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.
Photograph by Robert Farkas
It is the fall of 1968 and Erie Lackawanna Nos. 3625 and 3626 sit outside the diesel shop in Marion. Both units are EMD SD45s. The scene is the same in both images but one features a wider view and other a closer look.
Photographs by Robert Farkas
I often have referred to leased locomotive power as a “rent a wreck.” That moniker comes from the fact that much leased power often looked battered and bruised.
Leasing companies usually acquired used locomotives from Class 1 carriers, painted out the markings and then applied their own reporting marks on the original livery before sending the units out to work.
A few leasing companies had a recognizable livery but those often were rather bland. Then First Union Rail began sending out leased units in a striking silver and green scheme that looked quite good.
Shown is FURX SD40-2 No. 3048 trailing a CSX SD50 on an eastbound train in Marion on the Mt. Victory Subdivision on May 7, 2000.
The 3048 had been built in July 1978 for the Southern Railway. In this image it appears to have been repainted not too long ago.
I never caught as many of these FURZ green and silver units as I would have liked. I haven’t seen one in years. Like most leased motive power liveries that I remember this look seemed to have come and gone.
Indeed leased motive power seems to be largely a product of the past at Class 1 railroads, which have mothballed dozens of their own locomotives as a result of the move toward precision scheduled railroading and its reliance on fewer and longer trains.
Like so many things involving railroading, it’s a matter of “get ’em while you can.”
Article and Photograph by Craig Sanders
My good friend Mike Ondecker took very few railroad photos, and most of these were with an Instamatic camera. Here is a redo of one of his Instamatic photos. Erie Lackawanna Alco PA-1 No. 859 is in Marion in 1967 or 1968.
Article by Robert Farkas, Photograph by Mike Ondecker
AC Tower in Marion originally stood on the north side of the Conrail tracks. It would later be moved to the south side and reduced in height by the group that also preserved Marion Union Station. Shown is an eastbound Conrail train on the Indianapolis Line on May 23, 1999. At the end of the month these tracks will be taken over by CSX. In the foreground is the Sandusky District of Norfolk Southern.
Photograph by Craig Sanders
This Conrail caboose had been relegated to duty as a shoving platform by the time I made these images in Marion on May 23, 1999. In the top image the local is crossing the Sandusky District of Norfolk Southern while in the bottom image the train is returning to the yard. The Conrail employment of these two crew members will end at the end of the month when they will retire, leave railroading, or go to work for CSX or Norfolk Southern.
Photographs by Craig Sanders
The Marion Railfan Society will have an open projector night during its meeting Aug. 20 at Marion Union Station.
The meeting will get underway at 7 p.m. Attendees are invited to show 20-to-30-minute programs of slides.
All railfans are invited to attend the meeting and present images.
By 1973, the condition of the tracks in Marion used by Erie Lackawanna and Penn Central was rough as can be seen in this image of a westbound EL train. In the consist is a passenger car that probably is being ferried somewhere. No, the EL had not gotten back into the passenger business by running mixed trains. The Lake Cities, the last EL intercity passenger train, had ceased operating in early January 1970.
Photograph by Robert Farkas
Erie Lackawanna Alco S2 No. 518 works in Marion on July 29, 1972. The former Erie switcher was built in November 1948. It would later work for Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company where it was given a U.S. bicentennial livery. It would then later join the motive roster of short line Ashtbula, Carson & Jefferson.
Photograph 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
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