Here are two images of Erie Lackawanna No. 7111 from the same slide taken by an unidentified photographer in an unidentified location and processed in October 1972. The F7A began life as Erie Railroad 711A after being built by EMD in January 1950. The bottom image is a cropped version of the top image. The image is from the collection of Robert Farkas.
It is the fall of 1968 in Marion. As usual, I took a photo and then moved on. As I looked at this photo today, I noticed there is an engineer in Erie Lackawanna GP35 No. 2563 looking at me. At the same time, there is a crewman standing in the open door of EL Alco PA-1 No. 853.
Since the two locomotives are coupled, I can guess 2563 moved/will move 853 and perhaps the Alco switcher and any other locomotives behind it. Whatever happened, I just realized this is perhaps my last photo of an EL PA.
No, this is not Erie Lackawanna No. 3. It looks like EL GP7 No. 1238 had problems in the paint shop or just after painting. The location is Hornell, New York, on July 25, 1973. The 1238 was built for the Erie in September 1952.
Discontinuance of passenger service led to the Erie Lackawanna assigning passenger units to freight service. EL E8A No. 817 and its train is shown in Hornell, New York, in July 1973. The unit was built in April 1951 for the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western.
We’re in Marion on Dec. 30, 1972, where we see Erie Lackawanna Alco RS3 No. 1022 passing AC Tower. The 1022 was built in April 1951 for the Erie Railroad. The unit would operate into the Conrail era where it had roster number 5242.
Erie Lackawanna F3A No. 8044 and two other units are eastbound in Kent in the late 1960s. The 8044 was built for the Erie Railroad in July 1947. The train is passing through the yard, which was one of the largest on the former Erie in Ohio.
The wayback machine is set for the Erie Lackawanna era and has landed us in Akron near Voris Street on Sept. 4, 1972. EL GP35 No. 2552 is running westbound beneath Thornton Street and past McCoy Street Yard. Perhaps it will back into the yard or cut its train and then work the yard. The 2552 was built for the EL in September 1964. Adding some interest to the scene is the smoke pouring out of a trailing unit.
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.
Mike Ondecker and I found Erie Lackawanna 617, a Baldwin Locomotive Works S-12) in the Brier Hill engine facility in Girard on Oct. 1, 1972. It was still wearing its Erie Railroad livery. But note the unit behind it is in EL colors and markings.