By the time Dick made it back to Conrail country in 1981, much progress had been made. Sadly, some older diesels and the electrics were off the roster, but more power had received the much-needed attention by the shop forces. If you look at the 1979 collection and then at the 1981 images, you can tell the tide had turned in Conrail's favor.
A 1981 view of Works interlocking looking eastward shows many things that will never be seen again: a quartet of blue EMDs as road power on a general merch train, the deadlines of blue and black locomotives at Rose Yard, and the rainbow of stored cars belonging to CR and its ancestors.
Conrail MT4 slug is seen at Morrisville, PA back in 1981.
GP15-1 1609 is seen idling on the point of a train at Morrisville, PA back in 1981
Another view of CR 1609 as it sits on the point of a train at Morrisville, PA in 1981.
Conrail GP15-1 1688 is seen trailing on a train at Morrisville, PA back in 1981. Just ahead behind her is CR 878027, a class 843H covered hopper of NYC heritage, built by the Despatch Shops in the early 1950s. The train is approaching MORRIS tower, where the former PRR Trenton Cutoff re-joined the NYC-Philadelphia Main Line.
CR B23-7 1991 is the rear unit on a westbound empty coal train at Benny Curve in 1981. This view clearly shows where the old Track 2 was removed. In the background you can see the grade separation between the new Tracks 2 and 3 and Track 1 on The Slide.
Conrail class N5B caboose 20066 is seen at Morrisville, PA in 1981. CR 20066 ex PC 22990/PC 19096/PRR 477153.
Conrail class N7B caboose 21040 is seen on the end of a westbound trailvan train at Whitford, PA in 1982. The line on the bridge is the former PRR Trenton Cutoff, a freight bypass that allowed trains to move between Thorndale and Morrisville, PA to bypass the heavily-congested Philadelphia area.
Conrail class N7E caboose 21150 is seen at Morrisville, PA in 1981. CR 21150 ex EL C351.
Conrail SD40-2s 6457 and 6497 are seen with class N21 caboose 21248 at Bennington Curve, PA in 1981.
Conrail GP30 2185 (ex-RDG 3617, nee-RDG 5517) is seen leading a train at Morrisville, PA in 1981.
A group of GP30s, including 2217 (ex-PC 2217, nee-PRR 2217) sit behind the shop building at Morrisville, PA back in 1981.
Conrail GP30 2221 (ex-PC 2221, nee-PRR 2221) and 2230 (ex-PC 2230, nee-PRR 2230) are seen at Morrisville, PA in 1981.
Conrail GP30 2222 (ex-PC 2222, nee-PRR 2222) and GP40 3001 (ex-PC 3001, nee-NYC 3001) are bringing a freight to a stop at Morrisville, PA.
CR 2222 and CR 3001 are back on their way at Morrisville, PA in 1981.
Conrail GP30 2222 sits outside the Morrisville diesel shop in 1981.
Conrail GP30 2231 (ex-PC 2231, nee-PRR 2231) is shifting cars at Morrisville, PA while a crane offloads a CR wheel flatcar outside the locomotive shop in 1981.
Conrail Class N5B caboose 22925 brings up the markers on an eastbound TV train at Duncannon, PA in 1981.
Conrail SD45 6145 (ex-PC 6145, nee-PRR 6145) shoves against Class N5B caboose 22965 at Gallitzin, PA in 1981.
Conrail class N5C caboose 23023 is passing MG tower in 1981.
A westbound coal drag climbs around Bennington Curve behind GP35 CR 2304, GP38-2 CR 8027, and B23-7 CR 1991 back in 1981.
A 1981 view of the yard behind the E&M shop at Juniata shows SD45 6127 (ex-PC 6127, nee-PRR 6127), GP35 2347 (ex-PC 2347, nee-PRR 2347), and SDP45 6670 (ex-EL 3639) along with a GP38 still in PC paint and a GP7.
Conrail GP40 3145 (ex-PC 3145) is seen leading an eastbound train at Duncannon, PA in 1981.
Conrail GP40 3146 is seen on the rear end of a mixed bag of EMD power leading an eastbound train down towards Horseshoe Curve back in 1981.
CR GP40 3190 (ex-PC 3190) is seen on the point of a westbound TV train that for some reason is running on the former PRR Philly-Harrisburg line instead of CR trackage in 1981.
A trio of GP40s, including CR 3214 (ex-PC 3214) and CR 3154 (ex-PC 3154) are bringing an eastbound TV train towards Bennington Curve in 1981.
A westbound mixed freight is climbing Horseshoe Curve in 1981, with the assistance of CR GP38 7912 and GP40 3217.
Conrail SD40-2 6397 is leading CR GP40 3220 (ex-PC 3220) and CR SD40-2 6388 on an eastbound mixed freight at Cresson, PA in 1981. MO tower is at the left edge of the picture, with MOW equipment in the yard in the background.
A westbound freight is being led by GP40 3247 (ex-PC 3247) through South Fork, PA in 1981. The train is passing under the old bridge that carried a road and streetcar tracks over the North Fork of the Little Conemaugh River.
CR GP40-2 3276 (ex-RDG 3672) is seen leading a westbound freight towards the Allegheny Tunnel in Tunnelhill, PA in 1981.
