Page Updated:
Jul 6, 2009
Locomotives:
EMD SD
EMD GP
EMD SW:
SW-1
SW-7
SW-8
SW-9/900:
Photos
Paint Roster
References
SW-1001
SW-1200
SW-1200M
SW-1500
NW-2
MP-15DC
EMD E/F
GE Dash7/8
GE U-Boat
ALCo Century
ALCo RS/S
Electrics
Misc
Rosters
Rolling Stock
Maintenance
Scenic Gallery
Modeling
Ref Shelf
CRCyc Home
What's New
Help Out
Site Map
Contributors
|
|
Conrail Cyclopedia
EMD SW-9/SW-900: Photos
|
|
|
Briefly stated, during the late 1990s, Conrail worked with several short lines to create a better way to interchange freight. Conrail Express was the result. Here is former CR 8641 (PC 8641) in Conrail Express paint for the the Maryland & Delaware, which renumbered the unit M&D 801. Though a former Conrail locomotive and in Conrail Express paint, every CE locomotive always bore its current owner's number.
Location: Altoona, PA (Juniata Shops - Altoona Railfest) 10-96
Photo Online: August 73, 1998
|
Keith Burkey - Altoona, PA (Juniata Shops - Altoona Railfest) 10-96
M&D 801 SW-900
Keith Burkey (74K)
|
|
Former PC 8639 in the deadline.
Location: Altoona, PA 10-6-80
Photo Online: July 6, 2009
|
Alan Gaines - Altoona, PA 10-6-80
xPC 8639
Alan Gaines (222K)
|
|
Former PC 8646.
Location: Toledo, OH 1989
Photo Online: July 6, 2009
|
Alan Gaines - Toledo, OH 1989
CR 8646
Alan Gaines (192K)
|
|
Still in its cornell red with stencils. A photo of it still in LV numbers is below.
Location: Elizabethport, NJ 1981
Photo Online: March 26, 2004
|
Scott Wisner - Elizabethport, NJ 1981
xLV 8648 SW-900
Scott Wisner (132K)
|
|
In 1953 the Lehigh Valley had EMD rebuild two aging NW1's (LV 128-129) into what the Lehigh Valley classed SW-900's. In 1955 EMD rebuilt the remaining 9 NW1's (LV 120-127 & LV 130) into what the LV classed as SW-900's. Conrail lumped all these units into the SW-900 class, renumbering them into the Conrail series 8647-8657. I used the think this was a Conrail paint-out scheme on xLV 8654, but photos reveal that the black is simply the red paint wearing off, which happened to many LV switchers. Conrail crews simply slammed on CR stencils and number. This would make a great weathering project for one of Life-Like's Proto2000 switchers!
Location: Unknown
Photo Online: March 17, 2000
|
Steve Geisler
xLV 8654 SW-900
Steve Geisler (54K)
|
|
Another shot of 8654 in the scrap line, but the cornell red has worn off so much that the unit looks more like a PC unit.
Location: Elizabethport, NJ 1983
Photo Online: March 26, 2004
|
Scott Wisner - Elizabethport, NJ 1983
xLV 8654 SW-900
Scott Wisner (126K)
|
|
The Raritan River was not one of the original railroads in the April 1976 merger. The RR had orginally been controlled by the Central Railway of New Jersey. 0n April 24, 1980 Conrail officially assumed operations of the railroad, though the Raritan's locomotive fleet, which consisted solely of six SW-900's (RR 1-6), had been included in the Conrail roster and renumbering since Conrail's renumbering of April 9, 1976. (Conrail merged on April 1, but the roster did not take affect until April 9!) The six switchers carried the Conrail numbers 8658-8663 and were immediately renumbered as soon as Conrail took official control. Unfotunately, most if not all of the Raritan switchers entered storage around 1981, though I do not have exact years. xRR8661 (former RR 4) sits here in the Rutherford dead line awaiting disposition.
Location: Rutherford, PA 1984
Photo Online: May 27, 1998
|
Bob Waller - Rutherford, PA 1984
xRR 8661 SW-900
Bob Waller (58K)
|
|
Another view of xRR 8661 in the dead line. Angles were tight among the old yard tracks, but I managed to snap a shot of her on the other side. If memory serves, the Raritan switchers were the only Conrail locomotives in freight service to have yellow hazard flashers on the cab roof.
Location: Rutherford, PA 1984
Photo Online: May 27, 1998
|
Bob Waller - Rutherford, PA 1984
xRR 8661 SW-900
Bob Waller (64K)
|
|
Another of the Raritan River switchers sits in the dead line at the Juniata Locomotive Shops.
Location: Altoona, PA 5-22-82
Photo Online: August 10, 2008
|
Jim Appleman - Altoona, PA 5-22-82
xRR 8662 SW-900
Jim Appleman (92K)
|
|
When the Reading Company rebuilt their old EMC switchers, they classed them as SW-900M's, but Conrail lumped all the units into the SW-900 class without the modification designation. Because they have full-length handrails running the length of the long hood, former Reading switchers in general are easy to spot, even if painted blue. Here xRDG 8705 (former RDG 1505) works Pavonia in New Jersey. A still-green Penn Central caboose sits in the background.
Location: Pavonia, NJ 6-19-77
Photo Online: June 11, 2000
|
Arnie Morscher - Pavonia, NJ 6-19-77
xRDG 8705 SW-900
Arnie Morscher (114K)
|
|
Looking down on 8709 (in forefront). Unit still had its VO660 trucks until retired.
Location: Unknown 5-6-91
Photo Online: September 10, 2003
|
John Prock - 5-6-91
CR 8709 SW-900
John Prock (67K)
|
|
Prior to the Conrail merger, the Reading Company repainted some of their SW-900's into the more modern cream-and-green scheme, as can be seen on xRDG 8717 (former RDG 1517).
Location: Philadelphia, PA (Frankford Junction) 9-83
Photo Online:June 4, 2002
|
John Bondura - Philadelphia, PA (Frankford Junction) 9-83
xRDG 8717 SW-900
John Bondura (56K)
|
|
Another of the cream and green units was xRDG 8720 (former RDG 1520).
Location: Camden, NJ 4-18-79
Photo Online: September 19, 1998
|
Bob Dobrowolski - Camden, NJ 4-18-79
xRDG 8720 SW-900
Bob Dobrowolski (99K)
|
|
Former RDG 8721/1521 has been repainted into full blue paint, though nothing else has been modified. She's coupled to xRDG 9418 SW-1001.
Location: Philadelphia, PA (Frankford Junction) 1983
Photo Online:June 4, 2002
|
John Bondura - Philadelphia, PA (Frankford Junction) 1983
CR 8721 SW-900
John Bondura (90K)
|
|
In 1951 the Lehigh Valley purchased 14 SW-9's from EMD, assigning them to LV 280-293. Only 9 units survived onto Conrail as CR CR 8931-8938 (LV 280-287) and CR 8939 (LV 293). Painted in a later single-stripe scheme, xLV 8934 (LV 283) works South Amboy not even a year after Conrail.
Location: South Amboy, NJ 2-12-77
Photo Online: December 4, 1999
|
Joe Testagrose Coll. - South Amboy, NJ 2-12-77
xLV 8934 SW-9
Joe Testagrose Coll. (89K)
|
|
In what seems to have been a common practice among Lehigh Valley switchers painted in the three stripe scheme, Conrail crews simply applied CR stencil, leaving the original scheme in tact, and slapped Conrail numbers directly over the LV numbers on the cab, as seen on xLV 8937 (LV 286).
Location: Port Reading, NJ 6-78
Photo Online: October 15, 1998
|
Bob Dobrowolski - Port Reading, NJ 6-78
xLV 8937 SW-9
Bob Dobrowolski (47K)
|
|
The last in the former Lehigh Valley SW-9 series that Conrail inherited, xLV 8939 (LV 292) displays another of the funky LV-applied Conrail paint-outs, complete with small road numbers and CR marks.
Location: Allentown, PA 10-28-78
Photo Online: October 15, 1998
|
Bob Dobrowolski - Allentown, PA 10-28-78
xLV 8939 SW-9
Bob Dobrowolski (99K)
|
|
Conrail also inherited a number of Central Railroad of New Jersey SW-9's in the 1976 start up. Originally numbered CNJ 1084-1094, Conrail renumbered them as CR 8951-8961. Here we see xCNJ 8951 (CNJ 1084), which was built in 1951, along side the shops in Elizabethport.
Location: Elizabethport, NJ 6-23-77
Photo Online: May 5, 2000
|
Arnie Morscher - Elizabethport, NJ 6-23-77
xCNJ 8951 SW-9
Arnie Morscher (162K)
|
|
In the 1990s, when a Conrail locomotive entered the shops for major repairs, Conrail repainted it into its Quality scheme. Here we see 8970 in such a scheme. Originally, the unit was owned by the New York Central and then Penn Central. Through all three owners it owned the same road number.
Location: McKees Rocks, PA 6-4-94
Photo Online: June 3, 1999
|
Arnie Morscher - McKees Rocks, PA 6-4-94
CR 8970 SW-9
Arnie Morscher (93K)
|
|
A interesting modeling note is the variety of spark arrestors on Conrail's SW-9/900 switchers. Predecessor roads applied most of the arrestors, though Conrail often removed them over the course of years. Here we see 8987, a former NYC switcher, in fresh blue displaying a very odd set of home-made arrestors.
Location: Unknown
Photo Online: March 17, 2000
|
Steve Geisler
CR 8987 SW-9
Steve Geisler (44K)
|
|
Another SW-9 in the Quality scheme. Check out the piles of sand along and between the rails. This must be a rather slippery section of track!
Location: Unknown 1994
Photo Online: June 3, 1999
|
Arnie Morscher - 1994
CR 8970 SW-9
Arnie Morscher (98K)
|
|
It looks like 8995 (former PC 8995, nee NYC) has taken some damage to the lower portion of the cab. Most likely it occured during a switching job. Notice also that the spark arrestor covers have been removed from the exhaust stacks.
Location: Philadelphia, PA (Frankford Junction) 6-81
Photo Online:June 4, 2002
|
John Bondura - Philadelphia, PA (Frankford Junction) 6-81
xPC 8995 SW-9
John Bondura (123K)
|
|
CR SW-9 8996 is surrounded by other goodies, such as an F-7A and Lehigh Valley C-628 626 at Cleveland, Ohio during November 1976. Those pilot stripes are yet another ex-PC "variation" from those early days.
Location: Cleveland, OH 11-76
Photo Online: November 17, 2004
|
Roger Durfee - Cleveland, OH 11-76
xPC 8996
Roger Durfee (82K)
|
|
CR 9000 (PC 9000) is battered and worn out by this time in 1981.
Location: Detroit, MI 11-29-81
Photo Online: September 26, 2004
|
Earl Minnis - Detroit, MI 11-29-81
CR 9000
Earl Minnis (83K)
|
|
A nice side shot of the locomotive.
Location: Croxton, NJ 3-19-78
Photo Online: December 1, 1999
|
Joe Testagrose Coll. - Croxton, NJ 3-19-78
xEL 9015 SW-9
Joe Testagrose Coll. (49K)
|
|
I'd like to buy a vowel, Vanna. Check the spelling of Conrail on the hood. Former EL 451/DL&W 556.
Location: Macedonia, OH 3-28-92
Photo Online: January 8, 1999
|
Arnie Morscher - Macedonia, OH 3-28-92
CR 9022 SW-9
Arnie Morscher (113K)
|
|
A fairly grimy unit with its numberboards missing in the headlight.
Location: Croxton, NJ 9-19-77
Photo Online: December 1, 1999
|
Joe Testagrose Coll. - Croxton, NJ 9-19-77
xEL 9024 SW-9
Joe Testagrose Coll. (80K)
|
|
Former EL 455 (DL&W 560).
Location: Meadville, PA 6-13-77
Photo Online: May 5, 2000
|
Arnie Morscher - Meadville, PA 6-13-77
xEL 9026 SW-9
Arnie Morscher (122K)
|
|
Former PC 9096 (PRR 8870). Note the plated windows on the cab. I like the PC and L&N boxcars in the background as well; we'll never see them again!
Location: Cleveland, OH 10-29-77
Photo Online: May 5, 2000
|
Arnie Morscher - Cleveland, OH 10-29-77
CR 9096 SW-9
Arnie Morscher (99K)
|
|
Stenciled unit with silver stacks and radio.
Location: Wilmington, DE 5-14-77
Photo Online: December 1, 1999
|
Joe Testagrosse Coll. - Wilmington, DE 5-14-77
xPC 9113 SW-9
Joe Testagrose Coll. (53K)
|
|
A former Penn Central unit repainted into blue.
Location: Wilmington, DE 5-14-77
Photo Online: December 4, 1999
|
Joe Testagrosse Coll. - Wilmington, DE 5-14-77
CR 9118 SW-9
Joe Testagrose Coll. (60K)
|
|
I caught this locomotive in the most unusal place--a scrapper in Georgia. The unit had been off roster for at least several years. I was surprised how intact it was. To the right is a retired D&RGW SW-1500. Yes, it was a good day for me when I spotted these units. Thankfully it was a weekend, so no one was around. I wanted to touch that CR switcher so badly. Why do humans always want touch things?
Location: Waycross, GA 10-99
Photo Online: March 17, 2000
|
Bob Waller - Waycross, GA 10-99
CR 9121 SW-9
Bob Waller (109K)
|
|
Former PC SW-9 number 9134 is shown at Canton, Ohio, with the full Conrail name on the side instead of the common "CR" treatment.
Location: Canton, OH 3-28-81
Photo Online:December 14, 2002
|
Roger Durfee - Canton, OH 3-28-81
xPC 9134 SW-9
Roger Durfee (80K)
|
Erie Lackawanna:
|
At rest on the Southern Tier with cabin.
Location: Southern Tier 6-14-77
Photo Online: May 5, 2000
|
Arnie Morscher - Southern Tier 6-14-77
EL 435 SW-9
Arnie Morscher (107K)
|
Lehigh Valley:
|
It has been eleven months since the Conrail merger, and LV 121 has still escaped being renumbered into CR 8648.
Location: Harsmious Cove, NJ 5-29-77
Photo Online:July 29, 2001
|
Joe Testagrosse Coll. - Harsmious Cove, NJ 5-29-77
LV 121 SW-900
Joe Testagrose Coll. (112K)
|
|
The unit's original multi-stipe scheme has faded out by this time in 1977, though the unit has still escaped Conrail renumbering.
Location: Sayre, PA 6-14-77
Photo Online: May 5, 2000
|
Arnie Morscher - Sayre, PA 6-14-77
LV 125 SW-900
Arnie Morscher (91K)
|
|
The 128 rests outside Conrail's Scranton Diesel Shop along with PC GP-40 3169, all under the blue signs of Conrail. That's the way it was back in the early days!
Location: Scanton, PA 6-14-77
Photo Online: May 5, 2000
|
Arnie Morscher - Scanton, PA 6-14-77
LV 128 SW-900
Arnie Morscher (181K)
|
|
Still in one of the final, simplified Valley schemes and untouched by Conrail renumbering.
Location: Scranton, PA 6-19-77
Photo Online: May 5, 2000
|
Arnie Morscher - Scranton, PA 6-19-77
LV 129 SW-900
Arnie Morscher (95K)
|
|
I'm not sure when this photo was taken, though my instincts tell me it was quite a while before Conrail. Consider this a historical shot of LV 280, which survived as CR 8931.
Location: Unknown
Photo Online:August 4, 2001
|
Joe Testagrosse Coll.
LV 280 SW-9
Joe Testagrosse Coll. (110K)
|
|
We are coming up on nearly one year since the formation of Conrail, and LV 281 is still wearing its full paint scheme, though it would eventually be renumbered as CR 8932.
Location: Oak Island, NJ 2-12-77
Photo Online:August 4, 2001
|
Joe Testagrosse Coll. - Oak Island, NJ 2-12-77
LV 281 SW-9
Joe Testagrosse Coll. (114K)
|
|
The only clue that this photo was taken during the Conrail era is the blue caboose behind LV 284 and CNJ 1081 (SW-7). LV 284 would be renumbered as CR 8935, whereas CNJ 1081 would take CR 8869.
Location: Harsimus Cove, NJ 5-1-77
Photo Online:August 4, 2001
|
Joe Testagrosse Coll. - Harsimus Cove, NJ 5-1-77
LV 284 SW-9
Joe Testagrosse Coll. (125K)
|
|
LV 285 wears the final Lehigh Valley scheme on their switchers almost a year after the Conrail meger, though it would eventually wear CR 8936.
Location: Brill's Junction, NJ 2-12-77
Photo Online:August 4, 2001
|
Joe Testagrosse Coll. - Brill's Junction, NJ 2-12-77
LV 285 SW-9
Joe Testagrosse Coll. (87K)
|
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.
The use of Highslide JS is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 2.5 License.
|
