EL Monday: One Day at Wilbeth Road

It is the late 1960s/early 1970s in Akron where Erie Lackawanna C424 No. 2409 is westbound long hood forward with a train underneath the pedestrian bridge where Wilbeth Road once crossed the tracks. The signal in the foreground belongs to the Baltimore & Ohio. You may notice the signal has a letter “P” on a plate on the signal mast. That means “proceed,” which tells the crew of a train that if it gets a red signal indication here it can proceed at restricted speed to the next signal. It does not have to stop here.

Photograph by Robert Farkas

EL Monday: Working in Akron in 1972

Here are a pair of Erie Lackawanna Alco locomotives working in Akron. Note that the engineer is looking toward the back of the train, which most likely is either working EL’s McCoy Street Yard or picking up/dropping off cars there. The image was made on July 23, 1972. Behind the train is the former Erie Railroad passenger station. Also visible is a sign promoting the Akron Beacon Journal with large letters “BJ.”

Photograph by Robert Farkas

Special Photo, Special Moment

May this new year be as special to you as this photo is to me.

The evening of Aug. 22, 1975, Mike Ondecker and I were given permission to visit Hallet Dock Company in Duluth, Minnesota, to photograph the Lake Superior Railroad Museum’s Alco HH-1000 that was being used by Hallet.

The morning of the 23rd came and it was a grubby, cloudy day. We arrived, and I took slides that at best were acceptable if turned into black and white.

Then it started to rain. It kept on raining till around 5 p.m. Mike noticed that there was sunshine coming through the motel room’s drapes.

He looked out and wanted to go. I thought it was a fool’s errand. What were the chances everything would be just right for a great photo?

Finally, I gave in. As you can see, I was blessed with this photo of Oliver Iron Mining 900 in perfect light.

Let’s hope 2021 was like that morning and 2022 turns out like that afternoon.

Article and Photograph by Robert Farkas

EL Monday: Quite a Lashup in Akron

There are four motors in this motive power consist on the Erie Lackawanna heading west over Voris Street in Akron. We have here the 2506 (GE U25B), 2462 (Alco C425), 2458 (Alco C425), and 3622 (EMD SD45). The mage was made on Sept. 4, 1972.

Photograph by Robert Farkas

We Found This Government Alco in Kentucky

The late Mike Ondecker and I found TVA Alco RSDA No. 31 in Grahamville, Kentucky, on Aug. 23, 1974. The unit was built in March 1945 for the U.S. Army.

Photograph by Robert Farkas

Night Photo Shoot on the Buffalo Southern

After seeing the article about the 2010 night photography outing with Nickel Plate Road 2-8-4 No. 765 at Fitzwater, it prompted me to look up my early attempts at night photography.

I found several sessions from 1984. When Dan Pluta still lived in the area, I teamed up with him, Marty Surdyk, Robert Surdyk and John Surdyk for one of those night photo shoots.

The May 26, 1984, event was arranged by Dan. At this time the RS3 that was previously on the Adirondack was operating on the Buffalo Southern (ex-Erie) out of Hamburg, New York.

We rode it six miles down to Eden to conduct our makeshift night photos using existing light and flashlights.

For a first time the results were pretty good. It’s hard to say which outing was a favorite. This and others to follow over the next week or two are probably all favorites.

Article and Photographs by Edward Ribinskas

EL Monday: An Alco in Hornell

Erie Lackawanna Alco RS3 No. 1043 is shown in Hornell, New York, in July 1973. It was built in April 1951 as Delaware, Lackawanna & Western No. 905. It would be conveyed to Conrail where it held roster numbers 5259 and 9949.

Photograph by Robert Farkas

On the L&N in Kentucky

We found Louisville & Nashville Alco FA-2 Nos. 316 and L&N 315 in DeCoursey Yard in DeCoursey, Kentucky, in August 1970. Both units were built in June 1956.

Photograph by Robert Farkas

Look What We Found

The late Mike Ondecker and I found this Alco switcher on the Lehigh Valley in Coxton, Pennsylvania, on Aug. 12, 1973.

Photograph by Robert Farkas

At Work in a Steel Mill

Weirton Steel Alco S2 No. 210 is working at Weirton Junction, West Virginia, on Nov. 25, 1972. The switcher was purchased by Weirton in 1951.

Photograph by Robert Farkas