Conrail GP38 in Wooster on the Ft. Wayne Line

Conrail GP38-2 No. No. 8178 leads a train in Wooster on the Fort Wayne Line in March 1987. The Geep was built in June 1977 and would later serve on the CSX motive power roster.

Photograph by Robert Farkas

Penn Central SD40 at Work

Penn Central SD40 No. 6272 leads a manifest freight at an unidentified location in the early 1970s.  It was built for PC in January 1971 and would later serve on the Conrail motive power roster before having a second career as a leased power unit, eventually being rebuilt into an SD40-2 for First Union Rail.

Photograph by Robert Farkas

EL Monday: Way it Used to be in Kent

It is the late 1960s in Kent. This view is looking railroad east toward the Erie Lackawanna passenger station. The two EL main lines are on the left while three team tracks are on the right. Even the westbound waiting shed is still there. With the frequency of trains, soon this scene will take on a life of its own.

Much has changed since this image was made. You can stand in this same location today and still see the West Main Street bridge and the passenger station. The grain elevator in the background suffered major damage in a fire in late 2022.

The area where the team tracks used to be is now a parking lot. The passenger shelter on the west side is long gone and rail traffic here is much diminished.

Photograph by Robert Farkas

On the Way to Grandma’s House

It is 1966 in Dennison. My family is heading south to visit my grandparents in Oco, Ohio. As we drove past the Pennsylvania Railroad yard in Dennison, I took these three photographs through the window.

We see a yard scene with work train cars, another yard scene and PRR cabin car No. 986805 without its trucks in the yard.

Photographs by Robert Farkas

Leading in Willard

Baltimore & Ohio GP35 No. 3511 is shown leading a train in Willard on Sept. 2, 1978. The unit was built in April 1964

Photograph by Robert Farkas

Way Back When in Alliance

The wayback machine has taken us to Alliance in December 1974. Conrail is still two years away and Norfolk Southern is still the name of a regional railroad in Virginia and North Carolina. This is a Penn Central town and we see U25B No. 2743 on an assignment.

Photograph by Robert Farkas

B&O Two for Tuesday

Today’s two for Tuesday focuses on the Baltimore & Ohio in the 1970s. In the top image, B&O GP35 No. 3559 leads an eastbound near Kent. The bottom image was made in Youngstown. Leading a train through the area is B&O GP40-2 No. 4161. The unit has already received Chessie System paint unlike its two running mates in this gritty industrial scene that captures well railroading in the Mahoning Valley when steelmaking was still king.

Photographs by Robert Farkas

EL Monday: Hail to the Lake Cities

There is a light snow on the morning of Nov. 10, 1968, as westbound Erie Lackawanna EMD E8A 825 and a rather short The Lake Cities heads through Akron near where Wilbeth Road once crossed the tracks. The 825 was built for the Erie Railroad in February 1951 so it knows this route very well.

Photograph by Robert Farkas

One Day at Collinwood Diesel Shop

This image was made at Penn Central’s Collinwood diesel shop in Cleveland in 1968 or 1969. From right to left there is what looks to be the back of a Pennsylvania Railroad GE U25B, a New York Central Alco RS32, an NYC Alco RS1 and an NYC Alco FB.

Photograph by Robert Farkas

Northbound in Akron in Early Conrail Days

Former Penn Central SD35 No. 6022 is northbound in Akron on May 26, 1977. Very likely, this train is heading to Hudson and then on to Motor Yard in Macedonia.

Photograph by Robert Farkas