Conrail 8865 and 9095 are back-to-back in Alliance on Aug. 19, 1986. No. 8865 is an SW7 while the 9095 is an SW9. They are sitting in the yard adjacent to the Fort Wayne Line where it crosses and connects with the Cleveland Line.
Photograph by Robert Farkas
It was 44 years ago last April 1 that the Consolidated Rail Corporation began operating the remains of several bankrupt Northeast railroads including Penn Central and the Erie Lackawanna.
The coming of Conrail would ultimately lead to the abandonment of scores of branch lines and a few mains lines as well, including the former EL in Akron proper and in large swaths of western Ohio and northern Indiana.
For many railfan photographs, Big Blue was a major part of their life with some photographers having come of age as Conrail came into being.
Here is a look back at Conrail as many remember it once things had become settled.
In the top image GP40-2 No. 3364 leads a westbound Roadrailer in Massillon on May 22, 1997.
It is coming off the fabled curved bride over the Tuscarawas River.
In the middle photograph, SD35 No. 6019 is on the point of a westbound manifest freight leaving Alliance on the Fort Wayne Line in early 1988.
In the bottom photograph, SW7 8865 and SW9 9095 are working in Alliance on Aug. 19, 1986.
No. 8865 was built for the Erie Railroad in November 1950 while No. 9095 was built for the Pennsylvania in March 1951.
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