Erie Lackawanna U25B No. 2511 leads a westbound in Kent in1967-1968. Other units in the motive consist include two other U25Bs, an Alco PA, and and F3B. While the PA and F3B were not likely to be running, this still photo makes one of those “There’s a prototype for everything.” Lash-ups. Note the semaphore signal and light tower for the yard.
Photograph by Robert Farkas
It is 1967-1968 in Kent. An eastbound Erie Lackawanna freight train whose lead unit is at West Main Street has just passed the passenger station hidden to the back right of the train.
Photographs by Robert Farkas
The late Mike Ondecker seldom took photographs of railroad operations but he enjoyed traveling to view them.
Except for using a Kodak Instamatic in 1967 and his aunt’s nearly 30-year-old 120 medium format roll film camera in 1968, I doubt Mike took another railroad photo after that.
He, John Woodard, and I had some amazing trips together. Mike was a great friend, first-class driver, and the person who got photographic permission.
Here are some of his Instamatic photos from what I believe to be the Erie Lackawanna yard in Marion in 1967.
There are a variety of scenes including locomotives, rolling stock of various railroads, the coaling tower, the hump and the hump tower. The selection also include some cars damaged in a derailment.
Article by Robert Farkas, Photos by Mike Ondecker
Erie Lackawanna RS3 No. 1044 is in Marion in the late 1960s passing the Marion Union Station. Behind me is EL’s Marion Yard with its diesel shop.
Photograph by Robert Farkas
The late Mike Ondecker and I were in Akron when I took these two images on Agfachrome film on July 23, 1972.
Erie Lackawanna No. 7091 sits at the engine house in Marion in December 1967. The unit was built by EMD in February 1949 for the Erie Railroad where it has roster number 709A. It was later converted to an F7A and given EL roster number 7101.
There is some variety in this intermodal train on the Erie Lackawanna that is running eastbound through Akron on Sept. 4, 1972. The motive power consist includes EL 3640, 3668, 2562 along with Delaware & Hudson No. 602.
The late Mike Ondecker and I were at the Erie Lackawanna Kent yard in 1967 or 1968 where I photographed this eastbound during a crew change. The units include 2554 (EMD GP35), (unidentified) (EMD F7B), 7063 (EMD F3), 2501 (GE U25), 7081 (EMD F3A), and 7254 (Alco FALCO FA-1).
Erie Lackawanna RS3 No. 1019 leads a movement through the interlocking plant in Marion in mid 1973.
No. 1019 was built for the Erie by Alco in April 1951. Given that there is a caboose behind the locomotive this might be a local job.
It is crossing the Norfolk & Western and tracks by AC Tower in front of Marion Union Station. Although passenger service by Penn Central had ended two years earlier, the platforms are still in place.
It’s the late 1960s in Akron and a westbound Erie Lackawanna intermodal train is passing beneath the Wilbeth Road footbridge.
On the point are EL 7104, 7393, and 6561 with the latter still painted in its original Erie Railroad livery.
Note the Baltimore & Ohio color position signal on an adjacent track, which was also used by the Pennsylvania Railroad.
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