Carl Weber's Various Conrail Photography

ConRail's SD80MAC's arrived on the old Boston & Albany in 1996 and stayed till the end of ConRail, and beyond, for a short time. If you had a hankerin' for the big EMD beasts, this was the place to see 'em. Although other locomotive models made their presence known, the "Big MAC's" became the "usual suspects" for this time period, much as the C30-7A's had been from 1984 to 1991.

Actually intended as more of an "overflow" album to thin out some of my other albums, the scenes contained herein are of a snowy/wintry nature without regard to actual dates and the subject matter could be considered as a separate genre.

Throughout ConRail's tenure in the Northeast, they had a "working relationship" with the Boston & Maine and, later, Guilford Transportation Industries. Coal trains for the Public Service of New Hampshire coal-fired electrical generating plant at Bow, New Hampshire routinely alternated between a partial CR or all B&M routing, with CR power regularly "running through" onto the B&M. In the early 90's Guilford arranged to run several symbol freights (LASE, NASE, and NESE) over a partial CR routing with the trains interchanged in Worcester, MA. ConRail power regularly ran-through on these trains and Guilford provided several MEC SD40's to CR to balance horsepower hours.

In 1984, when CR was disposing of a large number of their older power, mostly GP40's, Guilford acquired 23 of these units, all but 2 units in the 3200 group. GTI also acquired 9 ex CR U33B's through Lessor ITEL and 6 U33C's. The U33B's were split 1 for 2 between the B&M (CR 2916, 2919, 2925) and D&H (2917, 2918, 2920, 2922-2924), with all the U33C's (CR 6845, 6856, 6860, 6862, 6864-66) becoming D&H 650-656. Evidently, the U-Boats were already "well-worn", since the U33B's went to Naparano by March, 1986.

Once past the crossings, the 64611 and 2001 start ditching the east side of the East Windsor secondary north of Park Ave. A "conveniently located" footbridge off of McKee St. provides an excellent vantage point.

The 64611 making a ditching pass on the west side of the tracks after completing his ditching on the east side.

The 64611 making a ditching pass on the west side of the tracks toward the footbridge.

The 64611 and 2001 passing under the footbridge as they make the ditching pass.

The 64611 and 2001 continue northward on their ditching pass.

After making the ditching pass, the 64611 and 2001 back up and then make a spreading pass to level off the dirt berm pushed up by the ditching pass.

The 64611 continuing his spreading pass on the East Windsor secondary on March 29, 1985.

On March 20, 1985 ConRail Jordan spreader 64611 was working on the Manchester secondary with B23-7 2000 providing the motive power. They are seen here coming up on William's crossing on Tolland Turnpike at the Manchester/East Hartford town line.

Jordan spreader 64611 ditching along the Manchester secondary between William's and Risley's crossings on Tolland Turnpike, which is the road at right.

Folding up the wings on the 64611 preparatory to crossing Tolland Turnpike at Risley's.

With the wings safely folded away, the 64611 and 2000 are ready to proceed over Risley's crossing. The road coming in at right is Chapel Rd.

RS-3m 9973 shuffling cars at the Tilcon quarry in Cooke's Gap, which is on the New Britain/Plainville, CT. town line. This is on the old NYNH&H Highland Div. line between Hartford and Waterbury. Guilford/B&M/PAR has served this line since 1982.

GP15-1 1659 heads west across I-84 with WNHA-20 on the Manchester secondary on April 22, 1982. This location would be totally unrecogniseable today with the massive rebuilding of I-84, construction of the nearby Buckland Hills mall and J.C. Penney warehouse in the mid '80's.

N6A transfer buggy 18032 on the rear of WNHA-20 in Manchester, CT.

GP15-1 1697 heads north with WNHA-22 across the 7 span stone arch bridge across the Farmington River on Amtrak's Springfield line on April 22, 1982.