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Will It Survive? This was the question on everyone's mind back in 1976. The industry magazine Modern Railroads/Rail Transit ran a number of Conrail articles prior to and after the merger of Conrail in 1976. When this issue went to press in March 1976, Conrail did not have the steel wheels logo to show the public. Instead, MR/RT created their own Conrail logo. This is the cover from that issue. I find it interesting, so I thought I'd share it here. (89K) Photo Online: June 6, 2000 |
 Modern Railroads March 76 |
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A Better Way To Run A Railroad. This is Conrail's official response to the public's concern about the new railroad. What would it be like? Would service improve? This two page add in Modern Railroads in May 1976, Conrail's first trade magazine ad, seeks to answer those questions. A variation of this ad ran in newspapers all across the Northeast. Note the paint schemes on the locos--not exactly prototype! This is page one of the two page spread. (117K) Photo Online: June 6, 2000 |
 Modern Railroads May 76 |
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The second page, or right hand side, of the two page ad in Modern Railroads announcing the formation of Conrail. This ad features a rather railroad-looking gentleman who became the symbol of the new railroad. Yes, we would be seeing more of him in future ads and public relations material. (141K) Photo Online: June 6, 2000 |
 Modern Railroads May 76 |
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The following month, Conrail continued their ad campaign in the trade press, explaining how they would turn a "loosing proposition" into a success. Plus, we finally see the "new" Conrail logo! As far as I know, this and all subsequent ads were never run in the general press or newspapers. (136K) Photo Online: June 6, 2000 |
 Modern Railroads June 76 |
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This Conrail ad coincided with Modern Railroads' examination of Conrail's first 100 days and was placed next to the issue's quarterly earnings report of major US railroads. Read the ad and learn how Conrail improved the physical plant from April to August 1976. Conrail did not run any ads from July to September 1976. (153K) Photo Online: June 6, 2000 |
 Modern Railroads October 76 |
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I find this final 1976 ad from Conrail a fascinating read. First, the locomotive featured at the top of the ad is GP-10 7562, which was "brand new" at the time the ad ran in October of that year. Not many railroads featured such lowly locomotives to symbolize their company, but industry executives reading the ad would definately know that the locomotive was a product of Conrail's GP-9 rebuilding program. Also, only Conrail in 1976 could play up a 2nd Quarter loss of $31,983,000 as a success! Strange times indeed. (126K) Photo Online: June 6, 2000 |
 Modern Railroads December 76 |
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How many ads do you know of that feature Penn Central GG1's? Probably not many. Hoesch Jacks featured PC 4931 in one of their 1976 ads. Ironically, PC isn't one of the icons listed in the ad. Did the PC actually use Hoesch jacks, or was this simply a publicity stunt? Regardless, by the time this ad ran in 1976, the PC and CNJ, which is listed in the ad, had disappeared into the new Conrail. Photo Online: June 6, 2000 |
 Modern Railroads |
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