Looking for PRR Remnants for The PRR H Unit

The Pennsylvania Railroad heritage unit leading Norfolk Southern train 15M waits for a CSX auto rack train to clear at Center Street in Youngstown on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2013.

I headed for Youngstown this past Saturday morning in hopes that Norfolk Southern 8102, the Pennsylvania Railroad heritage unit, would make daylight around the Center Street crossing on the lead of the 15M.

In a bit of perfect timing, it had just pulled up to wait on some CSX traffic to cross as I arrived. The chase starts out on ex-New York Central tracks or at least close to ex-NYC since the track arrangements at Center Street have changed dramatically over the years.

I shot the meet with CSX eastbound Q216 then it was 15M’s turn. My next stop was Lowellville, Ohio, with the 15M firmly on ex PRR track at that point. There is a former PRR station there, but the shot wasn’t what I had hoped for due to tree growth around the station and a ton of poles and wires. It’s been a few years since I’ve shot there. Now I was off to try and intercept the 15M near Rochester. I drove into New Brighton, Pa., just ahead of the train, shot a tele-smash photo then a wider view. I then headed down the road and caught up with the 8102 slowing for a stop just west Rochester.

Although there are not a lot of “this was the PRR” landmarks around in that area, the pseudo four- track “broad way” says Pennsy to me even if two of the tracks are the Youngstown Line. The stop at CP Rochester allowed me to get a photo of the PRR heritage unit passing under the classic position light signal bridge there.

Now it was off to east Conway in hopes that the 15M’s power would cut across for East Park there. It did, but a 17G was bringing its train into Conway in two pieces so the 15M’s power was basically blocked. I did a few verticals just to do them. After the 12V’s power was out of the way, the 15M power set made its way into the engine service tracks. Can you spot the other H unit in the last photo?

I called it a day after that, but it proved to be a good “PRR morning.”

Article and Photographs by Roger Durfee

Getting a clear at Center Street.

The shot at Lowellville was not quite what I hoped that it would be.

At New Brighton, Pa.

A wider perspective at New Brighton.

On the Pennsy “Broad Way” at Rochester, Pa.

Another PRR hallmark at Rochester — position light signals.

Another view at Rochester.

At East Conway after cutting away from the train.

Another view at East Conway.

The sign says Norfolk Southern . . . but what’s that Tuscan unit off in the distance?

Tags: Norfolk Southern, NS Heritage locomotives, NS heritage units, NS motive power, NS Pennsy heritage locomotive