The blue paint GE used on the C40-8W faded badly and quickly, as can be seen here on LMS 705, which was part of Conrail's locomotive leasing arm.
Location: Wyomissing, PA
Photo Date: 6-97
Photographer: Robert Waller     Added: May 8, 1998

Location: Wyomissing, PA
Photo Date: 8-96
Photographer: Robert Waller     Added: May 8, 1998

Location: Pottstown, PA
Photo Date: 10-94
Photographer: Robert Palmer     Added: June 23, 1999

LMS 222, a unit in Conrail's leasing fleet, is headed eastbound on the Harrisburg Line and into Reading Yard.
Location: West Reading, PA (Valley Jct.)
Photo Date: 9-95
Photographer: Robert Waller     Added: March 14, 2022

Location: Conemaugh, PA
Photo Date: 7-24-98
Photographer: Keith Burkey     Added: August 13, 1998

The dynamic brakes, trucks, and front of the fuel tank.
Location: Pensacola, FL
Photo Date: 2-20-99
Photographer: Robert Russell     Added: October 14, 1999

The 5,000-gallon fuel tank on the C40-8W and the model's increased fuel efficiency made these locomotives perfect for long-haul trains across the mountainous terrain in Pennsylvania and New England. Here we're looking at the fuel fill on the tank, the fuel gauge, and air compressor.
Location: Pensacola, FL
Photo Date: 2-20-99
Photographer: Robert Russell     Added: October 14, 1999

Even closer view of the piping and compressor underneath the frame by the fuel tank.
Location: Pensacola, FL
Photo Date: 2-20-99
Photographer: Robert Russell     Added: October 14, 1999

Air tanks.
Location: Pensacola, FL
Photo Date: 2-20-99
Photographer: Robert Russell     Added: October 14, 1999

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
Photo Date: 4-26-97
Photographer: Dave Trenn     Added: March 4, 2005

CR 743 is part of the second order of C40-8W's ordered for Conrail Lease Management. The second order arrived in the Conrail Quality scheme. Here CR 743 leads eastbound empty unit coal train.
Location: Wyomissing, PA
Photo Date: 3-31-96
Photographer: Robert Waller     Added: May 23, 2022

An LMS leasing unit painted in Quality scheme. Part of the second order.
Location: West Lawn, PA
Photo Date: 12-96
Photographer: Robert Waller     Added: May 30, 1998

A lease unit painted in the Quality scheme, CR 752 has had one of its battery box covers replaced with a cover from a different unit, whose paint had faded. These little variations on Conrail locomotives always interest me.
Location: North Kingsville, OH
Photo Date: 11-16-96
Photographer: Dave Trenn     Added: August 21, 2021

Another loco with repainted sections, giving it some character.
Location: Reading, PA (CP Belt)
Photo Date: 11-96
Photographer: Robert Waller     Added: May 8, 1998

In 1990, Conrail had the first fifty-unit order of C40-8W's (CR 6050-6099) delivered in the railroad's standard paint scheme. In 1990 and 1991, CR 5054 was one of two C40-8W's that Conrail sent around the system to familiarize locomotive maintenance personnel with the new locomotive class. The other C40-8W was CR 6050. Here Conrail C40-8W's 6054 and 6058 lead a loaded unit coal train at Ashtabula Harbor Yard.
Location: Ashtabula, OH (Ashtabula Harbor Yard)
Photo Date: 8-7-94
Photographer: Dave Trenn     Added: July 17, 2021

Another change on the C40-8W compared to earlier models in the Dash-8 series was the sand filler hatch. As can be seen in this photo of CR 6055, the hatch is mounted lower than on previous models and recessed, making it easier for crews to reach the hatch from the walkway.
Location: Duncannon, PA
Photo Date: 9-1-96
Photographer: Robert Waller     Added: May 8, 1998

An elevated shot of 6063 on the engineer's side.
Location: Ashtabula, OH (Ashtabula Harbor Yard)
Photo Date: 10-31-90
Photographer: Dave Trenn     Added: August 21, 2021

Westbound Conrail SEIN-3 (Selkirk, NY - Indianapolis-Avon Yard, IN) is led by CR C40-8W 6063 on track number one near MP 122. In 1990 and 1991, Conrail liked to pair their C40-8W's with like units, maximizing the horsepower and fuel efficiency of these locomotives. Even beyond 1991, Conrail could be seen often paring these locomotives as here on SEIN.
Location: North Kingsville, OH
Photo Date: 4-4-97
Photographer: Dave Trenn     Added: April 20, 2016

The C40-8W had a height of 15' 4.5". Therefore, the cab roof is close to the top of the long hood and the horn sits on a recessed portion of the long hood, as can be seen in this overheard view of CR 6064 moving among the loaded and empty coal gons Ashtabula Harbor Yard. Three years after being delivered, CR 6064 still has its original air conditioner unit behind the conductor's side of the cab.
Location: Ashtabula, OH (Ashtabula Harbor Yard)
Photo Date: 7-26-93
Photographer: Dave Trenn     Added: July 17, 2021

Conrail C40-8W's 6064 and 6241 lead a westbound empty unit coal train. Within less than six years of delivery, CR 6064 has had its original AC unit replaced with a unit having a vertical screen instead of the square. Looking at Dave Trenn's shot of 6064 above, the AC change had to occur between late 1993 and then I caught 6064 in early 1996.
Location: Wyomissing, PA
Photo Date: 3-28-96
Photographer: Robert Waller     Added: August 21, 2021

I'm not sure what is going on with this unit. In the shot I took of CR 6067 in February 1997, I mention that the unit had been repainted from its as-delivered sceheme into the Quality scheme. Here we see CR 6067 in 1995 having been repainted, but it is not the same as the shot below from two years later. Look at the herald on the nose in each photo. Notice how something is off, as in the herald on CR 6067 in 1995 is missing the 'I' in Quality. The entire Quality herald was not applied right. Whoever put the Conrail Quality on the nose started too far to the left. When he came to the nose door, everything was a mess. Oh well. Just skip the I and try to get the herald back on track. No one will notice or car--except for some railfans and modelers! We noticed!
Location: Wyomissing, PA
Photo Date: 10-95
Photographer: Robert Waller     Added: March 11, 2022

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 but is not the original unit. CR 6067 heads up westbound MAIL-3 (Kearny, NJ - East St. Louis, MO), one of Conrail's highest priority trains.
Location: Wyomissing, PA
Photo Date: 2-97
Photographer: Robert Waller     Added: June 16, 2004

CR 6073 is on an eastbound at old Valley Junction, heading into the city of Reading.
Location: West Reading, PA (Valley Jct.)
Photo Date: 9-95
Photographer: Robert Waller     Added: March 11, 2022

The C40-8W was the first Conrail locomotive class delivered with air conditioning for the crew cab. Unfortunately, Conrail seemed to have many problems with its original AC units, many of which they eventually replaced. The air conditioner unit is a large, rectangular box sitting directly behind the cab on the conductor's side. The grill on its side is its most notable feature when looking at the locomotive from the trackside. Looking at photos of various Conrail C40-8W's, it appears that they had at least two different AC units other than the original AC unit used the C40-8W's when they were delivered new. As seen here on CR 6074, its as-delivered AC unit has been replaced with a unit that has a square grill. Depending on the AC unit installed on a particular C40-8W, the grill could be positioned more in the center of the AC unit, or it could be in the lower portion.
Location: Baltimore, MD
Photo Date: 3-92
Photographer: Mark Nolan     Added: August 13, 2000

Adding a wide cab to the C40-8 involved relocating and redesigning the locomotive's hand brake system. The equipment was moved from the leading truck to the rear truck, and the brake wheel was relocated from the cab nose to the car body above the rear truck. The wheel was also recessed into the long hood, as can be seen in this photo of CR 6076, which had been on property for only five months.
Location: Cleveland, OH (Collinwood Yard)
Photo Date: 10-5-90
Photographer: Dave Trenn     Added: June 16, 2004

CR 6078 is the trailing unit on UPP unit coal.
Location: Wyomissing, PA
Photo Date: 4-2-96
Photographer: Robert Waller     Added: August 18, 2023

This shot of CR 6083 when it was only four months old clear shows the stainless-steel frames around the cab windows and the air intake grills directly behind the cab. This changed over the years as units from the first order were repainted into the Quality scheme, with some having the stainless steel around the air intake painted blue.
Location: Cleveland, OH (Collinwood Yard)
Photo Date: 10-5-90
Photographer: Dave Trenn     Added: June 16, 2004

CR 6083 is looking worse for the wear as it leads an eastbound on the Harrisburg Line.
Location: Wyomissing, PA
Photo Date: 9-95
Photographer: Robert Waller     Added: March 11, 2022

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, 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
Photo Date: 10-96
Photographer: Robert Waller     Added: June 16, 2004

Location: Ashtabula, OH (AY West Yard)
Photo Date: 6-27-90
Photographer: Dave Trenn     Added: June 16, 2004

Another shot of CR 6090, this time Ashtabula's AY West Yard refueling pad.
Location: Ashtabula, OH (AY West Yard)
Photo Date: 6-27-90
Photographer: Dave Trenn     Added: February 9, 2005

Conrail 6093 is the trailing unit.
Location: North Chili, NY
Photo Date: 5-99
Photographer: Brian Switzer     Added: August 21, 2021

Trailing unit on MAIL-3.
Location: Wyomissing, PA
Photo Date: 7-95
Photographer: Robert Waller     Added: March 1, 2022

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
Photo Date: ?-90
Photographer: Stephen Foster     Added: June 3, 1999

Conrail 6100 was the first of the 1991 50-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. CR 6100 heads up eastbound PIOI (Pittsburgh, PA - Oak Island, NJ), a train consisting primarily of cars bound for the chemical plants in northeastern New Jersey.
Location: Blandon, PA (CP Blandon)
Photo Date: 2-97
Photographer: Robert Waller     Added: August 10, 2001

Conrail C40-8W's 6101, 6251, and 6247 lead a freight.
Location: Ashtabula, OH (Ashtabula Harbor Yard)
Photo Date: 10-9-97
Photographer: Dave Trenn     Added: July 17, 2021

Lead unit for Conrail unit autorack train ML-488 (Columbus, OH - Selkirk, NY) at MP 122.
Location: North Kingsville, OH
Photo Date: 9-1-98
Photographer: Dave Trenn     Added: January 31, 2006

CR 6107 is with C40-9W LMS 639.
Location: Alliance, OH
Photo Date: 10-11-97
Photographer: Dave Trenn     Added: August 21, 2021

Location: Ashtabula, OH (Ashtabula Harbor Yard)
Photo Date: 8-6-92
Photographer: Dave Trenn     Added: July 17, 2021

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. CR 6117 has a smaller than normal font.
Location: Reading, PA (CP Belt)
Photo Date: 1-2-97
Photographer: Robert Waller     Added: June 10, 2004

Conrail 6118 is trailing behind fellow C40-8W, Conrail 6283.
Location: North Chili, NY
Photo Date: 5-99
Photographer: Brian Switzer     Added: August 21, 2021

CR 6121 C40-8W and CR 6239 C40-8W were the power on eastbound PIBE-9B, which was waiting for westbound MAIL-3 to clear the interlocking.
Location: Wyomissing, PA
Photo Date: 3-1-96
Photographer: Robert Waller     Added: April 7, 2022

A better angle of CR 6121 on PIBE-9B above.
Location: Wyomissing, PA
Photo Date: 3-1-96
Photographer: Robert Waller     Added:May 4, 2022

It's 10:25 on a March morning when high, thin clouds were filtering the sunlight, making for difficult lighting. Unfortunately, I did not have the correct filter on my lens to compensate. CR C40-8W 6126 is a middle unit out of five locomotives pulling westbound MAIL-3 (Kearny, NJ - East St. Louis, MO) on the opposing track.
Location: Wyomissing, PA
Photo Date: 3-25-96
Photographer: Robert Waller     Added: July 17, 2021

Front conductor-side truck assembly along with air conditioner box.
Location: Bound Brook, NJ
Photo Date: ?-96
Photographer: Robert Russell     Added: October 14, 1999

Rear trucks.
Location: Bound Brook, NJ
Photo Date: ?-96
Photographer: Robert Russell     Added: May 23, 2022

Conrail's C40-8W's were among the filthiest locomotives that the railroad owned. (Of course, this is me injecting my opionion and not J's.) Notice the amount of grime on the roof and running boards in this overhead shot.
Location: Unknown
Photo Date: ?-98
Photographer: J. Gontero     Added: March 9, 1999

Conrail C40-8W 6129 leads an eastbound intermodal at Conway.
Location: Conway, PA
Photo Date: 1-3-98
Photographer: Dave Trenn     Added: July 17, 2021

CR 6133 (Quality scheme) trails behind CR 6066 on a westbound freight.
Location: Wyomissing, PA
Photo Date: 3-24-96
Photographer: Robert Waller     Added: May 23, 2022

CR 6139 is on an eastbound coal drag. Notice how the grime on it makes it look like a different color compared to the cleaner CR 6155 C40-8W, which is in the lead.
Location: Wyomissing, PA
Photo Date: 2-25-96
Photographer: Robert Waller     Added: April 7, 2022

Engineer-side front trucks.
Location: Unknown
Photo Date: Unknown
Photographer: Tom Hannon     Added: May 30, 2000

A smaller image, but a nice overhead shot of 6186.
Location: Ashtabula, OH (Ashtabula Harbor Yard)
Photo Date: 1-10-98
Photographer: Dave Trenn     Added: July 17, 2021

Three Conrail C40-8W's (6170, 6158, and an unidentified unit) lead an empty coal drag through the yard.
Location: Ashtabula, OH (Ashtabula Harbor Yard)
Photo Date: 9-13-94
Photographer: Dave Trenn     Added: July 17, 2021

Conrail C40-8W 6174 in the Quality scheme in Conrail's Ashtabula Harbor Yard in Ohio.
Location: Ashtabula, OH (Ashtabula Harbor Yard)
Photo Date: 7-18-94
Photographer: Dave Trenn     Added: April 20, 2016

CR 7175 and LMS C40-8W 738 are passing by autoracks.
Location: Harrisburg, PA
Photo Date: 7-21-98
Photographer: Tom Wolfgang     Added: January 20, 2019

Conrail C40-8W's 6186 and 6150 are on the Cleveland connecting track at Ann Avenue in Ashtabula.
Location: Ashtabula, OH
Photo Date: 2-1-98
Photographer: Dave Trenn     Added: July 17, 2021

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, CR 6188's air conditioner has been replaced. 6188 is heading westbound with CR 6060M 5512.
Location: Wyomissing, PA
Photo Date: 10-26-96
Photographer: Robert Waller     Added: June 16, 2004

Oil leaks have 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
Photo Date: 9-13-98
Photographer: Kevin DeGroff     Added: March 28, 2003

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)
Photo Date: 9-96
Photographer: Robert Waller     Added: May 8, 1998

A good overhead shot of Conrail C40-8W's giving a good look at the rooftop grime and details.
Location: Ashtabula, OH (Ashtabula Harbor Yard)
Photo Date: 1-28-98
Photographer: Dave Trenn     Added: July 17, 2021

What? A clean C40-8W? Something must be wrong! CR 6198 is the trailing unit in an eastbound TV train.
Location: Reading, PA (CP Belt)
Photo Date: 4-95
Photographer: Robert Waller     Added: March 3, 2022

Conrail C40-8W's 6199 and 6102 are taking southbound empty unit coal train XSQ-22B (X=Empty, S=Shire Oaks destination, Q=Quad Coal Hoppers, 22=Train Set ID, B=90 cars long) though the diamond crossing at CP 1 and CP 128 at 12:50pm.
Location: Ashtabula, OH
Photo Date: 2-1-98
Photographer: Dave Trenn     Added: July 17, 2021

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 (Kearny, NJ - Atlanta, GA), 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
Photo Date: 2-7-97
Photographer: Robert Waller     Added: June 16, 2004

Conrail 6206 and C40-8W 6217 head westbound through Wyomissing Junction on an overcast morning.
Location: Wyomissing, PA
Photo Date: 9-96
Photographer: Robert Waller     Added: June 16, 2004

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
Photo Date: 6-93
Photographer: Dave Trenn     Added: March 26, 2004

Two years after Dave Trenn shot a prisine CR 6214, a road-worn CR 6214 leads a eastbound.
Location: Wyomissing, PA
Photo Date: 10-95
Photographer: Robert Waller     Added: March 14, 2022

Late in the evening, CR 6221 heads a westbound freight into the city of Reading. It was stopped, waiting for an eastbound to clear. We get to see the lit number boards and marker lights.
Location: West Reading, PA (Valley Junction)
Photo Date: 9-94
Photographer: Robert Waller     Added: January 27, 2022

CR 6222 leads an eastbound.
Location: Wyomissing, PA
Photo Date: 10-95
Photographer: Robert Waller     Added: March 14, 2022

Conrail 6236 is still in its original CR numbers as it leads a Norfolk Southern freight out of Allentown, PA.
Location: Allentown, PA
Photo Date: 6-20-99
Photographer: John M. Terry     Added: May 30, 2004

CR 6238 in the Quality scheme.
Location: Ashtabula, OH (Ashtabula Harbor Yard)
Photo Date: 10-16-96
Photographer: Dave Trenn     Added: August 10, 2008

CR 6121 C40-8W and CR 6239 C40-8W were the power on eastbound PIBE-9B, which was waiting for westbound MAIL-3 to clear the interlocking. Delivered in June 1994, CR 6239 was part of Conrail's final order of C40-8W's. Later that year, Conrail ordered 20 additional C40-8W's for its LMS leasing arm, taking LMS reporing marks. In 1997, Conrail turned over the 20 LMS units into the Conrail roster, renumbering them beginning with CR 6266 (former LMS 740). As explained under the LMS units at the top of the page, LMS technically was not Consolidated Rail Corporation.
Location: Wyomissing, PA
Photo Date: 3-1-96
Photographer: Robert Waller     Added: April 7, 2022

CR 6239 was one of those units that frequented the Reading area.
Location: Reading, PA (CP Belt)
Photo Date: 1-2-97
Photographer: Robert Waller     Added: June 16, 2004

CR 6239 passes eastbound from the Belt Line through CP Belt.
Location: Reading, PA (CP Belt)
Photo Date: 2-97
Photographer: Robert Waller     Added: June 16, 2004

The GE plate on 6248 has been removed.
Location: Wyomissing, PA
Photo Date: 9-96
Photographer: Robert Waller     Added: June 16, 2004

An overhead shot of Conrail 6249 in the faded Quality scheme.
Location: Ashtabula, OH (Ashtabula Harbor Yard)
Photo Date: 8-14-96
Photographer: Dave Trenn     Added: July 17, 2021

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
Photo Date: 9-13-98
Photographer: Kevin DeGroff     Added: March 28, 2003

CR 6253 is heading west from Reading, PA to Altoona, PA on an SHOP train, with wrecked CR 6967 SD40-2R in tow. For more info on this train, see the SD40-2R Photos page.
Location: Wyomissing, PA
Photo Date: 12-29-95
Photographer: Robert Waller     Added: April 3, 2022

Notice how the wash-racks have left many streaks in the fading paint and often miss the grim in the center of the hood.
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Photo Date: 5-98
Photographer: Bill Waller     Added: June 23, 1999

Conrail C40-8W's 6255 and 6191 in the Quality scheme.
Location: Ashtabula, OH
Photo Date: 1-28-98
Photographer: Dave Trenn     Added: July 17, 2021

CR 6255 has had its air conditioner unit replaced, which can be seen in a fresher shade of blue right behind the conductor's cab window. Sometime between the photo of 6255 above from 1998 and this photo, the AC unit had been replaced with a different model.
Location: North Chili, NY
Photo Date: 5-99
Photographer: Brian Switzer     Added: August 21, 2021

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 andthe silver light housing. Also, check the black tread along the running board--there is a slight trim of blue along it.
Location: West Lawn, PA
Photo Date: 8-96
Photographer: Robert Waller     Added: January 16, 1999

CR 6258 leads a westbound freight on the Pittsburgh Line east of Enola, PA. One of the first photos I had shot in 14 years of being away from railfanning. I had to use my instamatic that day, which gave so-so photos of fast freights!
Location: Cove, PA
Photo Date: 8-94
Photographer: 1994     Added: January 18, 2022

Robert caught a rebullt CR 6259 a few years later than the photo above.
Location: Norristown, PA (Abrams Yard)
Photo Date: 6-98
Photographer: Robert Palmer     Added: August 8, 1998

CR 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
Photo Date: 9-96
Photographer: Robert Waller     Added: June 16, 2004

Location: Reading, PA (CP Belt)
Photo Date: 1-2-97
Photographer: Robert Waller     Added: August 10, 2001

CR 6283 leads eastbound CR UEK-118, which served the Kodak plant in Rochester, NY. This began as LMS 757. In 1997, it was brought back into Conrail proper and renumbered as 6283. Conrail painted over the old LMS road numbers on the cab and applied new decals for 6283.
Location: North Kingsville, OH
Photo Date: 3-13-99
Photographer: Dave Trenn     Added: January 31, 2006

Conrail 6285 began as LMS 759 but painted in the Conrail Quality scheme. In 1997, you can see how Conrail simply painted over the old LMS numbers on the cab and applied the new 6285 decals.
Location: Cresson, PA
Photo Date: 3-27-99
Photographer: Roger Durfee     Added: March 28, 2003

Another shot of 6285 showing the patched over LMS numbers on the cab.
Location: Marysville, PA
Photo Date: 9-13-98
Photographer: Kevin DeGroff     Added: March 28, 2003