http://rrslideshow.com/jdemike/main.php http://rrslideshow.com/jdemike/v/mhinsdale/mhinsdale_046/001+CR+E+Bd++_+Osceola+IN+_W+of+Elkhart+Yd___+Feb+_77.jpg.html 14846 At the west end of Conrail's Elkhart Yard, two Geeps lead an eastbound train through Osceola IN, as snowflakes begin to fall. http://rrslideshow.com/jdemike/v/mhinsdale/mhinsdale_046/002+CR+W+Bd+_+Rochester+PA__+Feb+_77.jpg.html 14850 Also in February 1977, a weekend trip to the Youngstown-Pittsburgh area yielded this view of a westbound passing Rochester Tower at Rochester PA. http://rrslideshow.com/jdemike/v/mhinsdale/mhinsdale_046/003+CR+E+Bd+near+Rolling+Prairie+IN__+Sept+_76.jpg.html 14853 In September 1976, an eastbound train struggles up the grade east of Otis IN on the former NYC main line. http://rrslideshow.com/jdemike/v/mhinsdale/mhinsdale_046/004+CR+E+Bd+near+Otis+IN__+Sept+_76.jpg.html 14856 On the same morning, another eastbound train near Rolling Prairie IN is headed by an ex EL covered wagon. http://rrslideshow.com/jdemike/v/mhinsdale/mhinsdale_046/005+CR+%234014+_+Brier+Hill+_Youngstown_+OH__+Feb+_77.jpg.html 14859 In February 1977, Conrail was still operating the former EL's weekday Youngstown-Cleveland commuter train. #4014, which would later become one of Conrail's "Executive E's" gets serviced at Brier Hill after arriving from Cleveland. http://rrslideshow.com/jdemike/v/mhinsdale/mhinsdale_046/006+CR+W+Bd__+Whiting+Twr+_ex+PRR_+IN__+Jun+_77.jpg.html 14862 In June 1977, a westbound on the former PRR Fort Wayne main line drifts by Whiting Tower in Whiting IN, behind an ex NYC "big screen" U 25 B. The PRR line, which is gone today, crossed a B&OCT branch line here. http://rrslideshow.com/jdemike/v/mhinsdale/mhinsdale_046/007+CR+E+Bd+_on+P_amp_LE_+Near+Lowellville+OH__+Feb+_77.jpg.html 14865 In February '77, an eastbound Conrail coal train makes its way down the P&LE main line east of Lowellville OH. The B&O's Pittsburgh-Akron-Chicago main line is adjacent. http://rrslideshow.com/jdemike/v/mhinsdale/mhinsdale_046/008+CR+%231729-1851__+Riverdale+_IHB+Blue+Is+Yd_+IL__+Aug+_77.jpg.html 14868 Visits to the north side (main line) engine facility at IHB's Blue Island Yd always seemed to turn up something interesting. CR F's 1729 & 1851 await their next assignment in August 1977. http://rrslideshow.com/jdemike/v/mhinsdale/mhinsdale_046/009+CR+W+Bd+_on+IHB_+_+Chgo+Ridge+IL__+Jun+_77.jpg.html 14871 A westbound Conrail train bangs across the N&W (ex Wabash) at Chicago Ridge on the IHB. B&OCT actually owns and maintains this segment of the IHB main line. http://rrslideshow.com/jdemike/v/mhinsdale/mhinsdale_046/010+CR+Tnsfr+Job+_+Riverdale+_ICG+Markham+Yd_+IL__+Jun+_77.jpg.html 14874 In June, 1977 at Riverdale IL, a Conrail transfer job approaches the north end of ICG's Markham Yd, as an ICG yard crew pulls out another cut of cars to switch. http://rrslideshow.com/jdemike/v/mhinsdale/mhinsdale_046/011+CR+W+Bd+_on+IHB_+_+Alsip+IL+_123rd+St___+Jul+_77.jpg.html 14877 A Conrail manifest train heads west on the IHB near 123rd St. in Alsip IL. The train is likely heading for Proviso given the trailing C&NW unit. http://rrslideshow.com/jdemike/v/mhinsdale/mhinsdale_046/012+CR+E+Bd+_on+IHB_+_+Dolton+IL__+Jun+_77.jpg.html 14880 On a very hot & humid June 1977 day, an eastbound Conrail train behind ex RDG #3623 pulls through Dolton IL. The engineer will need that headlight turned on in the haze! http://rrslideshow.com/jdemike/v/mhinsdale/mhinsdale_046/013+Leased+UP+_PNC_+power+_+CR+Hughart+Yd__+Gd+Rapids+MI++Mar+_77.jpg.html 14883 On the eve of Conrail's first anniversary, a trio of ex UP Geeps, now owned by Precision National Corp (PNC) await their next task at Conrail's Hughart Yard in Grand Rapids MI. Precision National leased units were common in 1977-78. http://rrslideshow.com/jdemike/v/mhinsdale/mhinsdale_046/014+CR+Trn+%23+322+_+21st+St+Chicago__+Aug+_77.jpg.html 14886 The first of two weekday Chicago-Valpariso IN commuter trains, #322, heads out of Union Station at 21st Street behind two CR Geeps in August '77. http://rrslideshow.com/jdemike/v/mhinsdale/mhinsdale_046/015+New+CR+Pwr+_+IHB+Blue+Is+Yd__+Riverdale+IL++Sep+_77.jpg.html 14889 On their maiden trip from La Grange IL, three new Conrail SD 40-2's rest at IHB's Blue Island Yd main line loco facility. This was the first new Conrail power I ever saw. http://rrslideshow.com/jdemike/v/mhinsdale/mhinsdale_046/016+CR+Pwr+_+Hughart+Yd__+Gd+Rapids+MI++Mar+_77.jpg.html 14892 The lineup of power at Conrail's Hughart Yard in Grand Rapids MI was entirely comprised of U Boats on this crisp day in March '77. http://rrslideshow.com/jdemike/v/mhinsdale/mhinsdale_046/017+CR+W+Bd+_on+IHB_+_+Calumet+Park+IL__+May+_77.jpg.html 14895 A westbound Conrail train traverses the reverse curves on the IHB at Calumet Park IL, heading toward Blue Island. Note the open, loaded auto racks; standard for the time. http://rrslideshow.com/jdemike/v/mhinsdale/mhinsdale_046/018+CR+E+Bd+_on+ex+PRR_+_+Dolton+IL__+May+_77.jpg.html 14898 Creeping down Conrail's ex PRR "Panhandle" main line at Dolton IL, a heavy eastbound train includes leased Bangor & Aroostook #86 in its loco consist. May 1977. http://rrslideshow.com/jdemike/v/mhinsdale/mhinsdale_046/019+CR+W+Bd+_+MP+79+near+Scio+OH+_Custer___+Apr+_79.jpg.html 14901 IN April 1979, a westbound Conrail merchandise train passes MP 79 near Scio OH on the ex PRR Pittsburgh-Columbus main line. Within a year, through traffic would vacate this route. http://rrslideshow.com/jdemike/v/mhinsdale/mhinsdale_046/020+CR+Pwr+_+Conway+Yd+_Pgh_+PA__+Oct+_76.jpg.html 14904 Conway Yard, near Pittsburgh, always offered an amazing assortment of power in Conrail's early years. Even the former CNJ's one and only "Red Baron" got into the act. http://rrslideshow.com/jdemike/v/mhinsdale/mhinsdale_046/021+CR+%23+1891+_+Riverdale+_IHB+Blue+Is+Yd_+IL__+Aug+_77.jpg.html 14907 An ex EL covered wagon waits in the weeds at IHB's Blue Island Yard in August 1977. Although it appeared a bit forlorn, it would be on an outbound train within two hours. http://rrslideshow.com/jdemike/v/mhinsdale/mhinsdale_046/022+CR+W+Bd+_+Swan+Creek+_Toledo_+OH__+Dec.jpg.html 14910 Swan Creek was the junction of the ex NYC Buffalo-Chicago main line with the Toledo-Detroit line in western Toledo. A westbound coal train passes the tower in December 1978. http://rrslideshow.com/jdemike/v/mhinsdale/mhinsdale_046/023+CR+E+Bd+_+Wayne+Jct+MI__+Mar+_79.jpg.html 14913 On a typical gray March '79 day in Michigan, an eastbound Conrail train hammers the C&O Toledo Subdivision diamond at Wayne Jct. http://rrslideshow.com/jdemike/v/mhinsdale/mhinsdale_046/024+CR+E+Bd+dptg+IHB+Blue+Is+Yd+_+Riverdale+IL__+Sep+_77.jpg.html 14916 An eastbound Conrail train departing IHB's Blue Island Yd is about to pass under School St. with one of the former EL's two bicentennial SD 45's on the point. September '77. http://rrslideshow.com/jdemike/v/mhinsdale/mhinsdale_046/025+CR+E+Bd+_+Vickers+_Toledo_+OH__+Mar+_79.jpg.html 14919 The Ann Arbor was not folded into Conrail, but it was broken in two as a result of the creation of Big Blue. CR and AA teamed up on a run through sand move to and from Ford's Cleveland Engine Plant. Here, the eastbound loads pass Vickers on the eastern ed