Conrail locomotive selection

[unittrain]

I'm modeling the era from 1978-1980 and I have just about finished my B&O fleet and Conrail predessecor locomotive fleets
and was wondering what would be the best locomotives in Conrail paint to select say 3 or 4 locomotives (those 4 being EMD GP's)
that would be a good representation of a typical Conrail freight from that era. I was thinking atleast 1 GP38-2
and 1 GP40-2 for starters. Any suggestions? I already have A Conrail SD40, B23-7 and a C424.

[ljudice]

Depends on the train type... Intermodals were getting the brand new GP40-2's...   

Mainline freights and locals - GP38, GP38-2, SD40's  - probably SD45's at that time as well.

A great resource are some of the contemporary videos/DVD's shot of early Conrail since they show typical trains on a typical workday...

Lou

http://www.mountainrails.com

[Ian MacMillan]

Check out the EXTENSIVE photo archives at www.thecrhs.org and take a look around at the lead units for your time frame. You'll find a lot of GP38, GP38-2's and some nice GP15-1 local action.

[wm3798]

It depends on if you're into painting and decaling.  And in the case of the SD40-2, significant rebuilding.  Others can give you a more comprehensive listing of available N scale locomotives available in Conrail Blue, but I think you'll do all right with Atlas GP40 and 40-2 models, the new GP-15-1, the MP-15 switcher.  I think the Life Like GP38-2 is out in CR, too.

A good way to check what's out there, go to eBay and do a search in N Scale for Conrail.

Lee

[FrankCampagna]

On the Hudson line in that era, the Selkirk to NYC freights were almost exclusively B23-7's, usually three units on a very long train. Locals changed from U25B's to GP-35's. The Selkirk to New Haven train via Beacon had just about anything. Saw a GP15-1 in the lead once. I think the early roadrailers were on the Empire State Xpress, behind ex Auto Train U36B's (EMD trucks). Commuter trains were anything and everything. Road SPV's, RDC's, dingy commuter cars sandwiched between a B23-7 and a U25B, E units. Interesting time. On the West Shore, it was anything goes.

Frank

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Don't forget the GP15-1 and GP30 combo:
http://thecrhs.org/?q=Images/CR-1648-at-Horseshoe-Curve-in-1984
and
http://thecrhs.org/?q=Images/CR-1648-at-Horseshoe-Curve-in-1984-0

Probably far from the rule, but one thing I've learned while looking at the thousands of images that have been added to the CRHS site (I monitor stuff as it gets added) is that the early CR era really didn't have the same disciplined locomotive utilization that the modern era seems to have brought.

See, both from 1982:
An SD40-2 on a short work train
http://thecrhs.org/?q=Images/CR-6374-leads-work-extra-6374-at-Thompsontown-PA-782

A GP35 leading a freight through Altoona
http://thecrhs.org/?q=Images/CR-3671-at-CP-Slope

[wm3798]

Well, in the early years, it was more important to find a couple of engines that WORKED.  It didn't matter what they were!


There were a lot of old soldiers that never died, too...!
Lee

[davefoxx]

I have always found it interesting that, on many roads, including Conrail, many first generation locomotives outlived second generation units.  Those early Geeps just kept on keeping on!

Dave

[John]

There is an ex CR Geep hauling trash over here in Jessup

[FrankCampagna]

Probably far from the rule, but one thing I've learned while looking at the thousands of images that have been added to the CRHS site (I monitor stuff as it gets added) is that the early CR era really didn't have the same disciplined locomotive utilization that the modern era seems to have brought.

Early Conrail was a continuation of the Penn Central. Run whatever was available. CR had a lot of GP38's and 38-2's, so those would be a good bet. But, mix and match was still the rule of the day.

Frank

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Lee! Where's that photo (and the rest)?

[wm3798]

Hidden in my vault.
Look in my Conrail gallery...  It's the MOW shop at Lewistown.  I thought you already kiped them.
Lee

[Dave V]

Hidden in my vault.
Look in my Conrail gallery...  It's the MOW shop at Lewistown.  I thought you already kiped them.
Lee

Aha!  So that's the American Viscose Corp structure behind those engines...

Lewistown is an awesome LDE.  Just ask Jerry Britton!

[ljudice]

Didn't early conrail hold on to the old "rule" of EMD's on the ex PRR lines and GE's on the ex NYC lines for a long time?

[daniel_leavitt2000]

I have always found it interesting that, on many roads, including Conrail, many first generation locomotives outlived second generation units.  Those early Geeps just kept on keeping on!

Dave

i have heard that most 2nd generation engines were ill suited for yard work. they would blow traction motors, burn out turbo chargers and had issues with controled starts, stops and qick changes in direction. the non-turbo engines were much more robust as well as engines equipt with modular electronics.