly fresh Quality paint. Check the standard classification lights, which had been on the unit prior to repainting, suggesting the unit had some nose damage repaired. This would be a much easier locomotive to model due to the standard class lights. Caught it leading empty coal drag XSH out of Reading.
Location: Wyomissing, PA 1-8-97
Photo Revised: August 17, 2005
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Bob Waller - Wyomissing, PA 1-8-97
CR 6756
Bob Waller (122K)
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A nice side shot showing all the details of the underframe and trucks as 6760 heads westbound on the old Middle Division.
Location: Marysville, PA 9-20-97
Photo Online: April 29, 2003
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Kevin DeGroff - Marysville, PA 9-20-97
CR 6760
Kevin DeGroff (119K)
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A nice, typical Conrail SD-50 with 4,000 gallon tank and Flexicoil trucks, plus a relaxing conductor.
Location: Wyomissing, PA 10-12-96
Photo Revised: August 17, 2005
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Bob Waller - Wyomissing, PA 10-12-96
CR 6772
Bob Waller (110K)
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This unit was coupled with 6726 above.
Location: Unknown 11-95
Photo Revised: August 17, 2005
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John Almeida - 11-95
CR 6783
John Almeida (68K)
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This unit was delivered to Conrail in 1985 as part of the third order. As a result, it still has the older Flexicoil trucks but received the larger 4,500 gallon fuel tank. It's still in its 1985 paint scheme, which had become faded and chalky by 1996. I'm not sure what the function is of the white cloth wrapped around the lead journal box.
Location: Wyomissing, PA 3-24-96
Photo Revised: August 17, 2005
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Bob Waller - Wyomissing, PA 3-24-96
CR 6790
Bob Waller (134K)
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6799 is the trailing unit on a westbound ballast train.
Location: Hummelstown, PA 9-25-98
Photo Online: April 29, 2003
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Kevin DeGroff - Hummelstown, PA 9-25-98
CR 6799
Kevin DeGroff (119K)
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We're nearing the end of SD-50's from Conrail's third order with this photo of 6801. While its physically identical to other units from this order, it has been repainted into the Quality scheme.
Location: Wyomissing, PA 2-97
Photo Revised: August 17, 2005
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Bob Waller - Wyomissing, PA 2-97
CR 6801
Bob Waller (116K)
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In 1986 Conrail received its fourth and final order of SD-50's (CR 6805-6834). Unlike prior SD-50's, those units in this order received both the larger 4,500 gallon tank and the more standard HT-C trucks.
Location: Wyomissing, PA 12-7-95
Photo Revised: August 17, 2005
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Bob Waller - Wyomissing, PA 12-7-95
CR 6807
Bob Waller (109K)
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Several years earlier than the photo above.
Location: Ashtabula, OH 1-15-89
Photo Online: January 31, 2006
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Dave Trenn - Ashtabula, OH 1-15-89
CR 6807
Dave Trenn (133K)
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Conrail modelers and enthusiasts used to argue over whether or not Conrail recessed their radiator fans on their SD-50's. Though the debate was settled long ago, this closer photo of 6808 clearly shows that Conrail opted for the lower clearance versions. This feature existed on all four orders.
Location: Unknown Location 1989
Photo Online: September 4, 1999
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Rob Russell - 1989
CR 6808
Rob Russell (83K)
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An over all shot of the 6813.
Location: Nashville, TN 7-24-99
Photo Online: July 8, 2000
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Wes Reminder - Nashville, TN 7-24-99
CR 6813
Wes Reminder (89K)
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The fourth order of units featured the newer HT-C trucks, though they are a bit dark in this photos. A minor detail is the placement of the trainline antenna (the small antenna on the roof), which is now placed to the front and left of the radio antenna. When delivered in 1986, the 6813 came with black numberboards with white numbering, but by 1999 Conrail replaced them with newer white numberboards.
Location: Nashville, TN 7-24-99
Photo Online: July 8, 2000
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Wes Reminder - Nashville, TN 7-24-99
CR 6813
Wes Reminder (103K)
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The fuel tank on the third and fourth order of SD-50's was 4,500 gallons, whereas the first and second order units had the smaller 4,000 gallon tank that had been standard on the SD-45 and SD-40-2.
Location: Nashville, TN 7-24-99
Photo Online: July 8, 2000
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Wes Reminder - Nashville, TN 7-24-99
CR 6813
Wes Reminder (93K)
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The rear section appears to have remained the same through all four orders.
Location: Nashville, TN 7-24-99
Photo Online: July 8, 2000
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Wes Reminder - Nashville, TN 7-24-99
CR 6813
Wes Reminder (85K)
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Still in original paint.
Location: Ashtabula, OH 12-31-91
Photo Online: January 31, 2006
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Dave Trenn - Ashtabula, OH 12-31-91
CR 6825
Dave Trenn (117K)
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Still in its original paint scheme and one of the final SD-50's to be delivered to Conrail, 6828 is showing some wear.
Location: Wyomissing, PA 2-97
Photo Revised: August 17, 2005
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Bob Waller - Wyomissing, PA 2-97
CR 6828
Bob Waller (121K)
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Copyright (c) 1998-2009 Robert S. Waller. All rights reserved.
Photos for personal use only. All rights reserved by original owner of image.
Reproduction or redistribution in any form without express written permission is prohibited.
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