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Conrail Cyclopedia
GE C40-8W: Photos
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People always ask me what color model railroad paints should I use for my CR locomotives? Take a look at the C40-8W photos. GE must have had a bad paint formula when these came off the assembly line. The blue began fading almost immediately! See how many shades of blue you can spot on these locomotives.
Location: Wyomissing, PA 6-97
Photo Revised: June 7, 2005
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Bob Waller - Wyomissing, PA 6-97
LMS 705
Bob Waller (82K)
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I love the faded paint and the repainted cab. Such a locomotive on a model layout would reflect the true Conrail C40-8W fleet.
Location: Wyomissing, PA 8-96
Photo Revised: June 7, 2005
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Bob Waller - Wyomissing, PA 8-96
LMS 713
Bob Waller (92K)
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OK, Rob Palmer is not one to shy away from a challenge. Looks like Kieth Burkey wasn't the only guy to shoot one of these units while they were clean!
Location: Pottstown, PA 10-94
Photo Online: June 23, 1999
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Rob Palmer - Pottstown, PA 10-94
LMS 720
Rob Palmer (64K)
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I think Keith is the only living being to actually photograph a Conrail/LMS C40-8W that was in fresh, gleaming paint. I'm sure it had faded by the next day.
Location: Conemaugh, PA 7-24-98
Photo Online: August 73, 1998
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Keith Burkey - Conemaugh, PA 7-24-98
LMS 727
Keith Burkey (91K)
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The dynamic brakes, trucks, and front of the fuel tank.
Location: Pensacola, FL 2-20-99
Photo Online: August 8, 2008
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Rob Russell - Pensacola, FL 2-20-99
CR 733
Rob Russell (77K)
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Closer look at the fuel fill, gauge, and compressor.
Location: Pensacola, FL 2-20-99
Photo Online: August 8, 2008
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Rob Russell - Pensacola, FL 2-20-99
CR 733
Rob Russell (68K)
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Even closer view of the piping and compressor underneath the frame by the fuel tank.
Location: Pensacola, FL 2-20-99
Photo Online: August 8, 2008
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Rob Russell - Pensacola, FL 2-20-99
CR 733
Rob Russell (75K)
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Air tanks.
Location: Pensacola, FL 2-20-99
Photo Online: August 8, 2008
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Rob Russell - Pensacola, FL 2-20-99
CR 733
Rob Russell (44K)
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Purchased in 1994, CR 740 was the first LMS unit to be lettered for Conrail instead of LMS. 740 is leading southbound XSG-74D.
Location: Plymouth Township, OH 4-26-97
Photo Online: March 4, 2005
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Dave Trenn - Plymouth Township, OH 4-26-97
CR 740
Dave Trenn (150K)
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An LMS leasing unit painted in Quality scheme.
Location: West Lawn, PA 12-96
Photo Revised: June 7, 2005
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Bob Waller - West Lawn, PA 12-96
CR 751
Bob Waller (90K)
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Another loco with repainted sections, giving it some character.
Location: Reading, PA (CP Belt) 11-96
Photo Revised: June 7, 2005
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Bob Waller - Reading, PA (CP Belt) 11-96
CR 757
Bob Waller (65K)
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In 1990, Conrail had the first fifty-unit order of C40-8W's (CR 6050-6099) delivered in the railroad's standard paint scheme. However, Conrail soon discovered that GE's paint quickly chalked and faded. If you are interested in weathering your equipment, you should be aware of this because you will have to custom paint your models to capture that faded look, making sure each model has a slightly different color blue. CR 6065 has been in service six years, but its paint hasn't faded too badly yet in this 1996 shot. Other six-year-old units will not be as lucky as 6065.
Location: Duncannon, PA 9-1-96
Photo Revised: June 7, 2005
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Bob Waller - Duncannon, PA 9-1-96
CR 6055
Bob Waller (82K)
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Conrail 6067, delivered in the first order in 1990, has been repainted in the Quality scheme. Ironically, the air conditioning unit behind the conductor's side of the cab retains its original faded GE Conrail blue paint. 6067 heads up westbound MAIL-3, one of Conrail's highest priority trains.
Location: Wyomissing, PA 2-97
Photo Online: June 16, 2004
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Bob Waller - Wyomissing, PA 2-97
CR 6067
Bob Waller (122K)
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Conrail seemed to have many problems with its air conditioner units, replacing many of the original units. From photos, Conrail's C40-8W seems to have had at least two different AC units other than the as-delivered unit. Replacement units have a square grill, as seen here on 6074. The grill could be positioned more in the center of the AC unit, or it could be in the lower portion, depending on the locomotive.
Location: Baltimore, MD 3-92
Photo Online: August 13, 2000
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Mark Nolan - Baltimore, MD 3-92
CR 6074
Mark Nolan (114K)
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Conrail 6076 has only been on property for a short while, so it still has its original AC unit.
Location: Cleveland, OH (Collinwood) 10-5-90
Photo Online: June 16, 2004
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Dave Trenn - Cleaveland, OH (Collinwood) 10-5-90
CR 6076
Dave Trenn (158K)
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Conrail 6083 is also seen when it was new, so it too still has its original air conditioner.
Location: Cleaveland, OH (Collinwood) 10-5-90
Photo Online: June 16, 2004
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Dave Trenn - Cleaveland, OH (Collinwood) 10-5-90
CR 6083
Dave Trenn (106K)
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All of Conrail's C40-8W tend to look alike, except for a few variations. Why did I snap this photo of a pretty standard looking unit? First, the unit is still painted in its as-delivered paint. Next, take a look at the '8' in the right rear number board. The numeral is the wrong size, most likely intended for the front number boards, and the decal is upside down!
Location: Wyomissing, PA 10-96
Photo Online: June 16, 2004
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Bob Waller - Wyomissing, PA 10-96
CR 6085
Bob Waller (132K)
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Conrail 6090 is practically brand new as she poses for a beauty shot. You can just start to see the paint chalking.
Location: Ashtabula, OH (AY West Yard) 6-27-90
Photo Online: June 16, 2004
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Dave Trenn - Ashtabula, OH (AY West Yard) 6-27-90
CR 6090
Dave Trenn (148K)
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Another shot of 6090, this time Ashtabula's West Yard refueling pad.
Location: Ashtabula, OH 6-27-90
Photo Online: February 9, 2005
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Dave Trenn - Ashtabula, OH 6-27-90
CR 6090
Dave Trenn (200K)
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Conrail 6097 was brand new when seen far from Conrail in the heart of Texas. The date on the photo is an accident and should read 1990, not 1999.
Location: Trinity, TX 1990
Photo Online: June 3, 1999
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Stephen Foster - Trinity, TX 1990
CR 6097
Stephen Foster (100K)
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Conrail 6100 was the first of the 1991 fifty-unit order. Beginning with 6100, all Conrail C40-8W's came painted in the Quality scheme. Unfortunately, the GE Conrail blue paint still faded as quickly and as badly as the first order. Conrail wouldn't take delivery of more C40-8W's until two years later. 6100 heads up eastbound PIOI (Pittsburgh, PA - Oak Island, NJ), a train consisting primarily of cars bound for chemical plants.
Location: Blandon, PA (CP Blandon) 2-97
Photo Online:August 10, 2001
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Bob Waller - Blandon, PA (CP Blandon) 2-97
CR 6100
Bob Waller (145K)
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Lead unit for Conrail ML-488 at CP122.
Location: North Kingsville, OH 9-1-98
Photo Online: January 31, 2006
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Dave Trenn - North Kingsville, OH 9-1-98
CR 6103
Dave Trenn (241K)
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Front trucks and pilot.
Location: Selkirk, NY 1996
Photo Online: August 8, 2008
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Rob Russell - Selkirk, NY 1996
CR 6114
Rob Russell (97K)
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Once again, we see another type of air conditioning unit. This one has square grill positioned in the lower portion of the box. The access plate between the box and the cab is also slightly different from as-delivered units. Finally, when painting C40-8W's in the Quality scheme, pay attention to the type of font used in the front number boards. 6117 has the smaller font.
Location: Reading, PA (CP Belt) 1-2-97
Photo Revised: January 31, 2006
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Bob Waller - Reading, PA (CP Belt) 1-2-97
CR 6117
Bob Waller (161K)
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Front conductor-side truck assembly along with air conditioner box.
Location: Bound Brook, NJ 1996
Photo Online: August 8, 2008
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Rob Russell - Bound Brook, NJ 1996
CR 6126
Rob Russell (69K)
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Rear trucks.
Location: Bound Brook, NJ 1996
Photo Online: August 8, 2008
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Rob Russell - Bound Brook, NJ 1996
CR 6126
Rob Russell (74K)
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Conrail's C40-8W's were among the filthiest locomotives that the railroad owned. Notice the amount of grime on the roof and running boards in this overhead shot taken at an angle that most people view models on a layout.
Location: Unknown 1998
Photo Online: March 9, 1999
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J Gontero
CR 6127
J Gontero (123K)
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Engineer-side front trucks.
Location: Unknown
Photo Online: August 8, 2008
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Tom Hannon
CR 6160
Tom Hannon (84K)
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Often wash-racks left streaks behind in the fading blue paint, as can be seen on 6188. The units were also notorious for major oil leaks in their prime movers. Notice all the oil leaking out of the long hood doors and onto the walkway? As expected, 6188's air conditioner has been replaced. 6188 is heading westbound with CR 6060M 5512.
Location: Wyomissing, PA 10-26-96
Photo Revised: January 31, 2006
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Bob Waller - Wyomissing, PA 10-26-96
CR 6188
Bob Waller (155K)
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Two years after the photo above, 6188 looks even worse. The oil leak has not been fixed. Oil-soaked paint along the hood doors has burned off, causing rust to form. And rust is also forming along other parts of the unit.
Location: Marysville, PA 9-13-98
Photo Online:March 28, 2003
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Kevin DeGroff - Marysville, PA 9-13-98
CR 6188
Kevin DeGroff (135K)
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Conrail 6189 is five years old and still retains its original air conditioning unit, though the rest of the unit suffers from the usual C40-8W problems, such as oil leaks. 6189 is the trailing unit on ALCS (Allentown/CSX, PA - Philadelphia, PA), a CSX run-through train operated prior to the split-up of Conrail in 1999. The train is on the Belt Line by-passing the city of Reading by way of the borough of West Reading, my hometown. ALCS is passing through the signals protecting the southern end of Wyomissing Junction.
Location: West Reading, PA (CP Valley Jct) 9-96
Photo Revised: January 31, 2006
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Bob Waller - West Reading, PA (CP Valley Jct) 9-96
CR 6189
Bob Waller (119K)
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Conrail 6201 is another example of fading blue paint on the C40-8W's. On a cold Friday morning at 9:30, CR 6201 heads up westbound TV-211, a Norfolk Southern run-through intermodal bound for the NS connection at Hagerstown, MD and continuing to Front Royal, VA and points south. Usually, NS would keep the CR units on the train the entire way.
Location: Wyomissing, PA 2-7-97
Photo Revised: January 31, 2006
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Bob Waller - Wyomissing, PA 2-7-97
CR 6201
Bob Waller (135K)
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Conrail 6206 and C40-8W 6217 head westbound through Wyomissing Junction on an overcast morning.
Location: Wyomissing, PA 9-96
Photo Online: June 16, 2004
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Bob Waller - Wyomissing, PA 9-96
CR 6206
Bob Waller (153K)
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This is how a C40-8W looks when it rolls out of the paint shop at General Electric's Erie, PA plant. The paint is so vibrant that it looks almost unreal. Within several months, the units will look like they have been in service for 20 years.
Location: Ashtabula, OH 6-93
Photo Online: March 26, 2004
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Dave Trenn - Ashtabula, OH 6-93
CR 6214
Dave Trenn (85K)
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Conrail 6236 is still in its original CR numbers as it leads a Norfolk Southern freight out of Allentown, PA.
Location: Allentown, PA 6-20-99
Photo Online: May 30, 2004
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John M. Terry - Allentown, PA 6-20-99
CR 6236
John M. Terry (137K)
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CR 6238 in the Quality scheme.
Location: Ashtabula Harbor, OH 10-16-96
Photo Online: August 10, 2008
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Dave Trenn - Ashtabula Harbor, OH 10-16-96
CR 6238
Dave Trenn (80K)
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Conrail 6239 is part of the 1994 order, technically the last Conrail order of C40-8W's. In 1994 Conrail will order 20 additional units for its LMS leasing arm, and the units will be turned over to Conrail proper in 1997. Technically, LMS was not Consoladated Rail Corporation.
Location: Reading, PA (CP Belt) 1-2-97
Photo Revised: January 31, 2006
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Bob Waller - Reading, PA (CP Belt) 1-2-97
CR 6239
Bob Waller (136K)
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A month later after the photo above, 6239 is caught at almost the same spot as it passes eastbound from the Belt Line through CP Belt. The unit is still the same, just a bit dirtier.
Location: Reading, PA 2-97
Photo Revised: January 31, 2006
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Bob Waller - Reading, PA 2-97
CR 6239
Bob Waller (133K)
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The GE plate on 6248 has been removed.
Location: Wyomissing, PA 9-96
Photo Revised: January 31, 2006
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Bob Waller - Wyomissing, PA 9-96
CR 6248
Bob Waller (143K)
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The air conditioner has been replaced on this unit, which is no surprise given the problems Conrail had with the AC units, but notice how different the blue on the box is from the blue on the locomotive body.
Location: Marysville, PA 9-13-98
Photo Online:March 28, 2003
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Kevin DeGroff - Marysville, PA 9-13-98
CR 6252
Kevin DeGroff (149K)
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If you model Conrail in any scale and like weathering your locomotives, notice how the wash-racks have left many streaks in the fading paint and often miss the grim in the center of the hood. The photo looks like it was taken on a model train layout, but it wasn't. This is the real thing!
Location: Pittsburgh, PA 5-98
Photo Online: June 23, 1999
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Bill Waller - Pittsburgh, PA 5-98
CR 6254
Bill Waller (131K)
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I got a huge blast from those massive radiator fans of the C40-8W as the loco passed under me. Note the black paint above the rear headlights--I think many people overlook this detail. Plus the silver light housing. Also check the black tread along the running board--there is a slight trim of blue along it. Something for you modelers to keep in mind.
Location: West Lawn, PA 8-96
Photo Revised: January 31, 2006
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Bob Waller - West Lawn, PA 8-96
CR 6257
Bob Waller (125K)
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One of two C40-8W's that were wrecked several years ago and rebuilt with their number boards on either side of the headlight instead of on the nose. No marker lights. Other rebuilt unit is CR 6192.
Location: Abrams, PA 6-98
Photo Online: August 8, 1998
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Robert Palmer - Abrams, PA 6-98
CR 6259
Robert Palmer (67K)
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6264 was running eastbound through Wyomissing. It's starting to look bad but will only get worse. The date on the image says 1997, but it should be 1996.
Location: Wyomissing, PA 9-96
Photo Revised: January 31, 2006
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Bob Waller - Wyomissing, PA 9-96
CR 6264
Bob Waller (121K)
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By this time, four months after the shot above, 6264 has probably become the worst Conrail C40-8W on the system.
Location: Reading, PA (CP Belt) 1-2-97
Photo Online:August 10, 2001
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Bob Waller - Reading, PA (CP Belt) 1-2-97
CR 6264
Bob Waller (154K)
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Eastbound CR UEK-118.
Location: North Kingsville, OH 3-13-99
Photo Online: January 31, 2006
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Dave Trenn - North Kingsville, OH 3-13-99
CR 6283
Dave Trenn (122K)
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Aside from later railroad assimilations (DT, RR, MGA to name a few), it was rare
for CR to renumber units. An exception was the C40-8W's that came with 700 series numbers in with the LMS units. Shown here at Cresson, PA is the 6285, the former CR 759. It would later go on to receive yet another number as Norfolk Southern 8451.
Location: Cresson, PA 3-27-99
Photo Online:March 28, 2003
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Roger Durfee - Cresson, PA 3-27-99
CR 6285
Roger Durfee (92K)
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We prototype model railroaders like to have photos of both sides of an engine. We're lucky enough to have just that with 6285.
Location: Marysville, PA 9-13-98
Photo Online:March 28, 2003
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Kevin DeGroff - Marysville, PA 9-13-98
CR 6285
Kevin DeGroff (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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