Logo
 
 
10/31/2024
 
 
 
 
 
By:Tom Beckett
Dates:4/1/1976 - 1/1/1981
Album Info:Conrail inherited the ex PRR electric freight operations when it took over Penn Central. It ran them til 1981 when it pulled the plug, largely because it ran them on Amtrak, which was charging a horrendously high wheelage rate for trackage rights on the Northeast Corridor. Traffic was diverted as much as possible over its own lines, which meant the diesel operated ex LV and Reading to Philadelphia, and finally on the ex B&O to Potomac Yard in Virginia, rendering the electric operations pointless. I was able to see some of the power used during this period, which included GG 1's, E 44's, and ex NH/NW/VGN E 33's. Unfortunately, most of this is roster shots, or photos taken from trains, as my resources and time were somewhat limited, but 30 plus years later, they all look good!!
  Page Controls   View:  Pics Per Page:
Ex Virginian power
Title:  Ex Virginian power
Description:  As the few electrified roads either shut down, or eliminated their electric operations, the power got sold and moved around. This unit, CR 4610, an E 33 in their parlance, was inherited from Penn Central, who in turn inherited it from New Haven. They bought it from the N&W, who acquired it when they merged the Virginian in 1959, and subsequently shut down the electrification. So, as we see it here on the ex Pennsy Passaic & Harsimus Branch, its now on its fifth owner. Conrail itself would be out of the electrified freight game in another three years. Were looking from the PATH platform at Journal Square, a great place to see the action.
Photo Date:  7/11/1978  Upload Date: 1/24/2021 4:46:48 AM
Location:  Jersey City, NJ
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Action
Locomotives:  CR 4610(E33)
Views:  209   Comments: 2
Headed for Harsimus
Title:  Headed for Harsimus
Description:  An eastbound train headed for Harsimus Cove starts out of Kearny, seen from a passing commuter train on the ex DLW.
Photo Date:  2/22/1979  Upload Date: 12/20/2016 5:13:09 AM
Location:  Kearny, NJ
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Yard,Action
Locomotives:  PC 4601(E33) PC 4606(E33)
Views:  394   Comments: 0
Grab shot from the EL train
Title:  Grab shot from the EL train
Description:  The great thing about the EL trains on the Morristown Line was that on the way to Newark they passed Meadows Yard in Kearny, offering views of trains you might not otherwise see. Here, a pair of ex PC/NH/NW/Virginian motors is at the yard with an inbound train.
Photo Date:  2/22/1979  Upload Date: 12/29/2013 11:17:37 PM
Location:  Kearny, NJ
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Yard,Action
Locomotives:  PC 4601(E33) PC 4606(E33)
Views:  492   Comments: 1
Motor pit
Title:  Motor pit
Description:  One place I was usually able to catch CR electric power was at the Kearny motor pit. Unfortunately, it was always a grab shot from a passing train on the ex DLW, which passed along the north side of the facility. Not conducive to good set up, but I made the best of it.
Photo Date:  4/17/1979  Upload Date: 8/26/2012 4:30:31 AM
Location:  Kearny, NJ
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Roster,Yard
Locomotives:  CR 4608(E33) CR 4405(E44)
Views:  734   Comments: 1
Working on the innards
Title:  Working on the innards
Description:  An electrician works inside the hood of E 44 4464 at Kearny, seen from a passing DLW train.
Photo Date:  5/24/1979  Upload Date: 12/19/2016 5:44:08 AM
Location:  Kearny, NJ
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Roster,Yard
Locomotives:  CR 4464(E44)
Views:  147   Comments: 0
Electrics at work
Title:  Electrics at work
Description:  A pair of E44s work their train at the Merck Pharmaceuticals plant in Rahway.
Photo Date:  6/8/1979  Upload Date: 9/9/2012 3:14:51 AM
Location:  Rahway, NJ
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Yard,Action
Locomotives:  CR 4403(E44) CR 4426(E44)
Views:  709   Comments: 3
E 44s on the Corridor
Title:  E 44s on the Corridor
Description:  Conrail electric operations still worked along the Northeast Corridor in Rahway, seen here from a passing NJ Transit train. Such is my luck-there's a MOW crew blocking the lead unit.
Photo Date:  6/8/1979  Upload Date: 8/26/2012 4:17:42 AM
Location:  Rahway, NJ
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Yard,Action
Locomotives:  CR 4426(E44) CR 4403(E44)
Views:  391   Comments: 0
Class unit
Title:  Class unit
Description:  By number or by style, the electrics had class, though its hard to say much for style on a unit that was known as a "brick." Still, they did have an aura of raw power when rolling down the ex Pennsy main at speed that was unmatched. This one is at Linden, seen from the southbound Crescent.
Photo Date:  7/30/1979  Upload Date: 12/19/2016 5:25:34 AM
Location:  Linden, NJ
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Action
Locomotives:  CR 4400(E44)
Views:  238   Comments: 0
Getting underway
Title:  Getting underway
Description:  A pair of E 44s rolls past Crystal City in Arlington Va, having just departed Potomac Yard for Jersey. Pot yard was still a happening place at the time, and a lot of freight was interchanged there between B&O, C&O, Southern, RF&P and Conrail. Mergers over the next decade would render the yard redundant in a big way, and what was once a yard several miles long is now strip malls, hotels, and chain food joints. Ah, progress....
Photo Date:  7/30/1979  Upload Date: 12/19/2016 5:30:33 AM
Location:  Arlington, VA
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Action
Locomotives:  CR 4419(E44) CR 4451(E44)
Views:  373   Comments: 1
Brick
Title:  Brick
Description:  The nickname should be self explanatory. Shot from a passing train on the DLW.
Photo Date:  7/30/1979  Upload Date: 12/19/2016 5:34:44 AM
Location:  Kearny, NJ
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Roster,Yard
Locomotives:  CR 4420(E44)
Views:  258   Comments: 0
Motor pit
Title:  Motor pit
Description:  An E 44 seen from a train on the Morristown Line. That was always a good liine to ride for seeing what was in Kearny's yard.
Photo Date:  11/15/1979  Upload Date: 1/1/2014 4:06:56 AM
Location:  Kearny, NJ
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Roster,Yard
Locomotives:  CR 4422(E44) CR 3688(GP35)
Views:  459   Comments: 2
Cab close up
Title:  Cab close up
Description:  Close up look at the cab of an E 44
Photo Date:  11/21/1979  Upload Date: 8/26/2012 4:27:44 AM
Location:  Newark, NJ
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Roster
Locomotives:  CR 4432(E44)
Views:  517   Comments: 1
Well protected
Title:  Well protected
Description:  The tunnels at Baltimore could be a bottleneck especially if a train had a problem while in them. To forestall any delays to Amtrak, as well as keep its own traffic moving, CR stationed a unit outside the tunnel for just such an occasion. Hopefully, he didnt get too much work. We see the E 44 assigned for todays task at Penn Station.
Photo Date:  12/14/1979  Upload Date: 12/20/2016 5:07:29 AM
Location:  Baltimore Penn Station, MD
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Roster,Station
Locomotives:  CR 4455(E44)
Views:  259   Comments: 1
Ex Virginian unit
Title:  Ex Virginian unit
Description:  CR 4601, still lingering in its Penn Central garb, works in New Jersey as seen from a passing NJ Transit train. Kinda tight, but sometimes you have to work with what your given.
Photo Date:  1/1/1981  Upload Date: 8/26/2012 3:59:23 AM
Location:  Newark, NJ
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Roster,Yard
Locomotives:  CR 4601(E33)
Views:  878   Comments: 0


Site Design ©2001-2020 Tim Huemmer
Photos © respective authors
  Contact: info@rrpicturearchives.net