Early Penn Central Era Akron Memory

It is early in the Penn Central era, most likely 1968 or at the latest 1969. The locomotives shown already have their PC roster numbers.

Along has come a freight with former Pennsylvania Railroad Alco C425 No. 2441 leading a five-unit lashup that also included another C425, an EMD GP9, an EMD F7B, and two EMD F7As.

The train is heading north through Akron to Hudson and the mainline between Cleveland and Pittsburgh.

To the south in this image is the bridge carrying Buchtel Avenue over the tracks. Further back is the Akron Union Depot walk bridge.

Any one of these five units would be a good museum piece, but together they are priceless.  

Things have been extensively rerouted around the campus since then, so I can’t remember what they are calling it now. Buchtel Avenue’s original path through the University of Akron campus now is a walking path most of the way,and Buchtel Avenue proper now is routed to the north and ends at the side entrance to E.J. Thomas Hall.

Article and Photograph by Robert Farkas

Tags: Alco C425, Alco diesel locomotives, Alco locomotives, Alco motive power, EMD F units, Penn Central, Photographs of Akron railroads, PRR locomotives, PRR motive power, Railroads of Akron Ohio, Robert Farkas photography