Altoona Pa: Conrail Blue survivors

[kaback9 0]

These are shots of the Conrail blue units I photographed while out in Altoona:

 

We start out with a Dash 8 in blue leading a trailer train:

http://kaback9.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1657782

 

Next we head over to the shops a few SD50's were sitting around awaiting an uncertain fate but the consensus seems to be that they will become SD40-E's, I still hope they may just paint them black and let them keep going.

http://kaback9.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1659195

http://kaback9.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1659199

http://kaback9.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1659203

http://kaback9.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1659205

http://kaback9.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1659213

 

Then spotted some Blue GP38's(not -2's):

http://kaback9.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1659220

http://kaback9.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1659229

http://kaback9.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1659238

 

Then sitting outside the main shop building with some other locomotives was NS 2918 still in blue but looking as if used for parts:

http://kaback9.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1659298

 

Finally while in Altoona I caught a trio of SD60I's powering an empty Coal train, the two trailing units were in blue:

http://kaback9.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1657796

http://kaback9.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1657801

 

Enjoy!

[Paul P 0]

Even though I'm not much of a big fan of Conrail, their locos look very vivid in those blue colors. Thanks for sharing!

[Brighton Local 703]

Beautiful Dude! Conrail has always been my favorite freight road..:tup:

[metsfan 2]

Nice photos! :eek: :tup:

 

Teardrop windows FTW!

 

I think those 50's are gonna get smaller trucks, get shortened & get smaller new evo prime movers & black NS paint. Does that make them 40-e's? B):confused:

 

I think most conrail units are old enough that they will be either made into switchers, downgraded in power, or scrapped, and there's always the chance of them going to another 'road akin to the E-60's after pax service.

 

- A

[kaback9 0]

Even though I'm not much of a big fan of Conrail, their locos look very vivid in those blue colors. Thanks for sharing!

 

Thanks and your welcome!

 

I guess its a little before your time, but some of my best memories as a little kid are of Conrail freight trains, so they hold a special place in my heart, though I don't mind NS or CSX also.

 

Beautiful Dude! Conrail has always been my favorite freight road..:tup:

 

Thanks! The story above explains why I love good old Conrail!

 

Nice photos! :eek: :tup:

 

Teardrop windows FTW!

 

I think those 50's are gonna get smaller trucks, get shortened & get smaller new evo prime movers & black NS paint. Does that make them 40-e's? :confused:

 

I think most conrail units are old enough that they will be either made into switchers, downgraded in power, or scrapped, and there's always the chance of them going to another 'road akin to the E-60's after pax service.

 

- A

 

Thanks Andy!

 

Yeah those will be SD40E's...all they do is put the guts of an SD40-2 in the SD50 body and make it eco-friendly. Suprisingly though most Conrail units are just as old as Norfolk Southern's own SD40-2's,GP38s,-2,s and GP40-2's. In fact I saw more High Hood NS units being used for rebuilds with more ex CR units actually running around so who knows NS's logic.

 

Sadly though nothing will get Conrail blue unless NS wants to do heritage unit(actually thats technically NS 5290(GP38-2) which is CR Blue OLS which was done after the merger. and there was the Spirit of Conrail which is becoming a yard slug..)

[metsfan 2]

Ah, i see! I think they may retain blue patches after rebuild (i hope). :cool:

 

- A