It’s a winter day in Akron and although Conrail has been in operation for more than three years its motive power still shows signs of it being a transition era. GP38-2 No. 8019 has minimal Conrail markings but has yet to be repainted blue as has been sister unit 2568. The 8019 was built for PC in 1973 and is shown leading a westbound on Feb. 3, 1980.
Photograph by Robert Farkas
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
We asked the wayback machine to take us to a time and place where we could see a motive power consist of mixed eras. That was how we wound up in Alliance on Dec. 23, 1978, to see a consist of Conrail, Erie Lackawanna and Penn Central liveries.
Conrail was just over two years old and such sights would not last much longer. Note that the ex-EL and ex-PC units have a CR initial stenciled on their flanks.
Photograph by Robert Farkas
Penn Central SD45 No. in Akron on June 29, 1976. It is on the point of a westbound near Voris Street. Trailing behind it is a former Erie Lackawanna unit. This image was made during the early months of Conrail.
Photograph by Robert Farkas
Appearances to the contrary, this is an early Conrail photo made in Akron. Penn Central F7A No. 1782 is westbound on June 5, 1976. Very soon the train will arrive at Conrail’s ex-Pennsylvania Railroad South Akron Yard. The unit was built by EMD in November 1951 for the New York Central.
Photograph by Robert Farkas
Conrail SD45 No. 6115 leads a Bayard-bound train south out of Alliance on Aug. 18, 1979. All three units are EMD SD45 locomotives with the middle one still painted in Erie Lackawanna colors.
Photograph by Robert Farkas
Here are two similar views taken in Barberton by different cameras and lenses, so the scene is somewhat different.
In the top image, Conrail 3651 is westbound on Chessie System trackage on July 20, 1980. The train is going to Warwick and from there either to Massillon or Orrville and west. This was taken with a 50mm lens, thus giving a wider scene.
In the bottom image BNSF 7810 leads the Q016 eastbound on the CSX New Castle Subdivision on June 2, 2018. This image was taken with a telephoto zoom lens.
Here are some of the differences. In the newer photo CSX has one set of tracks, there is a different relocated bridge, the Akron & Barberton Belt water tower is gone, and an Akron Barberton Cluster switcher is visible.
Photographs by Robert Farkas
Erie Lackawanna GP35 No. 2581 is westbound in early Conrail times in Akron. My notes say I made this image in June 1978, but that seems too late for these two locomotives to be operating without a CR stencil somewhere.
Photograph by Robert Farkas
Erie Lackawanna GP25 No. 2554 is on the head end of a westbound Conrail freight in Akron on Nov. 20, 1976. The unit was built for the EL in September 1964 and would later receive Conrail roster number 3660.
Photograph by Robert Farkas
We told the wayback machine to take us to the 1970s in Akron and pushed the random selection button. We wound up going back to June 1976 for some early Conrail action. Former Penn Central F units are leading train AMA heading to Hudson and then to Motor Yard in Macedonia.
Photograph by Robert Farkas
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