The CRHS's Latest Conrail Facts

Conrail began operations on April 1, 1976

Ed Kapuscinski — Sat, 23 May 2009 21:06:38 -0400

Conrail was formed by the federal government out of defunct railroads in the Northeastern US. It began operations on April 1st 1976.

Conrail's Last Day of Operations

Ed Kapuscinski — Sat, 23 May 2009 21:28:00 -0400

Conrail's last day of operations as an independent entity was May 31st, 1999. After midnight on June 1st, Conrail's assets and operations were split between Norfolk Southern and CSX.

Conrail Still Exists

Ed Kapuscinski — Sat, 23 May 2009 22:43:30 -0400

Conrail still exists today as a terminal railroad in Philadelphia, Northern New Jersey and Detroit. It is partially owned by Norfolk Southern and CSX. It provides switching services on routes that were not clearly better given to either road in the 1999 split.Â

There is no equipment owned by modern day Conrail, as all locomotives and cars are provided by its owners, CSX and NS.Â

Conrail First Turned a Profit in the Second Quarter of 1979

Ed Kapuscinski — Sat, 23 May 2009 23:23:53 -0400

Conrail reported a net income of $29.4 million for the second quarter of 1979. This was the first time CR had a profitable quarter since its beginning. The gains were attributed by Chairman Edward Jordan to the three years of steady improvements in physical plant, improved locomotive and rolling stock availability, better traffic mix and improved car loadings.Â

Reported in the November 1979 Railfan and Railroad Magazine.Â

Conrail Became Publicly Owned in the Biggest IPO the World Had Seen

Ed Kapuscinski — Sat, 23 May 2009 22:48:19 -0400

After becoming profitable in the 1980s, Conrail went public on 3/27/1987 with the largest IPO ($1.9 billion) the world had seen.

This was possible after President Ronald Reagan signed the ConrailÂ PrivatizationÂ Act on 10/21/1986.

Conrail Caboose Marker Lamps

Ed Kapuscinski — Sun, 24 May 2009 09:44:41 -0400

The caboose marker lamps were applied to all cabooses whether road or transfer. They were amber and were flashing. All along the system, the operators in towers that were open were to check to see that the markers were flashing and notify the train dispatcher when they "OS"ed the train. The lights were to be flashing all of the time.

If the lights were not flashing the crew was to be advised also and they were required to place a red flag on the coupler during the day. If a train was departing a yard just before sundown the cabooses were also given a flashing red light to place on the coupler on the rear of the caboose should the amber light fail.

They were amber because they were more visible in fog than the red ones were.

Source: Pat Livingston, Long Time Conrail Employee

Conrail Leased 3 GP40X Diesels from Santa Fe in the Summer of 1979

Ed Kapuscinski — Sat, 23 May 2009 23:20:30 -0400

Conrail leased these (3804, 3805 and 3806) units for evaluation purposes from the AT&SF from July-September of 1979.

ATSF 3804 at Chester, MA, 6/79 - Carl Weber Photo

Reported (with photo) in the November 1979 Â Railfan and Railroad.

In 1978, Conrail had 5,519 miles of slow orders system wide

Ed Kapuscinski — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 21:28:51 -0400

April 24, 1980: The Raritan River RR was absorbed by Conrail

Ed Kapuscinski — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 21:46:15 -0400

The Raritan River, was a twelve-mile shortline railroad founded in 1888 and based in South Amboy, New Jersey, U.S., which ran as far as New Brunswick, New Jersey. On April 24, 1980 it was absorbed into Conrail.

Conrail Blue Color Information

Ed Kapuscinski — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 12:40:37 -0400

The "true" color of Conrail Blue is a subject of great debate, as any discussion based around photos can be biased based on lighting, fade, weathering of the subject, etc. The CRHS would like to provide some clarity by helping modelers and enthusiasts make sure they get the "right" Conrail color.

There is much more to write and research about this, but for now, here's a start:

Pantone
- PMS Color: PMS 300
HSB Color:
- H:203
- S:100%
- B:76%
RGB Color
- R:0
- G:121
- B:193
LAB Color
- L:46
- a:-18
- b-50
CMYK
- C:100%
- M:44%
- Y:0%
- K:0%
HEX
- #0079c1

Conrail took delivery of it's first SD80MAC, 4100, on December 6, 1995

Ed Kapuscinski — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 21:30:40 -0400

Conrail began to take delivery of a 28 unit order rostered the first units in January 1996. Under agreement with EMD, the 28 units would be built by EMD and finished at the Juniata Shops in Altoona, PA. Conrail numbered these units 4100-4127.

Learn more about the SD80mac Â»

Conrail operated the Ann Arbor railroad until 1977

Chris Howe — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 21:36:55 -0400

The Ann Arbor railroad was to be included in the original USRA drawn Conrail plans, but the state of Michigan objected and until they could secure an operator, the Ann Arbor was run by Conrail as its designated operator until Sept. 30, 1977.

Thanks toÂ Mark Tomlonson and the DailyRRHistory yahoogroup for this tidbit.

What does "D/S" stand for on stored locomotives?

Kris Klemick — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 22:32:38 -0400

Many times on stored Conrail locomotives, "D/S" is crudely stencilled on the fuel tanks. Over the years it has been suggested that this stands for "Drained / Stored" however, D/S actually represents "Drained / Steamed".

This Conrail fact has been confirmed by employees at the Juniata Locomotive Shop, Altoona, PA as well as Norfolk Southern.

Conrail's SD50s Had Black Painted Walkways When They Were Delivered

Ed Kapuscinski — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 00:09:48 -0500

The color of Conrail locomotive walkways is a topic of much contention, with good reason. It seems that every delivery of locomotives, and every month in the paint booth, had a different practice. However, we have photo evidence that Conrail's SD50s were delivered from EMD with black walkways.

Some also came with white crossover chains.

CR 7776 wore an unofficial bicentennial paint scheme

Sean McDonnell — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 21:18:59 -0500

Shortly after Conrail was formed, shop crews at Conway Yard devised a special bicentennial scheme that would be applied to GP38 # 7776. When the powers that be in Philadelphia were made aware of this unofficial paintjob, they ordered the unit to be painted into the standard blue scheme. It would probably be safe to bet this was the ONLY Conrail locomotive to receive two repaints so early on in 1976!

Conrail Cab Signal Boxes

Ed Kapuscinski — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 14:32:08 -0400

The small boxes that typically sit on the walkway on the engineer side of standard cab EMD units, and the conductor's side of standard cab GE units provide an enclosure for electronics that provide the cab signal capabilities for Conrail locomotives. These cab signals were required on a number of lines, including the Pittsburgh Line and Northeast Corridor.

From an NS Employee who measured the boxes: they are 31 inches long, 16 1/2 inches deep and 12 1/4 inches wide.

Conrail operated several state subsidized branch lines after its start up in 1976

Chris Howe — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 16:56:39 -0400

After Conrail was created in 1976, there were several marginal branch lines left out of the initial Conrail plan that were "propped up" by state subsidies in Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan.Â These operations usually lasted until either a new shortline operator took over or the state cut off the subsidy and the line was then abandoned.Â Since they were operated by Conrail, CR had to establish symbols for these subsidized operations during its brief time as the primary operator.Â Below is a list of the lines that Conrail operated under state subsidies.Â Its organized by Region, Division, symbol, city the train originated from, its serving limits, when Conrail operations were cut off, and any notes as to who took over the line or when it was abandoned.

Northern Region

Michigan Division

Grand Rapids, MIÂ Â L451-1/L451-2Â Â Â Grand Rapids to VermontvilleÂ Â Cut 8/1/79Â Old PC Grand Rapids Branch, went to shortline Kenton-Barre-Eaton before being abandoned approx. 1983

Kalamazoo, MIÂ Â L458-1/L458-2(later VMKA-1/VMKA-2 after 1978)Â Wasepi to MendonÂ Old PC GR&I Branch, abandoned by 1981.

Kalamazoo, MIÂ Â L464-1/L464-2Â Â Â Â Parchment to Richland Jct.Â Cut 1/1/78Â Old PC CK&S Branch

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Richland to DosterÂ cut 1/1/78Â old PC CK&S Branch

Kalamazoo, MIÂ Â L466-1/L466-2Â Â Â Â Kalamazoo to DowagiacÂ cut 4/1/79Â ex PC Michigan mainline, currently owned by Amtrak

Kalamazoo, MIÂ Â L467-1/L467-2Â Â Â Â Buchanan to Indiana state LineÂ cut 4/1/79Â ex PC Michigan mainline, currently owned by Amtrak

Owosso, MIÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â L455-1/L455-2Â Â Â Â Â Owosso to Swan CreekÂ Â became Ann Arbor RailroadÂ on 12/1/77Â

Detroit Division

Vassar, MIÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â L438-1/L438-2Â Â Â Â Â Millington to MungerÂ became Tuscola & SaginawÂ Bay Railroad(TSBY)Â on 12/1/77

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Caro Jct. to CollingÂ Â Â became Tuscola & Saginaw Bay Railroad(TSBY) on 12/1/77

Western Region

Toledo Division

Adrian, MIÂ Â Â Â L392-1/L392-2Â Â Â Â Â Â Adrian to Lenawee JctÂ Â became Lenawee County Railroad 1/1/78

Clinton, MIÂ Â Â L394-1/L394-2Â Â Â Â Â Â Grosvenor to MorenciÂ cut 6/1/78Â old PC Morenci Branch

Sturgis, MIÂ Â Â L456-1/L456-2(became VMST-1/VMST-2 after 1978)Â Sturgis to NottawaÂ cut 7/1/81Â old PC GR&I Branch

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â L418-1/L418-2Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Sturgis, MI to Lagrange, INÂ started 12/1/77 and cut 8/1/79Â old PC GR&IÂ Branch

Toledo, OHÂ Â L643-1/L643-2Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Genoa, OH to Lindsey, OHÂ cut 7/1/81Â old PC Norwalk Branch

(After 1978, this train became VISA-1/VISA-2 and originated out of Sandusky, OH)

Fort Wayne Division

Columbia City, INÂ Â Â L419-1/L419-2Â Â Roann, IN to Mexico, INÂ cut 9/1/77Â old PC Columbia City Secondary, later abandoned

Decatur, INÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â L429-1/L429-2Â Â Â Decatur to PortlandÂ cut 9/1/77Â old PC Ft. Wayne Secondary, revived by ERES in 1978 and abandoned by 1981.

Huntington, INÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â L1261-1/L1261-2Â Huntington to DecaturÂ became Erie Western(ERES) 12/1/77 ex EL mainline, abandonedÂ in 1981Â Â Â

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â L1262-1/L1262-2Â Â Huntington to North Judson became Erie Western(ERES) 12/1/77 ex EL mainline, abandoned in 1981

Kendallville, INÂ Â Â Â Â Â L418-1/L418-2Â Â Â Â Â Â Kendallville to HoweÂ cut 12/1/77Â old PC GR&I Branch

Lima, OHÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â L1260-1/L1260-2Â Â Lima to ElginÂ to Spencerville & Elgin(SPEG) 1/1/78, currently owned by RJ Corman, ex EL mainline

Logansport, INÂ Â Â Â Â Â L423-1/L423-2Â Â Â Â Â Â Logansport to LucerneÂ cut 9/1/77Â old PC Culver Secondary

Van Wert, OHÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â L533-1/L533-2Â Â Â Â Â Â Van Wert to RockfordÂ cut 1/1/78, old PC Northern Branch, now abandoned

Southern Region

Columbus Division

Columbus, OH(Buckeye yard)Â Â L477-1/L477-2(became VOCO-1/VOCO-2 after 1978)Â Hamilton Parker Industrial TrackÂ Â cut 10/1/81

Marion, OHÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â L1263-1/L1263-2(later VOMA-1/VOMA-2 after 1978)Â Marion to RichwoodÂ cut 4/1/81Â ex EL Dayton Branch

Mt. VernonÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â L478-1/L478-2Â Â Â Â Â Howard to HolmesvilleÂ cut 8/1/79Â old PC Akron Secondary

Cincinnnati Division

(Cincinnati Division abolished 8/1/78; all trains became Columbus Division trains after that date)

Dayton, OHÂ Â Â Â Â Â L516-1/L516-2(later VODA-1/VODA-2 after 1978)Â Spring Valley to Roxanna and returnÂ cut 10/1/81Â old PC C&X Branch

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â L527-1/L527-2(later VODA-3/VODA-4 after 1978)Â Hempstead to Centerville and returnÂ cut 10/1/81Â old PC Clement-Hempstead Industrial track

Middletown, OHÂ L525-1/L525-2(later VOMI-1/VOMI-2 after 1978) Lebanon to Hageman cut 10/1/81 old PC Court Street Secondary

Springfield, OHÂ Â L536-1/L536-2(later VOSP-1/VOSP-2 after 1978) Yellow Springs to Springfield cut 10/1/81 old PC Springfield Secondary Track

Southwest Division

Anderson, INÂ Â Â L523-1/L523-2Â Â Anderson to Frankton cut 7/1/81Â old PC Richmond Branch, now owned by a grain elevator and still in service

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â L554-1/L554-2Â Â New Castle to LynnÂ cut 9/1/77Â old PC Springfield Branch

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â L578-1/L578-2Â Â Emporia to Carthage cut 9/1/77 old PC Anderson-Greensburg Running Track, now abandoned.

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Wilkinson to New Castle cut 9/1/77 old PC Springfield Branch

Columbus, INÂ Â L589-1/L589-2Â Â North Vernon to MadisonÂ cut 9/1/77 old PC North Vernon Secondary

Decatur, ILÂ Â Â Â Â L609A/L609BÂ Â Â Â Â Decatur yard limitsÂ cut 12/1/77

Indianapolis, IN(Hawthorne yard) L554-1/L554-2(later VWHT-72/VWHT-73 after 1978) Hunter to Maxwell cut 7/1/81

Lawrenceburg, INÂ L571-1/L571-2Â Valley Jct to BrookvilleÂ cut 8/1/79Â old PC Whitewater Running Track, now owned by Indiana and Ohio Railway and still in service

Lawrenceville,Â ILÂ L605-2Â Â Â Â Lawrenceville to Paris, ILÂ cut 1/1/79

Paris, IL(Midland) L605-1(later VWMI-48/VWMI-49 after 1978) Paris to LawrencevilleÂ cut 7/1/81

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â L609-1/L609-2Â Â Â Paris to Decatur, ILÂ cut 12/1/77

Â Â

Conrail created Conrail Express in 1996 to partner with shortlines for better customer service

Chris Howe — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 18:40:45 -0400

In 1996 Conrail created a program to partner with 18 connecting shortlines called "Conrail Express," a feeder system that Conrail hoped would operate similar to the manner in which major airlines serve smaller markets through commuter airlines.

Conrail said at the time: "While the short line operators will be primarily concerned with providing customers timely, hassle-free, competitive service, Conrail will manage the administrative aspects of customer transactions, including billing, pricing administration, equipment supply, and car tracing. Each of the participating short lines are required to continually meet high safety and performance standards in order to retain their Conrail Express designation."

Conrail allowed participating railroads to have their locomotives repainted by Conrail with a "Conrail Express" logo, but only a select few of the 18 ever did. The only two confirmed so far was the RBMN and the M&D(Maryland & Delaware). Below is the list of the participating shortlines in the program:

The Maryland and Delaware Railroad

Indiana Southern Railroad

Grand Rapids Eastern Railroad

Mid-Michigan Railroad

New England Central Railroad

Depew, Lancaster and Western Railroad

Youngstown & Austintown Railroad

Warren Trumbull Railroad

Ohio and Pennsylvania Railroad

Camp Chase Industrial Railroad

North Shore Railroad

Union County Industrial Railroad

Shamokin Valley Railroad

Nittany and Bald Eagle

Allegheny Valley Railroad

Southwest Pennsylvania Railroad

Reading, Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad

Lycoming Valley

Juniata Valley

Connecticut Southern

Conrail consolidated the Northern Region with the Western Region in 1981

Chris Howe — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 17:28:06 -0500

According to General Order No. 106, dated July 1, 1981 which was found in Western Region ETT #1 (dated 4/27/80), Conrail combined the Northern Region, which consisted of the Michigan, Detroit, and Canada divisions with the Western Region, which consisted of the Ft. Wayne, Chicago, Toledo, and Cleveland divisions with the combined region's HQ moved to Detroit, MI (most likely the old Michigan Central depot).

Conrail Rebuilt a GP35 into a GP38

Ed Kapuscinski — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 15:00:41 -0500

In the early 1980's Conrail had a large number of locomotives in storage. At the same time, Conrail was looking to invest in a rebuild program that would place currently stored, beaten and bruised locomotives back to work. Conrail GP35 #2363 had been retired on February 11, 1981 and was sitting in storage awaiting final disposition when it was selected as the first candidate for the proposed rebuild program. It was hauled into the Juniata Locomotive shops and released on November 29, 1984 as GP38 #7635.

The unit was downgraded from 2,200hp to the standard GP38 2,000hp. A paper air filter box was added behind the central air intake ahead, and the dynamic brakes were removed as evidenced by the blanking out of the blister (which was also cut short to accommodate the paper air filter). The original GP35 class lights were replaced with the FRA-approved 'bug-eyes' typically found on newer EMD locomotives. The GP35 turbocharger was removed and two more exhaust stacks were added.

The experiment was not determined to be economically viable and the unit became the only such rebuilt locomotive on the system. CR GP38 7635 was finally retired on June 11, 1997.

The Spirit of Conrail - GP38 Locomotive

Paul Springowski — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 22:00:28 -0400

Conrail GP38 7899 was assigned to the Conrail Shared Asset Area after the split in 1999 as NS 2943. The locomotive was one of several SAA allocated units that were cycled through the locomotive shop in Altoona and emerged still in Conrail paint. In 2001, local shop forces took the opportunity to prepare a rolling billboard celebrating "25 YEARS OF SAFETY AND SERVICE" while NS 2943 was being serviced at Conrail's Pavonia Diesel House near Camden, NJ. The locomotive was adorned with in house lettering celebrating "The Spirit of Conrail". The Spirit was eventually sidelined in Altoona and selected as a future rebuild program candidate, but not before posing one last time as the centerpiece for the Conrail Historical Society 2008 convention group photo.

First Conrail train without a caboose

Stephen Twarogowski — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 11:07:53 -0400

On May 1, 1984, train TV-11 was the first Conrail train to run without a caboose. It was reported that at the time, certain TV trains will be the only trains to run this way. Full crews will ride in the engines.

(As reported by Ray L. Fanning in the May/June 1984 issue of Rails Northeast)

Conrail almost ordered GP60M's before settling on the SD80MAC

Chris Howe — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 21:42:28 -0400

In 1994, Conrail had an existing order for 30 SD60I's but was interested in the new AC technology. So they changed the order to 26 GP60M-I's and 4 SD70MAC test units to maintain the total unit count and still be able to fit the cost and spec parameters (money had already been approved) while getting some AC engines to test. They also placed an order with GE for 4 AC4400CW's at this time as well. After testing the EMD SD80 demonstrators, Conrail changed the order again to 28 SD80MAC's and canceled the GP60M and SD70MAC orders(the GE order was canceled at this time as well).

Sources are X2200 South and Bryan Jones and Ken Lanovich of the Loconotes yahoogroup.

Below is the updated information I received from Ken Lanovich 8/26 in regards to this fact:

Conrail had another order for 30 SD60Is in place at the time. When they became interested in testing AC power, they changed this order to the 4 SD70MAC test units and the 26 GP60Is. It was the only way they could maintain total unit count and total horsepower, while cheapening certain parts of the order to stay within the money authorized by the Conrail Board /and/ still get the AC test units. Their interest in GP60s wasn't by any intent or forethought on their part, but an accommodation to get the AC test units without additional monies.

When Conrail became comfortable with the SD80 concept, this order was again changed to 21 SD80MACs. The remaining 9 of the initial batch of 30 SD80s were supposedly leased rather than acquired outright like the other 21. The lease was probably a GM incentive to seal the first SD80 order.

What does "RS-41" or "RS-42" stand for on freight cars?

Kris Klemick — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 22:40:48 -0400

Many times on stored Conrail freight cars, either an "RS-41" or "RS-42" is crudely stenciled on the sides of the car. Over the years it has been suggested that this stands for "Retired / Scrap" however, there is a much more important explanation to what the letters and numbers actually mean!

The RS stands for "Repair Status". It took over 40 hours of repairs to put a car in this status so they used the number 41. Then they had an alpha system that should have been stenciled on the old Conrail cars. Two of them were;

RS-41G = 40 to 74 man hours
RS-41N = 75 to 99 man hours

It was used to classify cars for a program at Hollidaysburg. RS-42 was used for cabooses only, while RS-41 was for all Conrail owned freight cars.

This Conrail fact has been confirmed by Conrail previously, as well as Norfolk Southern.

Conrail's First MOW Truck was Painted Brown

Chris Howe — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 17:49:26 -0400

This Conrail fact came courtesy of Bob Bucklew who worked for PC subsidiary Excelsior Truck Leasing, the company that actually owned the MOW equipment and leased it back to the railroad and was originally posted to the PCModeler yahoogroup.

"When CR was born in April 1976, we at ETL got the order for the new paint to be applied to trucks, locomotives and cabins. We bought the Dupont paint and applied it to a truck. Yuck! It looked like baby poop brown and we called Conrail and told them to come and take a look. I thought it would look even worse on a loco and told them so. They did come and we were told to hold off on painting any others. I understand a cabin car was painted brown too. Within a couple of weeks we got the order to change to a blue. Rumor is it was a 1969 Fiat blue favored by one of the VP wives at Conrail."

Bob also explained that the standard of painting high rail equipped units of all types yellow and blue as the standard vehicle color originated with Penn Central (just substitute green for blue) and continued into Conrail.

Conrail Train Symbols

Ed Kapuscinski — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 11:40:03 -0400

Please Note

This page is a work in progress. If you an help us make this the definitive source for CR train symbol info, please send us an email.

After 1978 Conrail used alphabetical systems to identify its trains. These symbols broke down into a number of different groups.

Manifest Trains
TOFC/COFC trains
Unit Coal Trains
Other Unit Trains
Local and Yard Jobs
MOW and Shop Movements
Passenger
Detours and Extras

Manifest Trains

CR's Manifest Trains used a symbol that consisted of four letters, the first two characters were the terminal code of the train's origination, and the second two were its destination terminal. The symbol then carried a numeric code afterwards for the day of the month that it originated.

AL	CA	3
Allentown	Camden	3rd or 23rd day of the month
Originating Terminal	Destination Terminal	Date of Origination

List of Terminal Names

AA - Ann Arbor, MI (Willow Run)
AB - Abrams, PA
AL - Allentown, PA
AS - East St. Louis, MO (Exermont ALS)
BA - Baltimore, MD (Bay View)
BC - Battle Creek, MI
BE - Bethlehem, PA (Saucon Creek)
BH - Portage, IN (Burns Harbor)
BN - Chicago, IL (Cicero BN)
BO - Boston, MA
BU - Buffalo, NY (Frontier)
BR - Chiago, IL (Clearing BRC)
CA - Camden, NJ (Pavonia Yard)
CG - Corning, NY (Gang Mills)
CH - Chigago, IL (Gibson IHC)
CI - Cincinnati, OH (Sharonville)
CL - Cleveland, OH (Collinwood)
CJ - Chicago, IL (Alliance)
CN - CN Montreal, Canada
CO - Columbus, OH
CP - CP Rail Niagara Falls, Ontario
DA - Newark, NJ (Doremus Ave.)
DI - Charlston, WY (Dickinson)
DJ - Detroit, MI (Junction Yard)
DN - Detroit, MI (North)
DR - Detroit, MI (River Rouge)
DW - Wayne, MI (Wayne)
ED - Willmington, DE (Edgemoor)
EJ - Gary, IL (Pine EJE)
EL - South Bend, IN (Elkhart)
EN - Enola, PA
ES - Harrington, DE
FR - Framingham, MA
FW - Fort Wayne, IN (Piqua)
GR - Grand Rapids, MI
HI - Danvile, OH (Hillary P&E)
HN- Youngstown, OH (Hasleton)
IN - Avon, OH
IH - Gar, OH (Indiana Harbor)

KA - Kankakee, IL
LA - Lansing, MI
LT - Lordstown, OH (Goodman)
ME - Meadville, PA
MT - Edison, NJ (Metuchen)
MO - Morrisville, PA
MY - Bedford, OH (Motor Yard)
NA - Nashua, NH
NE - New England (Ayer, MA & Portland, ME)
NH - New Haven, CT (Cedar Hill)
PY - Potomac Yard (Alexandria, VA)
HI- Danville, IL
IN - Indianapolis, IN
IH - IHB Blue Island, IL
LA- Lansing, MI
MC - Montreal, PQ (St. Luc CP)
MS - Massena, NY
MV - Marysville, OH
NA - Nashua, NH
NF - Niagara Falls
OI - Newark, NJ (Oak Island)
OP - Bronx, NY (Oak Point)
PE - Pekin, IL
PG - Philadephia, PA (Greenwich)
PO - Portland, ME
PI - Pittsburgh, PA (Conway)
PR - CNW Chicago, IL (Proviso)
PW - Willmington, DE (Wilmington)
RE - Readville, MA
SC - Chester, PA (Stoney Creek)
SE - Selkirk, NY
SL - East St. Louis, MO (Rose Lake)
ST - Warren, MI (Sterling)
SY - Syracuse, NY (Dewitt)
TO - Toledo, OH (Stanley)
TR - East St. Louis (Madison TRRA)
TT - Tarrytown, NY (GM Plant)

TV and MAIL trains (COFC/TOFC)

Symbol Origin Destination

TV-0 Chicago, IL Harrisburg, PA

TV-1 Morrisville, PA Chicago, IL

TV-1H Harrisburg, PA Chicago, IL

TV-2

TV-2H Chicago, IL Harrisburg, PA

TV-2HK Chicago, IL Harrisburg, PA

TV-2M Chicago, IL Morrisville, PA

TV-3 Kearny, NJ St. Louis, MO

TV-4 Indianapolis, IN Kearny, NJ

TV-5 Boston, MA East St. Louis

TV-5I Indianapolis,IN

TV-5 Dewitt, NY Indianapolis, IN

TV-6 Dewitt Boston, MA

TV-7 Boston, MA Chicago, IL

TV-7S Kearny, NJ Selkirk, NY

TV-8

TV-8W Syracuse, NY Boston, MA

TV-9 Boston, MA Chicago, IL

TV-9 Worcester, MA Chicago, IL

TV-9C Cleveland, OH Chicago, IL

TV-10 Chicago,IL Croxton, NJ

TV-10B Chicago, IL Boston, MA

TV-11 Kearny Chicago, IL

TV-12 Chicago, IL Kearny, NJ

TV-12K Selkirk, NY Kearny, NJ

TV-13 Boston, MA Chicago, IL

TV-14 Englewood Boston, MA

TV-18 Chicago, IL Kearny, NJ

TV-20 Harrisburg, PA Philadelphia, PA

TV-21 Philadelphia, PA Harrisburg, PA

TV-22

TV-24 Chicago, IL Dockside, NJ

TV-24P Selkirk, NY Port Newark, NJ

TV-25D Toledo, OH Detroit, MI

TV-26 Harrisburg, PA Balitimore, MD

TV-55 Harrisburg, PA UP/Forth Worth, TX

TV-61 Balitmore, MD UP/Chicago, IL

TV-61H Allentown, PA Harrisburg, PA

TV-77 Kearny, NJ Chicago, IL

TV-79 Bergen Chicago, IL

TV-79 Worcester, MA Cincinnati, OH

TV-80 Chicago, IL Selkirk, NY

TV-80 Chicago, IL North Bergen, NJ

TV-80W Selkirk, NY Worcester, MA

TV-90 BNSF/Willow Springs, IL North Bergen, NJ

TV-95 GRS/Waterville, ME Worcester, MA

TV-96 Worcester, MA GRS/Waterville, ME

TV-99 North Bergen, NJ BNSF/Chigago - Willow Springs

TV-201 Kearny Chicago, IL

TV-100 Chicago, IL North Bergen, NJ

TV-102 Chicago, IL North Bergen, NJ

TV-153 Detroit, MI Toledo, OH

TV-173 Kearny, NJ Jacksonville, FL

TV-176 Jacksonville, FL Worcester, MA

TV-174 Jacksonville, FL Kearny, NJ

TV-175 Balitmore, MD Jacksonville, FL

TV-176 Jacksonville, FL Balitmore, MD

TV-195 South Kearny, NJ Atlanta, GA

TV-196 Atlanta, GA South Kearny, NJ

TV-200 Chicago, IL Kearny, NJ

TV-201 Kearny, NJ UP/Chicago, IL

TV-202 UP/Chicago, IL Kearny, NJ

TV-203 Kearny, NJ UP/Chicago, IL

TV-204 Chicago, IL Port Newark, NJ

TV-204 Chicago, IL Elizabethport, NJ

TV-206 Chicago, IL Croxton, NJ

TV-207 Port Newark, NJ UP/Chicago, IL

TV-209 Dockside, NJ Chicago, IL

TV-211 Kearny, NJ NS/Atlanta, GA

TV-213 Kearny, NJ NS/Atlanta, GA

TV-214 NS/Atlanta, GA Kearny, NJ

TV-220 Chicago, IL Columbus, OH

TV-221 Columbus, OH Chicago, IL

TV-233 Kearny,PA Hagerstown

TV-234 Hagerstown, PA Kearny, PA

TV-257 Buffalo, NY Chicago, IL

TV-258 Chicago, IL Buffalo, NY

TV-261 Croxton, NJ

TV-263 Croxton, NJ BNSF/Chicago, IL

TV-265 Croxton ,NJ UP/Chicago, IL

TV-300 Chicago, IL Kearny, NJ

TV-301 Kearny,NJ UP/Chicago - Global Two

TV-302 Chicago, IL Kearny, NJ

TV-304 Chicago, IL Kearny, NJ

TV-307 Dockside, NJ Dewitt, NY

TV-500 Chicago, IL Buffalo, NY

TV-501 Buffalo, NY Chicago, IL

TV-550 Chicago, IL NYSW/Syracuse, NY

TV-551 NYSW/Syracuse, NY Chicago, IL

TV-553 NYSW/Syracuse, NY Chicago, IL

TV-555 NYSW/Syracuse, NY Chicago, IL

TV-556 Chicago, IL Croxton, NJ

TV-590 Chicago, IL Croxton, NJ

TV-600 Los Angeles, CA

TV-604 BNSF?Chicago, IL Columbus, OH

Mail-8 Englewood North Bergen

Mail 8M Chicago, IL Morrisville, PA

RR-260 Harrisburg, PA Chicago, IL

TVBN North Bergen, NJ BNSD/Lost Angeles, CA

TVLT Chicago, IL Kearny,NJ

TVLA North Bergen, NY BNSF/Los Angeles, CA

Symbol	Origin	Destination
TV-0	Chicago, IL	Harrisburg, PA
TV-1	Morrisville, PA	Chicago, IL
TV-1H	Harrisburg, PA	Chicago, IL
TV-2
TV-2H	Chicago, IL	Harrisburg, PA
TV-2HK	Chicago, IL	Harrisburg, PA
TV-2M	Chicago, IL	Morrisville, PA
TV-3	Kearny, NJ	St. Louis, MO
TV-4	Indianapolis, IN	Kearny, NJ
TV-5	Boston, MA	East St. Louis
TV-5I	Indianapolis,IN
TV-5	Dewitt, NY	Indianapolis, IN
TV-6	Dewitt	Boston, MA
TV-7	Boston, MA	Chicago, IL
TV-7S	Kearny, NJ	Selkirk, NY
TV-8
TV-8W	Syracuse, NY	Boston, MA
TV-9	Boston, MA	Chicago, IL
TV-9	Worcester, MA	Chicago, IL
TV-9C	Cleveland, OH	Chicago, IL
TV-10	Chicago,IL	Croxton, NJ
TV-10B	Chicago, IL	Boston, MA
TV-11	Kearny	Chicago, IL
TV-12	Chicago, IL	Kearny, NJ
TV-12K	Selkirk, NY	Kearny, NJ
TV-13	Boston, MA	Chicago, IL
TV-14	Englewood	Boston, MA
TV-18	Chicago, IL	Kearny, NJ
TV-20	Harrisburg, PA	Philadelphia, PA
TV-21	Philadelphia, PA	Harrisburg, PA
TV-22
TV-24	Chicago, IL	Dockside, NJ
TV-24P	Selkirk, NY	Port Newark, NJ
TV-25D	Toledo, OH	Detroit, MI
TV-26	Harrisburg, PA	Balitimore, MD
TV-55	Harrisburg, PA	UP/Forth Worth, TX
TV-61	Balitmore, MD	UP/Chicago, IL
TV-61H	Allentown, PA	Harrisburg, PA
TV-77	Kearny, NJ	Chicago, IL
TV-79	Bergen	Chicago, IL
TV-79	Worcester, MA	Cincinnati, OH
TV-80	Chicago, IL	Selkirk, NY
TV-80	Chicago, IL	North Bergen, NJ
TV-80W	Selkirk, NY	Worcester, MA
TV-90	BNSF/Willow Springs, IL	North Bergen, NJ
TV-95	GRS/Waterville, ME	Worcester, MA
TV-96	Worcester, MA	GRS/Waterville, ME
TV-99	North Bergen, NJ	BNSF/Chigago - Willow Springs
TV-201	Kearny	Chicago, IL
TV-100	Chicago, IL	North Bergen, NJ
TV-102	Chicago, IL	North Bergen, NJ
TV-153	Detroit, MI	Toledo, OH
TV-173	Kearny, NJ	Jacksonville, FL
TV-176	Jacksonville, FL	Worcester, MA
TV-174	Jacksonville, FL	Kearny, NJ
TV-175	Balitmore, MD	Jacksonville, FL
TV-176	Jacksonville, FL	Balitmore, MD
TV-195	South Kearny, NJ	Atlanta, GA
TV-196	Atlanta, GA	South Kearny, NJ
TV-200	Chicago, IL	Kearny, NJ
TV-201	Kearny, NJ	UP/Chicago, IL
TV-202	UP/Chicago, IL	Kearny, NJ
TV-203	Kearny, NJ	UP/Chicago, IL
TV-204	Chicago, IL	Port Newark, NJ
TV-204	Chicago, IL	Elizabethport, NJ
TV-206	Chicago, IL	Croxton, NJ
TV-207	Port Newark, NJ	UP/Chicago, IL
TV-209	Dockside, NJ	Chicago, IL
TV-211	Kearny, NJ	NS/Atlanta, GA
TV-213	Kearny, NJ	NS/Atlanta, GA
TV-214	NS/Atlanta, GA	Kearny, NJ
TV-220	Chicago, IL	Columbus, OH
TV-221	Columbus, OH	Chicago, IL
TV-233	Kearny,PA	Hagerstown
TV-234	Hagerstown, PA	Kearny, PA
TV-257	Buffalo, NY	Chicago, IL
TV-258	Chicago, IL	Buffalo, NY
TV-261	Croxton, NJ
TV-263	Croxton, NJ	BNSF/Chicago, IL
TV-265	Croxton ,NJ	UP/Chicago, IL
TV-300	Chicago, IL	Kearny, NJ
TV-301	Kearny,NJ	UP/Chicago - Global Two
TV-302	Chicago, IL	Kearny, NJ
TV-304	Chicago, IL	Kearny, NJ
TV-307	Dockside, NJ	Dewitt, NY
TV-500	Chicago, IL	Buffalo, NY
TV-501	Buffalo, NY	Chicago, IL
TV-550	Chicago, IL	NYSW/Syracuse, NY
TV-551	NYSW/Syracuse, NY	Chicago, IL
TV-553	NYSW/Syracuse, NY	Chicago, IL
TV-555	NYSW/Syracuse, NY	Chicago, IL
TV-556	Chicago, IL	Croxton, NJ
TV-590	Chicago, IL	Croxton, NJ
TV-600	Los Angeles, CA
TV-604	BNSF?Chicago, IL	Columbus, OH
Mail-8	Englewood	North Bergen
Mail 8M	Chicago, IL	Morrisville, PA
RR-260	Harrisburg, PA	Chicago, IL
TVBN	North Bergen, NJ	BNSD/Lost Angeles, CA
TVLT	Chicago, IL	Kearny,NJ
TVLA	North Bergen, NY	BNSF/Los Angeles, CA

Unit Coal Trains

Symbol Destination Info

UAE-XX ONTHYDRO - Ashtabula, OH XX = 1-99

UAM-XX INDCEMENT - Alsen, NY XX = 2-98

UAN-XX BLUCIREM - Ravena, NY XX = 2-98

UAT-XX ONTHYDRO - Ashtabula, OH XX = 1-99

UAZ-XX KOCCARBON - Ashtabula, OH XX = 101-149

UAZ-XXX CONCOAL - Ashtabula, OH XX = 151-199

UAZ-XXX RPCOAL - Ashtabula, OH XX = 201-249

UAZ-XXX ELKHORN - Ashharbor, OH XX = 251-299

UAZ-XXX WOLVERINE - Ashharbor, OH XX = 351-399

UAZ-XXX FTHOWARD - Ashtabula, OH XX = 401-449

UAZ-ZXX CONSUMPOW - Ashharbor, OH XX = 451-499

UAZ-XX ONTHYDRO - Ashtabula, OH XX = 1-99

UBO-XX PSNH - Bow, NH

Symbol	Destination	Info
UAE-XX	ONTHYDRO - Ashtabula, OH	XX = 1-99
UAM-XX	INDCEMENT - Alsen, NY	XX = 2-98
UAN-XX	BLUCIREM - Ravena, NY	XX = 2-98
UAT-XX	ONTHYDRO - Ashtabula, OH	XX = 1-99
UAZ-XX	KOCCARBON - Ashtabula, OH	XX = 101-149
UAZ-XXX	CONCOAL - Ashtabula, OH	XX = 151-199
UAZ-XXX	RPCOAL - Ashtabula, OH	XX = 201-249
UAZ-XXX	ELKHORN - Ashharbor, OH	XX = 251-299
UAZ-XXX	WOLVERINE - Ashharbor, OH	XX = 351-399
UAZ-XXX	FTHOWARD - Ashtabula, OH	XX = 401-449
UAZ-ZXX	CONSUMPOW - Ashharbor, OH	XX = 451-499
UAZ-XX	ONTHYDRO - Ashtabula, OH	XX = 1-99

UBO-XX	PSNH - Bow, NH

Other Unit Trains

Local and Yard Jobs

CR's Local and Yard Jobs used a symbol that consisted of four letters, the first characters being a W or a Y for Wayfreight or Yard Job. The second character was the Division Code (P = Phillidephia, H = Harrisburg, A = Albany, I = Pittsburgh, D = Dearborn, S = Indianapolis) the Third and Fourth were the terminal code of the train's origination. The symbol then carried a numeric code afterwards for the assignment code.

W	A	RE	30
Way Freight	Albany	Readville, MA	30
Wayfrieght or Yard	Division Code	Originating Terminal	Assignment

MOW and Shop Movements

Passenger Trains on Conrail

Detours and Extras

Resources

J. Alex Lang's Searchable CR Freight Schedules - A great searchable resource.

Multi-modal Railways Downloadable CR Schedules - An archive of CR freight schedules (and other information).

Conrail misrouted a GG1 funeral train all the way to Chicago

Chris Howe — Sun, 24 May 2009 19:50:49 -0400

In 1980, Conrail sent a funeral train of 15 to 20 GG1's west on the Fort Wayne line (Pennsy main) all the way across Indiana before realizing their mistake and stopping it at Colehour yard in Indiana and returning it back east to be scrapped, making this the only time that GG1's ran thru Ft. Wayne Indiana, even if they were DIT.

Sources: Pennsywest yahoogroup members Norm Bell and Ken(no last name listed) who lived in Valporaiso at the time and saw it first hand. Not sure of the year, but it was mentioned in Trains magazine as well.

In the July 1979 issue of "Rails Northeast" is an article about the "Route of the G's", by J.W. Jack (the same Joe Jack?) which tells in detail what happened to this group of 12 GG1's. They were consigned to Pielet Bros. scrapyard in Chicago, Ill. They left Wilmington, Del. on 4-20-79, and were routed across the PRR mainline to Pittsburgh, then the Panhandle to Chicago, where they were turned back and run the Fort Wayne line back towards Youngstown, ending up at Hubbard, Ohio-Midwest Steel scrap instead. Consist was CR 2365/2667 Westbound, CR 6427/2667/2365 Eastbound. GG1's were 4815, 4862, 4854, 4868, 4898, 4861, 4803, 4858, 4870, 4825, 4838, 4821. Caboose CR 24038.

The mis-routed GG1s at Kent, OH - Roger Durfee photo. More »

"I love my Railroad"

Ed Kapuscinski — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 10:14:33 -0400

"Our Railroad is generating a lot of interest everywhere I go. People want to know all about Conrail, and I do the best job I can to tell them about the job we're doing, why we deserve their support and just how important I feel our success is to the country".

Victor Raia
Carmen-Welder at Samuel Rea Car Shop in Hollidaysburg.
December 1978

From: Conrail Magazine Volume 3/Issue 2 July 1978

Conrail SD70's were originally supposed to be numbered above the last SD60I

Chris Howe — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 20:58:20 -0400

According to Conrail Indianapolis Division Bulletin Order IN-6-S-23 dated February 10, 1998, the Conrail SD70's that were built to NS specs were originally going to be numbered above the SD60I's, 5655-5678. NS, upon learning this, asked Conrail to number them above their highest numbered standard cab SD70 instead to save them the trouble of having to renumber it later. So instead of becoming 5600 series units, they became 2557-2580.

Conrail started with 8 operating regions

Chris Howe — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 21:34:35 -0500

On April 1 1976, Conrail created the following 8 operating regions(divisions included where known)

Western Region - Ft. Wayne, Chicago, Toledo, Cleveland

Northern Region - Michigan, Detroit, Canada

Southern Region - Southwest, Columbus, Cincinnati

Central Region - Alleghenny, Pittsburgh, Valley, Mahoning

Eastern Region - Philadelphia, Reading, Chesapeake, Harrisburg

Atlantic Region - New Jersey, Hoboken, Lehigh, Scranton, Susquehanna

New England Region - New England, Mohawk-Hudson, Buffalo

Metropolitan Region - included ex NYC and NH trackage in New York City area.

Source: Chris Baer timeline on PRRTHS website