Early in PC Era But Still an NYC Look

It is very early in the Penn Central era in Painesville. How early? The merger of the New York Central and Pennsylvania railroads was less than a month old.

So there was still plenty of motive power around carrying the markings of those carriers, including NYC F units 1675 and 1702, and PRR GP9 7146, which are wheeling a westbound on Feb. 24, 1968.

There was still passenger service here then, hence the boarding platforms in the foreground.

Photograph by Robert Farkas

Early in the PC Era at Collinwood

You can’t tell from this angle but that is a former Pennsylvania Railroad FP7 sitting at the locomotive service rack at Collinwood Yard in Cleveland in either 1968 or 1969. That would make it a Penn Central locomotive although not but too long.

Photograph by Robert Farkas

Waiting to be Scrapped

Pennsylvania Railroad Fairbanks-Morse Train Master No. 6702 has called it a career and is waiting to be scrapped. By the time this image was made in the late 1960s to early 1970s, the Pennsy had become Penn Central. The location is the scrap line in Altoona, Pennsylvania, and the H24-66 F-M is sandwiched between two other units.

Photograph by Robert Farkas

Early in the Penn Central Era

Penn Central was less than a month old when the photographer visited Collinwood Yard in Cleveland to photograph the engine house. It is Feb. 24 or 25 and the motive power still has a New York Central feel to it. But if you look around you’ll see a Pennsy geep has invaded “enemy territory” There will be much more of this mixing of power to come.

Photograph by Robert Farkas

Still in Full Pennsy Paint

Penn Central No. 8123, a Baldwin S-12, was still in full Pennsylvania Railroad paint but had a PC roster number as it worked in Akron in the late 1960s.

Photograph by Robert Farkas

An F Unit From That Railroad

I know of a few railfans who dislike a certain railroad that was once the largest railroad in the United States, had the slogan “Standard Railroad of the World,” and had its headquarters in Philadelphia.

It merged in 1968 with its arch rival, which was known for lighting stripes and a water level route.

It is early in 1968 after that merger was consummated on Feb. 1 and an FP7 passenger unit of one of the merger partners is reposing in a rail yard.

The photograph isn’t sure where he made this image, but it might have been in Cleveland.

Photograph by Robert Farkas