When the Pennsy Worked in Akron

Pennsylvania Railroad switcher No. 7819 is shown in Akron in late 1966. That makes the original slide close to 56 years old. My how things have changed with the Akron railroad scene during that time.

Photograph by Robert Farkas

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

Pennsy Two for Tuesday in Dennison

The late Mike Ondecker and I were in Dennison in the summer of 1967 where a westbound Pennsylvania Railroad coal train was about to enter or pass through the yard. It would be the last summer of Pennsy operation of this facility on the Pittsburgh-St. Louis line. We see the train in coming and going photographs. The signal shown in the top image is at the east end of the yard.

Photograph by Robert Farkas

In the Altoona Dead Line

I’m not sure if the late Mike Ondecker was with us this time, but John Woodard and I found former Pennsylvania Railroad 6703, a Fairbanks-MorseTrain Master, in the scrap line in East Altoona, Pennsylvania, in what was most likely was 1969. If we had not been forbidden to climb on the locomotive, we would probably have closed the doors.

Photograph by Robert Farkas

Two for Tuesday: Then and Now at Warwick

Here are two photos from nearly the same location in Clinton (Warwick). This is the now-removed east leg of the wye that was in Warwick. As I recall the east leg was ripped out in the early 1990s.

In the top image, it’s 1968 or 1969, and a trio of Pennsylvania Railroad locomotives are heading toward Massillon.

In the bottom image, it’s May 20, 2021, and very little is left to suggest a railroad once ran through here.

Photograph by Robert Farkas

52-Year Old Memory from Harrisburg

It was 52 years ago that the photographer and a group of friends found Pennsylvania Railroad E7A No. 4223 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, on May 30, 1969. The unit already has its new Penn Central roster number.

Photograph by Robert Farkas

The Way It Used to be in Dennison

Dennison, Ohio, was a key point on the Pennsylvania Railroad’s Pittsburgh-Columbus line. In this series of images. most of which were made in summer 1967, we visit the Dennison yard during the final hours of Pennsy operation.

The top image shows the roundhouse in an image made with a Mamiya C# twin lens reflex camera. That is the late Mike Ondecker standing in front.

Next up are some facilities that were still in place that once serve steam locomotives. What you see might be double sanding towers as I have never seen concrete water towers.

The next image is looking west toward Columbus. Dennison saw all of the PRR’s elite New York-St. Louis passenger trains, including the Spirit of St. Louis.

Continuing on we get another view of the roundhouse, which looks to be in rather rough condition.

Let’s step back a year. “I made the next image from the side window of my parents’ 1965 Ford as we passed the yard in 1966. I was using my Minoltina 35mm rangefinder.”

Moving back to 1967, we know you want to see some Pennsy trains so here are a couple. In the first image we see an eastbound passing the yard.

You have to wonder if any of those locomotives and boxcars visible on this train are still around. They sure don’t look like anything you’d see today.

Finally, we view PRR U25B No. 2608 switching the yard.

Photographs by Robert Farkas

Pure Pennsy

Everything about this scene says The Pennsylvania Railroad from the Keystone herald on the locomotive nose to the position light signal giving the train a clear indication.

It is 1967 in Dennison on the former Pan Handle line between Pittsburgh and Columbus and we’re watching an eastbound saunter through town.

In less than a year this will all become part of Penn Central and today the rails are operated by the Ohio Central.

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