There is a light snow on the morning of Nov. 10, 1968, as westbound Erie Lackawanna EMD E8A 825 and a rather short The Lake Cities heads through Akron near where Wilbeth Road once crossed the tracks. The 825 was built for the Erie Railroad in February 1951 so it knows this route very well.
Photograph by Robert Farkas
It is the summer of 1968 in Akron. The westbound Baltimore & Ohio Diplomat with E8A No. 1452 leading is at Akron Union Depot. Across the tracks the westbound Erie Lackawanna Lake Cities is sitting at the EL station, which is partly visible in the background.
Photograph by Mike Ondecker
It’s 1967 or 1968 in Kent and the Erie Lackawanna’s westbound morning Lake Cities is at the station. It was scheduled through Northeast Ohio in the morning hours after its overnight journey from Hoboken, New Jersey. Therefore, there are far more images of the westbound No. 5 than eastbound No. 6, which reached Akron and Kent in the evening.
Photograph by Robert Farkas
It is Dec. 17, 1967, and Baltimore & Ohio No. 3836, Reading Lines No. 3615, and B&O No. 6578 are heading east through Akron. For some reason, the E units have cut off from the westbound Erie Lackawanna’s Lake Cities, which is seen on the other side of the platform.
Photograph by Robert Farkas
Erie Lackawanna E8A No. 825 is leading the Lake Cities west in Akron in 1967-1969. By 1969, the Lake Cities was the last EL passenger train still operating in Akron. Note the numerous head end cars that the train is carrying. No. 825 was built for the Erie Railroad in February 1951, so it has made the journey over these tracks many times.
Photograph by Robert Farkas
I’ve long thought my favorite E8As are Southern Railway E8As. The Erie Lackawanna had my second favorite E8As. EL 830 is getting fueled as it stops at the EL passenger station in Kent in the late 1960s. Soon, it and the Lake Cities will be westbound for Chicago. The man seen on the left is Mike Ondecker and the worker is unidentified.
Article and Photograph by Robert Farkas
The wayback machine is set for Aug. 18, 1968, in Akron at Union Depot.
In the top image, Baltimore & Ohio E9A No. 1455 has cut off from the westbound Diplomat in order to, most likely, add or remove a mail car.
Across the tracks the Erie Lackawanna’s westbound Lake Cities is sitting at its station.
In the middle image the Lake Cities can be seen pulling away from its station platform. It was not unusual for both passenger trains to be in Akron at the same time.
In the bottom image notice the family standing and watching trains on the EL platform.
Can you imagine joining this family and watching trains? I said “watching” because that is the dark side for morning photography.
Yet if you look carefully, the man appears to have a camera around his neck.
If you decide to use your own wayback machine and join me for taking pictures on this day, tell me seeing my photos 53 ahead in the future inspired you to join me to photograph Akron. I’ll believe you.
Article and Photographs by Robert Farkas
Erie Lackawanna E8A No. 815 is on the point of the Lake Cities in Kent on a winter morning in the late 1960s. By now this was the last intercity passenger train left on the EL although the railroad had commuter trains in Cleveland and the New York City region.
Photograph by Robert Farkas
It is 1966 or 1967 and the westbound Lake Cities of the Erie Lackawanna is in Akron. On the point today is E8A No. 832.
Photograph by Robert Farkas
The wayback machine has landed us trackside along the Erie Lackawanna mainline in Kent in the late 1960s.
You’ve got black and white negative film loaded in your camera and show time is at hand as the westbound Lake Cities is about to make its station stop.
Led by E8A No. 822, it will pass by us before stopping. The roof of the passenger station is above the first cars.
akronrrclub.wordpress.com 