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. 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. Since they were operated by Conrail, CR had to establish symbols for these subsidized operations during its brief time as the primary operator. Below is a list of the lines that Conrail operated under state subsidies. 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, MI  L451-1/L451-2   Grand Rapids to Vermontville  Cut 8/1/79 Old PC Grand Rapids Branch, went to shortline Kenton-Barre-Eaton before being abandoned approx. 1983
Kalamazoo, MI  L458-1/L458-2(later VMKA-1/VMKA-2 after 1978) Wasepi to Mendon Old PC GR&I Branch, abandoned by 1981.
Kalamazoo, MI  L464-1/L464-2    Parchment to Richland Jct. Cut 1/1/78 Old PC CK&S Branch
                                                 Richland to Doster cut 1/1/78 old PC CK&S Branch
Kalamazoo, MI  L466-1/L466-2    Kalamazoo to Dowagiac cut 4/1/79 ex PC Michigan mainline, currently owned by Amtrak
Kalamazoo, MI  L467-1/L467-2    Buchanan to Indiana state Line cut 4/1/79 ex PC Michigan mainline, currently owned by Amtrak
Owosso, MI       L455-1/L455-2     Owosso to Swan Creek  became Ann Arbor Railroad on 12/1/77Â
Detroit Division
Vassar, MI        L438-1/L438-2     Millington to Munger became Tuscola & Saginaw Bay Railroad(TSBY) on 12/1/77
                                                  Caro Jct. to Colling   became Tuscola & Saginaw Bay Railroad(TSBY) on 12/1/77
Western Region
Toledo Division
Adrian, MI    L392-1/L392-2      Adrian to Lenawee Jct  became Lenawee County Railroad 1/1/78
Clinton, MI   L394-1/L394-2      Grosvenor to Morenci cut 6/1/78 old PC Morenci Branch
Sturgis, MI   L456-1/L456-2(became VMST-1/VMST-2 after 1978) Sturgis to Nottawa cut 7/1/81 old PC GR&I Branch
                  L418-1/L418-2       Sturgis, MI to Lagrange, IN started 12/1/77 and cut 8/1/79 old PC GR&I 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, IN           L429-1/L429-2   Decatur to Portland cut 9/1/77 old PC Ft. Wayne Secondary, revived by ERES in 1978 and abandoned by 1981.
Huntington, IN       L1261-1/L1261-2 Huntington to Decatur became Erie Western(ERES) 12/1/77 ex EL mainline, abandoned in 1981  Â
                           L1262-1/L1262-2  Huntington to North Judson became Erie Western(ERES) 12/1/77 ex EL mainline, abandoned in 1981
Kendallville, IN      L418-1/L418-2      Kendallville to Howe cut 12/1/77 old PC GR&I Branch
Lima, OH              L1260-1/L1260-2  Lima to Elgin to Spencerville & Elgin(SPEG) 1/1/78, currently owned by RJ Corman, ex EL mainline
Logansport, IN      L423-1/L423-2      Logansport to Lucerne cut 9/1/77 old PC Culver Secondary
Van Wert, OH       L533-1/L533-2      Van Wert to Rockford cut 1/1/78, old PC Northern Branch, now abandoned
Southern Region
Columbus Division
Columbus, OH(Buckeye yard)  L477-1/L477-2(became VOCO-1/VOCO-2 after 1978) Hamilton Parker Industrial Track  cut 10/1/81
Marion, OH        L1263-1/L1263-2(later VOMA-1/VOMA-2 after 1978) Marion to Richwood cut 4/1/81 ex EL Dayton Branch
Mt. Vernon         L478-1/L478-2     Howard to Holmesville cut 8/1/79 old PC Akron Secondary
Cincinnnati Division
(Cincinnati Division abolished 8/1/78; all trains became Columbus Division trains after that date)
Dayton, OH      L516-1/L516-2(later VODA-1/VODA-2 after 1978) Spring Valley to Roxanna and return cut 10/1/81 old PC C&X Branch
                      L527-1/L527-2(later VODA-3/VODA-4 after 1978) Hempstead to Centerville and return cut 10/1/81 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
                     L554-1/L554-2  New Castle to Lynn cut 9/1/77 old PC Springfield Branch
                     L578-1/L578-2  Emporia to Carthage cut 9/1/77 old PC Anderson-Greensburg Running Track, now abandoned.
                                             Wilkinson to New Castle cut 9/1/77 old PC Springfield Branch
Columbus, IN  L589-1/L589-2  North Vernon to Madison cut 9/1/77 old PC North Vernon Secondary
Decatur, IL     L609A/L609B     Decatur yard limits 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, IN L571-1/L571-2 Valley Jct to Brookville cut 8/1/79 old PC Whitewater Running Track, now owned by Indiana and Ohio Railway and still in service
Lawrenceville, IL L605-2    Lawrenceville to Paris, IL cut 1/1/79
Paris, IL(Midland) L605-1(later VWMI-48/VWMI-49 after 1978) Paris to Lawrenceville cut 7/1/81
                         L609-1/L609-2   Paris to Decatur, IL cut 12/1/77
 Â
