Early Penn Central Era Akron Memory

It is early in the Penn Central era, most likely 1968 or at the latest 1969. The locomotives shown already have their PC roster numbers.

Along has come a freight with former Pennsylvania Railroad Alco C425 No. 2441 leading a five-unit lashup that also included another C425, an EMD GP9, an EMD F7B, and two EMD F7As.

The train is heading north through Akron to Hudson and the mainline between Cleveland and Pittsburgh.

To the south in this image is the bridge carrying Buchtel Avenue over the tracks. Further back is the Akron Union Depot walk bridge.

Any one of these five units would be a good museum piece, but together they are priceless.  

Things have been extensively rerouted around the campus since then, so I can’t remember what they are calling it now. Buchtel Avenue’s original path through the University of Akron campus now is a walking path most of the way,and Buchtel Avenue proper now is routed to the north and ends at the side entrance to E.J. Thomas Hall.

Article and Photograph by Robert Farkas

Over and Under in Conneaut

John Woodworth and I saw this eastbound Penn Central freight crossing Conneaut Creek in Conneaut on Sept.22, 1968. Below the bridge is a Bessemer & Lake Erie coal train.

Photograph by Robert Farkas

Penn Central Geep in Alliance

It is July 1972 in Alliance where Penn Central GP35 No. 2381 is eastbound on the ex-Pennsylvania Fort Wayne Line. The train is about to pass the passenger station just behind me. The old bridge with its signals adds to the scene. The train is crossing over the original Cleveland & Pittsburgh route to Bayard and beyond.

Photograph by Robert Farkas

Ex-Pennsy GP35 on the Ex-Pennsy in Alliance

Penn Central GP35 No. 2353 is in Alliance in September 1972. The unit was built for the Pennsylvania Railroad so it is on home rails.

Photograph by Robert Farkas

Penn Central Collage in Macedonia

It’s a collage of Penn Central locomotives and rolling stock in Motor Yard in Macedonia in suburban Cleveland in early 1973. In the center of the image is PC GP40 No. 3154, which had been built for the railroad in September 1968. Also on hand are a caboose and some boxcars.

Photograph by Robert Farkas

Winter on Penn Central in Akron

Penn Central U23B No. 2729 is eastbound in Akron in a winter scene captured on Feb. 24, 1973. The train is crossing Voris Street as Interstates 76 and 77 loom in the background.

Photograph by Robert Farkas

Penn Central SD40 at Work

Penn Central SD40 No. 6272 leads a manifest freight at an unidentified location in the early 1970s.  It was built for PC in January 1971 and would later serve on the Conrail motive power roster before having a second career as a leased power unit, eventually being rebuilt into an SD40-2 for First Union Rail.

Photograph by Robert Farkas

Way Back When in Alliance

The wayback machine has taken us to Alliance in December 1974. Conrail is still two years away and Norfolk Southern is still the name of a regional railroad in Virginia and North Carolina. This is a Penn Central town and we see U25B No. 2743 on an assignment.

Photograph by Robert Farkas

One Day at Collinwood Diesel Shop

This image was made at Penn Central’s Collinwood diesel shop in Cleveland in 1968 or 1969. From right to left there is what looks to be the back of a Pennsylvania Railroad GE U25B, a New York Central Alco RS32, an NYC Alco RS1 and an NYC Alco FB.

Photograph by Robert Farkas

Penn Central Trio at Collinwood

A trio of Penn Central locomotives, Nos. 2552, 2649, and 6337, lead a train through Collinwood Yard in Cleveland during the period of 1969 to 1972.

Photograph by Robert Farkas