Author, Railroad Executive Jeremy Taylor Dies

Railroad author and retired railroad executive Jeremy Taylor died on June 23 at his home in Indiana. He was 95.

Taylor was the author of A Sampling of Penn Central: Southern Region on Display.

The book provided photographs and detailed captions of various points on the mainlines and branch lines of the Columbus, Cincinnati, and Southwest divisions of Penn Central as well as the Peoria & Eastern Railway.

His railroad career began in 1952 with the New York Central. In the introduction to his book on Penn Central, Taylor wrote that upon being assigned to the Southern District headquarter in Indianapolis in 1953 he was told to take two weeks to familiarize himself with the railroad.

That included riding the head end of trains and visiting yards and engine facilities at major terminals.

He would later take the same approach to documenting in photographs the operations of the Southern Region of Penn Central.

Taylor published five books, including works focusing on Conrail, the Powder River Basin of Wyoming, and the Clinchfield Railroad.

During his time in Indianapolis, he was in charge of transportation operations for the NYC. After being transferred to New York City for a time, he turned to Indianapolis in May 1967 where he served as general manager of the Southern Region.

Taylor later left PC in 1969 for a job as vice president-operations of the Long Island Railroad where he worked until 1977.

Another Tale From the Penn Central Scrap Line

John Woodworth, Mike Ondecker, and I visited Penn Central’s scrap line in East Altoona, Pennsylvania, on Feb. 14, 1970, where we found Penn Central 6976 (BLH AS616) still in Pennsylvania Railroad paint but with a PC roster number.

Photograph by Robert Farkas

Still Says Pennsy

It may be the early Penn Central era, but this locomotive still in Pennsylvania Railroad markings is working in what is believed to be Conway Yard near Pittsburgh. The image was made in 1968 or in 1969.

Photograph by Robert Farkas

Penn Central F Units in Alliance

Penn Central F7A No. 1772 leads an eastbound passing through Alliance on Feb. 18, 1973. This train is headed for Bayard and then east. It is about to cross the Fort Wayne Line.

Photograph by Robert Farkas

Penn Central Lives On Here

You are looking northward on U.S. 31 just west of Bunker Hill, Indiana. This bridge was built during the Penn Central era and featured that railroad’s herald impressed into the concrete. Few railroad bridges today still feature the heralds of the railroads that use them but at one time it was a common practice. Typically the herald was a piece of metal or was painted onto the bridge.

This bridge carried the former Pennsylvania Railroad route that extended from Columbus, Ohio, to Logansport, Indiana. Most of that line was abandoned by Conrail so not only does this bridge pay tribute to a fallen flag railroad it also no longer has railroad tracks.

Article and Photographs by Craig Sanders

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

Showing its Heritage

Penn Central Alco RS11C No. 7603 has its PC roster number but its heritage is bleeding through. The image was made in Cleveland around 1968. The unit was built in July 1957.

Photograph by Robert Farkas

Looking Out the Window of Fairhope Tower

I took this photo of Penn Central SW7 No. 9098 from Fairhope Tower in Canton in mid/early-late 1972. The tower was located just just east of the Pennsylvania Railroad yard in Canton. Fairhope was where the Bayard Cutoff diverged from the Fort Wayne Line.

Photograph by Robert Farkas

Under the Signal Bridge in Canton

Penn Central GP40 No. 3186 is westbound about to cross under the ex-Pennsylvania Railroad signal bridge just west of Broadway Avenue in Canton in September 1972. 

Photograph by Robert Farkas

Mail 9 at Fairhope Tower in Canton

Penn Central Nos. 4211, 4024, 4035, 4025, 4060, and 2925 with Mail 9 are westbound past Fairhope Tower on the east end of the former Pennsylvania Railroad yard in Canton on Sept. 9, 1972. Mike Ondecker must have been with me to write down all the numbers.

Photograph by Robert Farkas