Conrail had 135 "fightin fifties" numbered 6700 through 6834 and built from 1983 through 1986. Conrail's fleet of SD50s (the second largest in the country) was delivered with a number of variations from "stock" EMD units.
Conrail's first three orders (delivered in 1983, 84 and 85) all came equipped with EMD's older Flexicoil truck instead ot the standard, at the time, HTC-II truck. This was because of Conrail's irroneously blaming the HTC truck for a number of derailments involving AMTRAK units. It turned out not to be the fault of the truck, and the last order that arrived in 1986 was delivered with the standard EMD trucks.
The second two orders (6779-6834) were also delivered with a large 4500gal fuel tank, as opposed to the 4000gal tank on the previous two orders.
For a more indepth analysis of the Conrail SD50, visit the CRCYC.
ML482 begins the parade at 08:44, as SD50 6779 and friends cross Lower Valley Rd. approaching MP 135.
Anndd..here's that TV6W mentioned in the previous photo. You might know the Berkshire dispatcher WOULD run a bunch of trains through here with the lousy light!
CR 6750 and another SF unit lead SEBO beneath the Bullard's Crossing truss and over the summit of Washington hill in Hinsdale, MA. at 09:37.
BUOI-2 with SD50's 6760 and 6758 east on one @ the Hillburn X-overs Hillburn, NY
CGAL-2 drifts down track 1 @ Lehighton, Pa to meet ALCG-3
TV26 Eastbound on the single iron @ Sloatsburg, NY
SEAL-9 is almost ready to depart the north departure yard Selkirk, NY
BUOI-8 is doing it's best to stay ahead of a Hoboken bound Metro-North train out of Port Jervis, NY
BUOI-5's power reverses direction back to it's train @ Suffern, NY
Conrail 6032 and 6775 are at Conrail's Ashtabula Harbor Ohio yard.
TV301 heads for the east portal of Otisville tunnel at Otisville, NY. on March 5, 1988.
From the cab of SD40-2 6510 we see CR SD40-2 6429 and SD50s 6796 and 6707. This quartet of EMD standard cabs is shoving coal loads in the Philadelphia Electric Company's power plant, seen in the background.
A rainy day finds OIBU-3 streaking through Cameron Mills, NY in May 1994. CR C30-7A 6569, SD50s 6798, CSX 7765, and CSX 7517 add a little more color to an otherwise dull day.
Extra CR 6638 South.... C30-7a 6638 and SD50 6768 power a Somerset Railway MTY south on the Monongahela Railroad @ Besco, Pa 2/18/90
CR 6700, Conrail's first SD50, idles at Rutherford, PA on 1/12/1985.
ELBU-0 with Conrail 6702 and ATSF 518 on the point at Waterloo, IN on April 10, 1996.
Two Conrail powered trains wait for the crews to take them south to the mines for loading.
![CR 6703 (1) on a westbound "test train" in Middlefield, MA. on Sept. 29, 1985.](http://thecrhs.org/files/images/92985_SPL275.thumbnail.jpg "CR 6703 (1) on a westbound "test train" in Middlefield, MA. on Sept. 29, 1985.")
SPL275, a test train with a dedicated consist, made a number of trips over the Boston Line back in 1985 to test dynamic braking. This was one of the trips, seen at Middlefield, MA. on Sept. 25, 1985.
![CR 6703 (2) on a westbound "test train" in Middlefield, MA. on Sept. 29, 1985.](http://thecrhs.org/files/images/72985spl275.a.thumbnail.jpg "CR 6703 (2) on a westbound "test train" in Middlefield, MA. on Sept. 29, 1985.")
SPL275 going away showing test car 20 at Middlefield, MA.
CR 6703 with test train in Huntington, MA. on Oct.6,1985.
SPL275 wheels around the curve outside Huntington, MA. on Oct. 6, 1985.
CR 6704 and CR 6550 are seen at Rutherford, PA on 2/4/1984.
One of the "Perks" of being a scale inspector is that we got to go to different places. Feburary 1993 I had to transport the scale departments Miter rail Saw to Altoona. Not one to miss an opertunity to visit the Curve, we made our way up there after an ice storm. My 4 wheel drive Jeep gave us no trouble and we made it there in time for a few trains. ALPI-9 powered by a SD50, SD40 SD40-2 lash-up struggles with the grade with the GP9 standing as a silent sentinal....
Conrail SD50 6707 is seen leading a PGAL at Abrams Yard near Norristown, PA on 2/7/1993
Conrail SD50 6707 is seen leading a westbound freight through Valley Forge, PA on 2/7/93
A Westbound stack train gets recrewed at MP434.
Conrail painted a few locomotives in special schemes over the years, and a pair of them were eastbound on the Reading Line in 1992. SD50 6707 was painted with a giant yellow ribbon in support of the troops and 6726 was painted for an Olympic bike trial held in Altoona. Passing Wimpey Minerals at Millards near Annville, a one-of-a-kind consist brightened an otherwise dreary day. Don Kalkman photo with permission
The "We Support Our Troops" SD50 sits outside of the Philadelphia Electric Company's power plant after shoving 76 loads of coal in. Conrail painted this unit during Operation: Desert Storm in Iraq.
The "We Support Our Troops" SD50 sits outside of the Philadelphia Electric Company's power plant after shoving 76 loads of coal in. Conrail painted this unit during Operation: Desert Storm in Iraq.
