Conrail C40-8W 6082, SD60M 5504, and SD6OI 5586 are at Ashtabula Harbor Yard in Ohio on August 22, 1995.
Location: Ashtabula, OH (Ashtabula Harbor Yard)
Photo Date: 8-22-95
Photographer: Dave Trenn     Added: August 10, 2008

Conrail C40-8W 6104 leads westbound BUPI-3 (Buffalo, NY - Conway East Yard, PA) on track four through Ashtabula, Ohio on October 23, 1993. A Union Pacific unit trails the trio.
Location: Ashtabula, OH
Photo Date: 10-23-93
Photographer: Dave Trenn     Added: August 10, 2008

Conrail C40-8W 6177, C40-8W 753, and SD60M 5573 at Ashtabula Harbor Ohio Yard on October 16, 1996.
Location: Ashtabula, OH (Ashtabula Harbor Yard)
Photo Date: 10-16-96
Photographer: Dave Trenn     Added: August 10, 2008

Conrail C40-8W's 6238 and 6182 at Ashtabula Harbor Ohio Yard on October 16, 1996.
Location: Ashtabula, OH (Ashtabula Harbor Yard)
Photo Date: 10-16-96
Photographer: Dave Trenn     Added: September 22, 2008

Conrail SD40-2's 6379 and 6381 do pusher duty for eastbound UFY-684 at Cresson, PA on August 19, 1995.
Location: Cresson, PA
Photo Date: 8-19-95
Photographer: Dave Trenn     Added: September 22, 2008

Conrail's SD40-2 6450 leads an eastbound automobile train ML-440 (Sterling Yard, Detroit, MI - Doremus Ave Yard, Newark, NJ) at milepost 128 through Ashtabula, Ohio. "ML" stood for "multi-level."
Location: Ashtabula, OH
Photo Date: Unknown
Photographer: Dave Trenn     Added: September 22, 2008

Conrail SD40-2 6464 leads eastbound ELBU-1 (Elkhart, IN - Buffalo, NY) at Ashtabula, Ohio on February 1, 1998.
Location: Ashtabula, OH
Photo Date: 2-1-98
Photographer: Dave Trenn     Added: September 22, 2008

Two Conrail C30-7A's, 6581 and another unit, sit outside the old Pennsylvania Railroad freight house at Union Square on the Hudson Secondary in Phillipsburg, NJ.
Location: Phillipsburg, NJ
Photo Date: 5-25-85
Photographer: Anthony N. Chando     Added: May 1, 2009

On May 25, 1985, the Bethlehem Engine Terminal was still doing some servicing, but locomotives needing major work went to Enola, PA. CR 5439 was newly painted as it sits outside the old roundhouse.
Location: Bethlehem, PA
Photo Date: 5-25-85
Photographer: Anthony N. Chando     Added: May 1, 2009

On a cold and rainy December 19, 1984 at CP Belt in Reading, PA, former-Reading Company MP15 CR 9625 is pulling empty hoppers past the mainline signal heading out of town.
Location: Reading, PA
Photo Date: 12-12-84
Photographer: Anthony N. Chando     Added: May 1, 2009

CR 6617 C32-8, CR 6610 C32-8, an unknown SD38, and one dead RS3M lead train SEEN (Selkirk, NY - Enola, PA) on the Lehigh Line through Easton, PA on April 18, 1985.
Location: Easton, PA
Photo Date: 4-18-85
Photographer: Anthony N. Chando     Added: May 3, 2009

With the old Bethlehem Steel plant in the background, two Conrail C30-7A's with CR 6570 lead OIPI (Oak Island Yard, NJ - Conway East Yard, PA) through CP Bethlehem on a rainy April 25, 1985.
Location: Bethlehem, PA
Photo Date: 4-25-85
Photographer: Anthony N. Chando     Added: May 3, 2009

Conrail SD40's 6243 and 6353 on OIPI (Oak Island Yard, NJ - Conway East Yard, PA) on June 12, 1984. The head end of the train is in Easton, PA, but the tail is passing through Phillipsburg, NJ. Anthony lived in Phillipsburg up on the hill.
Location: Phillipsburg, NJ
Photo Date: 6-12-84
Photographer: Anthony N. Chando     Added: May 3, 2009

Lead by Conrail GP40-2 3306, PYAL (Potomca Yard, MD - Allentown, PA) is on its way to Allentown, passing through CP Belt outside Reading, PA on February 20, 1985.
Location: Reading, PA (CP Belt)
Photo Date: 2-20-85
Photographer: Anthony N. Chando     Added: May 3, 2009

Two SD50's, an SDP45, and a GP8 pass through Easton, PA. As Anthony says, "Money was a little tight back then, so I only took one shot." The track on the ramp is the old Easton & Northern branch.
Location: Easton, PA
Photo Date: 5-15-85
Photographer: Anthony N. Chando     Added: May 3, 2009

Back in the early days, anything was possible around the Lehigh Valley area. Conrail GP10 7557, Conrail GP30 2224, and a former Penn Central GP38 are coming off the Hudson Secondary onto the Lehigh Line with westbound local WJAL at Valley Station in Easton, PA.
Location: Easton, PA
Photo Date: 5-24-84
Photographer: Anthony N. Chando     Added: May 3, 2009

OIEN (Oak Island Yard, NJ - Enola, PA) is stopped at CP Belt because the trainline brakes suddenly dropped to 0 pressure. Here we see the old Reading Company's Blandon Lowgrade fall into the quarry. This caused a headache for Conrail because the Lowgrade was the main way from Reading to Allentown, bypassing the original Reading Company's steep line out of Reading Yard to Blandon. During repairs to the Lowgrade, it was odd seeing freights once again ply the old line.
Location: Laureldale, PA
Photo Date: 8-8-84 2:25 PM
Photographer: Anthony N. Chando     Added: June 28, 2009

Along US Route 222, the Blandon Lowgrade is now in the quarry.
Location: Laureldale, PA
Photo Date: 8-8-84 2:20 PM
Photographer: Anthony N. Chando     Added: June 28, 2009

At Valley Station on the Lehigh Line.
Location: Easton, PA
Photo Date: 10-13-84 1:59 PM
Photographer: Anthony N. Chando     Added: June 28, 2009

TV-110H at Riverside Drive grade Crossing on the Lehigh Line in Fountain Hill Borough, PA.
Location: Fountain Hill, PA
Photo Date: 2-5-85
Photographer: Anthony N. Chando     Added: June 28, 2009

Local WJAL-16 (Work, New Jersey Division, Allentown) eastbound at Market Street on the Lehigh Line with Conrail GP38 7825, an N5G Conrail caboose #18673, one car, Conrail SW8M 8685, eight cars, and an N5G Conrail caboose #18612 on track one.
Location: Phillipsburg, NJ
Photo Date: 1-29-85 2:06 PM
Photographer: Anthony N. Chando     Added: July 1, 2009

SEEN (Selkirk, NY - Enola, PA) with Conrail SD50's 6770 and 6762 at Valley Station on the Lehigh Line.
Location: Easton, PA
Photo Date: 10-20-84 11:19 AM
Photographer: Anthony N. Chando     Added: July 1, 2009

OIAL (Oak Island Yard, NJ – Allentown, PA) at Canal St. on the Lehigh Line with Conrail SD50's 6708 and 6771, 67 cars, and caboose CR 23868 NE6.
Location: Easton, PA
Photo Date: 10-27-84 4:22 PM
Photographer: Anthony N. Chando     Added: July 1, 2009

At Allentown Yard, the Pullout Control on the West End looking east on the field side. The Distant building is the Bethlehem Steel Company's Martin Towers.
Location: Allentown, PA
Photo Date: 10-23-84 3:54 PM
Photographer: Anthony N. Chando     Added: July 1, 2009

ZBB-117 (Unit iron ore train Philadelphia, PA - Bethlehem Steel) is eastbound on the Reading Line with Conrail SD50's 6725 and 6738, and SD40 6242 pulling 97 cars and caboose CR 22897 N5B.
Location: Allentown, PA (CP Allen)
Photo Date: 2-5-85 8:58 AM
Photographer: Anthony N. Chando     Added: July 1, 2009

TV-110H stopped for crew change at Riverside Drive on the Lehigh Line with Conrail GP40-2 3328 and GP40 3260.
Location: Salisbury Township, PA
Photo Date: 2-5-85 10:23 AM
Photographer: Anthony N. Chando     Added: July 1, 2009

From across the Lehigh River on the Reading Line, PIOI (Conway East Yard, PA – Oak Island Yard, NJ) with Conrail B36-7 5046.
Location: Allentown, PA
Photo Date: 2-5-85 1:11 PM
Photographer: Anthony N. Chando     Added: July 1, 2009

Local WJAL-91 out of Allentown with Conrail SD50 6716.
Location: Unknown
Photo Date: 2-11-85 8:14 AM
Photographer: Anthony N. Chando     Added: July 1, 2009

TV-110H at Canal St. on the Lehigh Line with Conrail GP40-2's 3357, 3367, and 3373 pulling 47 cars and caboose CR 21104 N7B. Notice the old Lehigh Valley South Easton roundhouse.
Location: Easton, PA
Photo Date: 2-11-85 8:26 AM
Photographer: Anthony N. Chando     Added: July 6, 2009

SEEN (Selkirk, NY - Enola, PA) with Conrail SD50's 6739 and 6734. The small signal bridge is now long gone.
Location: Allentown, PA (CP Allen)
Photo Date: 2-11-85 9:43 AM
Photographer: Anthony N. Chando     Added: July 6, 2009

SEEN (Selkirk, NY - Enola, PA) with Conrail SD50's 6739 and 6734 with 96 cars and CR 22819 N5B.
Location: Allentown, PA (Basin Street)
Photo Date: 2-11-85 12:20 PM
Photographer: Anthony N. Chando     Added: July 6, 2009

ALPY with Conrail SD40-2's 6400 and 6461.
Location: Allentown, PA (Allentown Yard, Field side)
Photo Date: 2-11-85 1:37 PM
Photographer: Anthony N. Chando     Added: July 6, 2009

At Bellewood Tunnel on the Lehigh line, eastbound light power Conrail GP38-2 8100, GP38 7870, GP38-2 7987, and GP38-2 8171 approach.
Location: Pattenburg, NJ
Photo Date: 8-11-84 4:38 PM
Photographer: Anthony N. Chando     Added: July 19, 2009

Conrail SD40-2's 6516 and 6500 on the Hollidaysburg job.
Location: Altoona, PA
Photo Date: 8-13-84
Photographer: Anthony N. Chando     Added: July 19, 2009

In 1983, Wye Tower on the Hollidaysburg Secondary was still in use. By 1984 it was quite dead.
Location: Duncansville, PA (Wye Tower)
Photo Date: 8-13-84 9:50 AM
Photographer: Anthony N. Chando     Added: July 19, 2009

Looking south-southeast towards Hollidaysburg past Wye tower.
Location: Duncansville, PA (Wye Tower)
Photo Date: 8-13-84 9:56 AM
Photographer: Anthony N. Chando     Added: July 19, 2009

Westbound PPLX empty coal train at Alto Tower with Conrail SD40 6344, SD40-2 6424, and SD40-2 6523 with 125 cars and CR 21599 N7A.
Location: Altoona, PA
Photo Date: 8-13-84 5:32 PM
Photographer: Anthony N. Chando     Added: July 19, 2009

Alto Tower on the Pittsburgh line.
Location: Altoona, PA
Photo Date: 8-13-84 5:40 PM
Photographer: Anthony N. Chando     Added: July 19, 2009

Conrail SW9 9017 leads one car and Conrail N5G caboose #18673 westbound on the Oldenwelder Secondary (former Central Railroad of New Jersey) in Easton, PA.
Location: Easton, PA
Photo Date: 8-28-84 1:22 PM
Photographer: Anthony N. Chando     Added: November 9, 2009

WJAL-18 is eastbound on the Lehigh Line with Conrail GP15-1's 1665 and 1647 and U23B 2793 lead 42 cars and caboose CR 18865 N4B (ex-CNJ 91535).
Location: Easton, PA
Photo Date: 8-29-84 12:42 PM
Photographer: Anthony N. Chando     Added: November 9, 2009

Conrail highrailer X9000 sits on the Lehigh Secondary at Jim Thorpe, PA. Photos taken from the old Acme supermarket parking lot.
Location: Jim Thorpe, PA
Photo Date: 10-18-84 2:05 PM
Photographer: Anthony N. Chando     Added: November 9, 2009

TV-128H is eastbound on the Lehigh Line at Valley Station in Easton, PA.
Location: Easton, PA
Photo Date: 10-20-84
Photographer: Anthony N. Chando     Added: November 9, 2009

RCB 4153 Burro crane is parked on the Lehigh Line by Canal Street in Easton, PA. And what just popped out of the rain?
Location: Easton, PA
Photo Date: 10-29-84 1:43 PM
Photographer: Anthony N. Chando     Added: November 9, 2009

Westbound iron ore drag ZBB is on the North Penn Branch at Third Street in Bethlehem, PA down by the steel mill. The day’s power was Conrail SD40-2 6478, GP38-2 8112, and SD40-2 6299.
Location: Bethlehem, PA
Photo Date: 11-2-84 12:42 PM
Photographer: Anthony N. Chando     Added: November 9, 2009

Overlooking the Allentown hump yard with Conrail SD40-2's 6498 and 6433 plus some cabooses.
Location: Allentown, PA
Photo Date: 11-2-84 3:33 PM
Photographer: Anthony N. Chando     Added: November 9, 2009

It's almost sunset as Conrail GP35 2354 (former Penn Central 2354) and a U-boat roll past the old Reading Company shops at Rutherford, PA. Kodachrome sure could bring out the deep colors in an image!
Location: Rutherford, PA
Photo Date: 1-21-81
Photographer: Robert Waller     Added: March 12, 2015

In late 1985, Conrail began a massive purge of older legacy locomotives from its locomotive roster, placing the units into long-term storage in places such as Rutherford, Enola, and Altoona in Pennsylvania. They were to remain there until sold off to other railroads, sold off for scrap, or salvaged for parts. This year tends to mark the end of the "rainbow era" of locomotives running in predecessor colors. If it hadn't been painted blue by then, it was placed into storage.

In May 1986, Conrail employees had a 1-day strike in support of employees at the Maine Central, who were going on strike. 90% of Conrail was shut down that day. Expecting their employees to walk out that day, Conrail began days earlier sidelining much of their locomotive fleet in whatever yard had space available. Enola was one such temporary storage space. When Conrail combined their already-stored fleet with the temporarily stored fleet, it made for quite a scene. Unfortunately, it would last only a short time. Once the Conrail crews reported back for work, the trains began rolling again and the massive seas of blue engines sidelined in Enola and elsewhere disappeared.

These photos chronicle those crazy days in May 1986.
Location: Enola, PA
Photo Date: 5-86
Photographer: Ralph Molesworth     Added: June 2, 2015

Looking at the sea of temporarily stored locomotives from high on Marysville Road.
Location: Enola, PA
Photo Date: 5-86
Photographer: Ralph Molesworth     Added: June 2, 2015

Every Shape and Kind. Another shot during the strike, showing how diverse Conrail was back then, from SD45's to paint-out GP30's. How many locomotive models can you spot?
Location: Enola, PA
Photo Date: 5-86
Photographer: Ralph Molesworth     Added: June 2, 2015

We're down in the terminal now.
Location: Enola, PA
Photo Date: 5-86
Photographer: Ralph Molesworth     Added: June 2, 2015

Looking at the line stored by the old coaling tower.
Location: Enola, PA
Photo Date: 5-86
Photographer: Ralph Molesworth     Added: June 2, 2015

Another shot of the coaling tower.
Location: Enola, PA
Photo Date: 5-86
Photographer: Ralph Molesworth     Added: June 2, 2015

Conrail GP40's pass by Armco Steel in east Baltimore. The lead unit is Conrail GP40 3236 (Former Penn Central 3236 in CR stencils), followed by Conrail GP40 3226 (former PC 3226 in CR stencils) and Conrail GP40 3273. This was a telephoto shot.
Location: Baltimore, MD
Photo Date: 2-82
Photographer: Ralph Molesworth     Added: June 2, 2015

Here we see all the lead units passing by.
Location: Baltimore, MD
Photo Date: 2-82
Photographer: Ralph Molesworth     Added: June 2, 2015

Conrail B23-7 1953 and SD40-2 6383 are dwarfed by mountains of containers at Bayview Yard in Baltimore, MD.
Location: Baltimore, MD
Photo Date: 3-89
Photographer: Ralph Molesworth     Added: June 2, 2015

Conrail RS3M 9994 and SD9 6912 are at Bayview Yard in Baltimore, MD.
Location: Baltimore, MD
Photo Date: 3-89
Photographer: Ralph Molesworth     Added: June 2, 2015

Conrail SD40 6332 sits in line with a host of other SD40's.
Location: Enola, PA
Photo Date: 5-86
Photographer: Ralph Molesworth     Added: June 2, 2015

A great shot of Enola, PA in 1986. In the foreground is an SD45, in the background is a GP30, plus many switchers.
Location: Enola, PA
Photo Date: 5-86
Photographer: Ralph Molesworth     Added: June 2, 2015

More shots of Enola in May 1986.
Location: Enola, PA
Photo Date: 5-86
Photographer: Ralph Molesworth     Added: June 2, 2015

Conrail SD50's 6706 and 6767 sit by the engine terminal in Enola, PA.
Location: Enola, PA
Photo Date: 5-86
Photographer: Ralph Molesworth     Added: June 2, 2015

Yet more locos in a sea of blue from the heydays of Conrail.
Location: Enola, PA
Photo Date: 5-86
Photographer: Ralph Molesworth     Added: June 2, 2015

C40-8W 6174 in the Conrail Quality scheme and C32-8 6605 sit in Conrail's Ashtabula Harbor Ohio Yard along with several other units waiting to depart with their trains.
Location: Ashtabula, OH (Ashtabula Harbor Yard)
Photo Date: 7-18-94
Photographer: Dave Trenn     Added: April 20, 2016

Westbound SEIN-3 is led by Conrail C40-8W 6063 on track number one near MP122 in North Kingsville, OH.
Location: North Kingsville, OH
Photo Date: 4-4-97
Photographer: Dave Trenn     Added: April 20, 2016

Eastbound UWT-40 with Conrail C40-8W 6034 comes around the Buffalo/Pittsburgh connection at West 32nd St in Ashtabula, Ohio.
Location: Ashtabula, OH
Photo Date: 9-18-94
Photographer: Dave Trenn     Added: April 20, 2016

It's crew change time as the inbound and outbound crews of Conrail UNL-5B led by C39-8 6003 and SD60 6850 exchange some information at Conrail's Carson Yard in Plymouth Township, Ohio.
Location: Plymouth Township, OH
Photo Date: 9-3-94
Photographer: Dave Trenn     Added: April 20, 2016

A pair of Conrail SD60M's in the Quality scheme, 5571 and 5512, lead westbound BUEL-3X at MP104 on track number 1.
Location: Girard, PA
Photo Date: 10-2-95
Photographer: Dave Trenn     Added: April 20, 2016

Conrail SD60M 5546 shoves Southbound Conrail ZWW-445 ore train up the grade out of Ashtabula Harbor.
Location: Ashtabula, OH (Ashtabula Harbor Yard)
Photo Date: 7-12-93
Photographer: Dave Trenn     Added: April 20, 2016

Conrail GP40 3001 and GP38 7910 hit the diamonds with Conrail's Chicago Line.
Location: Ashtabula, OH
Photo Date: 10-15-94
Photographer: Dave Trenn     Added: April 20, 2016

Eastbound TV-204 is led by Conrail SD50 6801 near MP 127.9, on track number two, in Ashtabula, Ohio.
Location: Ashtabula, OH
Photo Date: 9-4-94
Photographer: Dave Trenn     Added: April 27, 2016

Conrail SD50 6773 and Union Pacific SD40-2 4277 lead Southbound Conrail unit iron ore train ZWW-445 up the grade out of Ashtabula Harbor.
Location: Ashtabula, OH (Ashtabula Harbor Yard)
Photo Date: 7-12-93
Photographer: Dave Trenn     Added: April 27, 2016

SD50 6744 leads westbound Conrail TV-77 at MP 126 on track number one in Ashtabula, Ohio.
Location: Ashtabula, OH
Photo Date: 10-16-96
Photographer: Dave Trenn     Added: April 27, 2016

SD50 6714 leads an eastbound Conrail intermodal as it races by MP 114.8 on track 2 in Conneaut, Ohio.
Location: Conneaut, OH
Photo Date: 4-29-95
Photographer: Dave Trenn     Added: April 27, 2016

It's August 18, 1995, as Conrail C40-8W 6230 pops out of the now closed tunnel at Gallitzin, PA.
Location: Gallitzin, PA
Photo Date: 8-18-95
Photographer: Dave Trenn     Added: April 27, 2016

A fairly beaten N21 class wide-vision caboose CR 21286.
Location: Baltimore, MD
Photo Date: ?-82
Photographer: Ralph Molesworth     Added: April 27, 2016

The city of Baltimore rises in the background of Bayview Yard in 1982. For some reason, this shot reminds me of the many such yard photos in early Conrail employee magazine issues.
Location: Baltimore, MD
Photo Date: ?-82
Photographer: Ralph Molesworth     Added: April 27, 2016

Another shot a bit farther to the side of Bayview in Baltimore.
Location: Baltimore, MD
Photo Date: ?-82
Photographer: Ralph Molesworth     Added: April 27, 2016

We're looking down on the storage tracks of Bayview Yard in Baltimore, MD some time in 1982.
Location: Baltimore, MD
Photo Date: ?-82
Photographer: Ralph Molesworth     Added: April 27, 2016

It's 1989 and Conrail GP15-1 1667 is joined by SD40-2 6461 and a string of blue B36-7's at Bayview Yard in Baltimore.
Location: Baltimore, MD
Photo Date: ?-89
Photographer: Ralph Molesworth     Added: April 27, 2016

Two westbound Conrail C40-8W's, 6066 and 6133, pulling a general freight meet an eastbound unit coal train headed by Conrail SD50 6790 and SD60 5560 at Wyomissing, PA.
Location: Wyomissing, PA
Photo Date: 3-24-96
Photographer: Robert Waller     Added: July 9, 2021

We're looking eastbound along the Conrail mainline behind the old Hershey plant. The Hershey switcher sits in the siding.
Location: Hershey, PA
Photo Date: 3-29-96
Photographer: Robert Waller     Added: July 9, 2021

My long-time friend, Lon Godshall is sitting on a trailer listening to his scanner and monitoring the action in the area as a westbound approaches us at Derry Road in Hershey, PA. The train included a number of dead engines in tow, including a slug and its mate that had been damaged in a derailment. For the rest of the day, we kept meeting up with this train as it made its way into Harrisburg. (Wow, we sure were a lot younger back then!)
Location: Hershey, PA
Photo Date: 6-15-99
Photographer: Robert Waller     Added: July 9, 2021

Conrail SD50 6841 on an eastbound meets with the waiting westbound at Derry Road. 6841 hadn't gotten its NS modifications, since it had only been a few days since NS officially took over.
Location: Hershey, PA
Photo Date: 6-15-99
Photographer: Robert Waller     Added: July 9, 2021

Santa Fe C44-9W 917 in the Super Fleet scheme had been "trapped" on Conrail for ages, usually running in the Hershey area. Sadly, my memory has faded on details about this engine.
Location: Hershey, PA
Photo Date: 6-15-99
Photographer: Robert Waller     Added: July 9, 2021

ATSF 917 got abused while on Conrail. It is filty. Being a big fan of the Santa Fe (pre-BNSF), I was excited to spot this unit, and sad to see it so abused.
Location: Hershey, PA
Photo Date: 6-15-99
Photographer: Robert Waller     Added: July 9, 2021

We're just east of Derry Road in Hershey, looking east at the sidings used for the Hershey plant, as a westbound NS train passes by the Hershey switcher. On the far left is ATSF C44-9W 917 on the siding. Though Conrail technically has not been a Class 1 railroad for several days by this time in 1999, this scene would have been common for years prior. Because we had moved to Florida on July 5, 1997, this day would be my last day railfanning what I had known as Conrail since 1976.
Location: Hershey, PA
Photo Date: 6-15-99
Photographer: Robert Waller     Added: July 9, 2021

The Harrisburg Line saw several daily run-through freights from other railroads, such as Canadian Pacific. Sometimes they used Conrail units in their lashups. Here we have Soo Line GP40 2036 as a trailing unit on a CP run-through. The unit would become CP 4616 and then HLCX 4220.
Location: Hershey, PA
Photo Date: 6-15-99
Photographer: Robert Waller     Added: July 9, 2021

A shot of the old signal at Hersheypark. Since NS had begun replacing the old Reading Company and Conrail signals, I wanted to have a shot of this before it was gone.
Location: Hershey, PA
Photo Date: 6-15-99
Photographer: Robert Waller     Added: July 9, 2021

While over at one of my old favorite hangouts, the intermodal yard in Harrisburg, an eastbound appeared with Canadian National 5439 SD50F in the lead, with Canadian National SD75I 5771, a totally rusted Conrail B23-7 1900, and Conrail GP38-2 8111. Unfortunately, NS had gotten to the B23-7 quickly, slapping an NS sticker on its cab. Still, I rarely saw CN units on Conrail, so I was excited to catch these two units. This is why I used to love railfanning Conrail in the 1990's in Central Pennsylvania; I never knew what I would see on any given day.
Location: Harrisburg, PA
Photo Date: 6-15-99
Photographer: Robert Waller     Added: July 9, 2021

Canadian National SD75I 5771 trails behind CN 5439 in the prior photo. Earlier that day in Hershey, we had caught the Canadian Pacific run-through. Now we caught CN units. It was an awesome day of railfanning, even if we were a couple weeks past the NS takeover.
Location: Harrisburg, PA
Photo Date: 6-15-99
Photographer: Robert Waller     Added: July 9, 2021

After catching some trains over in Harrisburg, Lon and I swung over to the Rockville Bridge. I wanted to see it one last time. Of course, I knew the old tower had been torn down years prior. As a teenager and young adult, I used to hang out in the tower and knew all the operators in the area. I made many audio recordings inside the towers around Harrisburg, but those tapes are long gone. I can still see myself in the tower, placing my huge recorder and mic atop the big control panel. Sometimes I made shorter recordings, where I kept my mouth shut. Other times on busy days, I just let the tape roll for 30 minutes, picking up everything. Back then, the railroad was like my family. In 1999, all that remained of the famous junction were a couple of rusted boxes and ugly sign. (I never posted this photo back in 1999.)
Location: Rockville, PA
Photo Date: 6-15-99
Photographer: Robert Waller     Added: July 9, 2021

Having left Hershey and after having done some train watching in Harrisburg and Rockville, we headed down to the Enola yard and terminal to see what was happening and take one last look. A view of the west side of the yard while crossing Interstate 81. Unfortunately, the clouds rolled in just as we were crossing the yard. Why does that always happen?
Location: Enola, PA
Photo Date: 6-15-99
Photographer: Robert Waller     Added: July 9, 2021

Here we see the west end of the yard. Nearby behind us was our favorite hangout to eat lunch and cool off--the Wendy's.
Location: Enola, PA
Photo Date: 6-15-99
Photographer: Robert Waller     Added: July 9, 2021

Another shot looking down at the engine terminal at Enola.
Location: Enola, PA
Photo Date: 6-15-99
Photographer: Robert Waller     Added: July 9, 2021

A nice overhead view of some freight in the yard.
Location: Enola, PA
Photo Date: 6-15-99
Photographer: Robert Waller     Added: July 9, 2021

After travelling along the yard, we drove down into the engine terminal. I had to get a shot of the sign for posterity. I originally posted this photo in 1999, but this is a new scan. What follows is my original text: "Welcome to Enola Yard! This is the old Conrail sign that you used to see when entering the Enola engine terminal trackside. Even though NS had just taken over, NS gons had been a common sight for years in the yard.”
Location: Enola, PA
Photo Date: 6-15-99
Photographer: Robert Waller     Added: July 9, 2021

Another re-scanned classic from my gallery. Here is the original text from 1999: "This is the infamous Conrail trash can from Enola Engine Terminal in Enola, PA. Shortly after I took this photo a few days after NS took over Conrail in 1999, the can was gone. Lon Godshall was with me when I shot the can and ribbed me about it for days, until someone let us know that the can had suddenly disappeared. Then he changed his tune. I have a feeling the can is resting in peace in a former Conrail employee's backyard.)"
Location: Enola, PA
Photo Date: 6-15-99
Photographer: Robert Waller     Added: July 9, 2021

My final shot of what I had known as Conrail, even if we were two weeks too late to see the railroad on its last day. A lot has changed in my life since this day in 1999. Hard to imagine it was so long ago! Here is the original text from the post: "The same day I shot the sign and can photos below, I shot the south side of the engine terminal. It's a few days after NS took over in 1999 and no one in Enola is happy. Trains were backed up all over the place, NS crews were pouring in from the deep south to replace Conrail crews that had been sent elsewhere. Total chaos. Everyone suddenly hated their job. It was not a good day to shoot the terminal from trackside, even though we had been down there a few minutes earlier shooting some still-Conrail locos. I snapped this shot as Lon and I drove off. It would be my last view of Enola before heading back home to my neck of the deep south."
Location: Enola, PA
Photo Date: 6-15-99
Photographer: Robert Waller     Added: July 9, 2021