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
Presale orders have begun for a book written by Akron resident Roger Durfee about the early Conrail era. Conrail Rainbow Era: Northeast Ohio is the fifth in a series published by The Garbelly Publishing Comapny.
It is being sold for $45 and will be released on April 1.
In a Facebook post Durfee indicated the book focuses on Conrail operations in Cleveland, Akron, Youngstown and nearby areas. It contains 160 color images.
The publisher’s website described the content of the book as showing “Conrail’s Alco locomotives, F-units, and first-generation power in the railroad’s earliest years. A smattering of freshly painted Conrail blue locomotives and leased power from other railroads mingled with the patched power from Conrail’s predecessors, adding to the color palette.”
Durfee is a retired conductor for Norfolk Southern who once worked for Conrail.
The book can be ordered at https://store.garbelypublishing.com/conrailvol5/
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
It is July 2, 1976, in Akron and thus only a few months into the Conrail era. Former Erie Lackawanna NW2 No. 410 is doing what it does best. Conrail would later renumber the switcher No. 9217. It was built for the Erie Railroad in January 1948. Note that No. 410 is switching an EL gondola.
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
Maybe we should call this former Erie Lackawanna Monday. Conrail SDP45 No. 6686 is working in Akron on Aug. 3, 1976. It may be a Conrail unit, but it still wears its EL colors. Note that the unit now has Conrail initials on its nose and flanks.
Photograph by Robert Farkas
We’ve dialed the wayback machine to the early Conrail era for the Fort Wayne Line. Here we see Conrail helpers 7034 and 2420 awaiting their next assignment. They are in the Conrail yard in Canton on June 29, 1978.
Photograph by Robert Farkas
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