It Survived Into the CSX Era

Baltimore & Ohio GP9 No. 6548 waits for its next call to duty in Willard on Sept. 2, 1978. Built in July 1967, the unit would survive into the CSX era.

Photograph by Robert Farkas

Penn Central Helpers in Alliance

Penn Central FP7A No. 4333 and GP9 No. 7337 are helpers on a westbound freight leaving Alliance on July 9, 1972. Helpers were often needed to help trains up the hill from Conway Yard near Pittsburgh to CP Wood and on up to a cut about two miles west of Wood. Many trains could have made this jaunt without help, but helper locomotives kept them moving faster on the busy Fort Wayne Line. The 7337 was built in December 1956 for the New York Central

Photograph by Robert Farkas

Ohio Central Two for Tuesday

How about an Ohio Central two for Tuesday. Yup, we thought you might like that. In the top image OHCR GP8 5407 and GP40 No. 3217 are southbound at Beach City in October 1997. No. 5407 was built for the Pennsylvania Railroad in August 1953 as a GP7. It was later rebuilt into a GP8 The 3217 was built in November 1968 for Penn Central and later spent time on the Conrail motive power roster.

In the bottom image GP9 No. 91 and GP38-3 No. 2175 lead a northbound train over Chippewa Creek in Clinton on May 15, 1998, on the R.J. Corman Cleveland Subdivision.

The photographer writes that this image is now much more dangerous to attempt because the bridge on which he was standing no longer has side-of-road white lines. When this image was made there were lines to help keep the drivers in their lanes while at the same time leaving a small walking area.

The 91 was built in April 1957 for the Great Northern while No. 2175 was built for the Louisville & Nashville in June 1971 as a GP38AC.

Not that the 2175 has an early Ohio Central motive power livery.

Photographs by Robert Farkas

Shiny Rebuilt GP9 on its Way to New Assignment

I was sitting at a grade crossing in Tolono, Illinois, on the Lafayette District of Norfolk Southern watching an eastbound manifest freight when I spotted this rebuilt Cargill GP9 in the consist (top photograh).

I gave chase but because of the circuitous route I had to take was unable to get ahead of the train in time to be a better closeup shot of No. 614. The best I could do was a going away image just west of Philo, Illinois (bottom image).

Information I found online indicated the unit was interchanged to CSX in Lafayette, Indiana, and was once owned by the Grant Trunk Western.

No. 614 will probably never look any better than it did the day that I caught it.

It Still Makes Me Smile

Sometimes a photo brings a smile. Here is R.J. Corman GP9 No. 9003 heading south on Conrail at CP Mace in Massillon in mid-1997. The 9003 and its train are stretched out in such a way that most if not all of the train is visible which adds to the photo’s interest. The train will be on Conrail for a short time before switching back to its own rails. The 9003 is a former Baltimore & Ohio locomotive.

Photograph by Robert Farkas

First Generation Diesel Power

A motive power consist of all first generation diesel motive power passes a boarding platform of Akron Union Depot and the Erie passenger station in mid 1968. The lead is Baltimore & Ohio GP9 No. 6467 would work for a number of other railroads in later years and be converted to a GP10.

Photograph by Robert Farkas

B&O Geep in Kent

Baltimore & Ohio GP9 No. 6454 is westbound in Kent in the late 1960s. The Geep was built in August 1956 and would later join the roster of the Maryland Midland. The photograph was just able to get beneath the pole line.

Photography by Robert Farkas

When Conrail Still Served Akron

How is this for an early Conrail era scene? GP9 No. 7074 still wearing Penn Central paint leads another GP9 that has received Conrail blue near Voris Street in early 1979. Note the former Pennsylvania Railroad cabin car in the consist.

Photograph by Robert Farkas

End of the Line

It is the end of the line for New York Central GP9 No. 7410. It is shown sitting in a scrap line at Collinwood yard in Cleveland in the late 1960s.

Photograph by Robert Farkas

How About a Grand Trunk Geep?

The late Mike Ondecker and I found Grand Trunk Western GP9 4544 in Port Huron, Michigan, on April 20, 1976, at the locomotive service facility. It is teamed up with SD40 No. 5917.

Built in March 1957, the 4533 would be retired by GTW in 1991 but go on to serve such short line operations as the Kansas Southeastern Railway, Northern Plains Railway and the Renville Elevator Company.

Photograph by Robert Farkas