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

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

Train Time at Akron Union Depot

It was the late 1960s when Mike Ondecker and I found westbound Baltimore & Ohio E8A No. 1447 with The Diplomat at the Akron Union Depot. The train on the left is an eastbound Erie Lackawanna freight. No. 1447 was built by EMD in October 1953 as B&O 26A. It would later work for Amtrak wearing roster numbers 203 and 353.

Photograph by Robert Farkas

B&O Two for Tuesday

It is time for a Baltimore & Ohio two for Tuesday so let’s set the wayback machine and off we go. In the top image, made by Robert Farkas, GP30 No. 6972 is sitting on the point of a train in Clinton on Sept. 21, 1984. The unit was built in December 1962 and later was on the CSX motive power roster.

The bottom image was made by Mike Ondecker and shows F7A No. 4502 in New Castle, Pennsylvania, on Aug. 8, 1968.

One Winter Day in Nova

We are in Nova on the former Baltimore & Ohio mainline that runs between Chicago and Pittsburgh via Akron.

Nova may be best known to some railfans for once having been the home of a tower that lasted for many years into the CSX era before being dismantled.

In the image above B&O SD40 No. 7591 leads an eastbound through town on Nov. 27, 1982. The unit was built in May 1967 and would later become CSX4620.

Photograph by Robert Farkas

B&O Intermodal Train in Akron

Let’s go back to the Chessie System era. Baltimore & Ohio GP40-2 No. 4342 is westbound in Akron on Sept. 9, 1979, with an intermodal train. Note the trailing unit is still in B&O blue paint.

Photograph by Robert Farkas

B&O Alco Switcher in New Castle

 Baltimore & Ohio Alco S2 No. 9145 is in New Castle, Pennsylvania in February 1973.

Photograph by Robert Farkas

One Morning in 1968 at Akron Union Depot

It is the summer of 1968 in Akron. The westbound Baltimore & Ohio Diplomat with E8A No. 1452 leading is at Akron Union Depot. Across the tracks the westbound Erie Lackawanna Lake Cities is sitting at the EL station, which is partly visible in the background.

Photograph by Mike Ondecker

One Morning at Akron Union Depot

It is the late 1960s in Akron. After the arrival of Baltimore & Ohio’s Diplomat, B&O Alco S2 switcher No. 9074  is removing a mail car taken from it. The train has stopped east out of sight beyond the bridge, and the E units have cut off and pulled west of the train.

The 9074 has coupled onto the mail car and getting in the clear. Then the B&O E-units will back up, recouple, and the train will head west to Chicago.

B&O 9074 will cross a couple of tracks and put the mail car on a siding next to Akron Union Depot where the mail car will be unloaded.  

Under the East Exchange Street bridge on the left is Erie Lackawanna No. 501, another Alco S2 switcher.

Photograph by Robert Farkas

One Day in Downtown Akron

It is a summer morning in the late 1960s in Akron. Baltimore & Ohio’s Diplomat has stopped at the Akron Union Depot, which is out of sight to the right.

The train stretches under the station’s concourse, which also connected to the Greyhound Bus depot.

The Erie Lackawanna passenger station is to the left of the B&O E9A locomotive.

The EL’s westbound Lake Cities is barely visible at the station. Soon the Diplomat will be headed west to Chicago.

Photograph by Robert Farkas