Conrail back in the 80's

[lock4244]

Dug this up while looking for 80's info. Thought some of the CRQ's here would find it an interesting read... dates to 1984.

http://www.trainlife.com/articles/688/modeling-early-conrail

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Oh yeah, that's a great article.

Jim Six's diesel detailing articles on 80s CR stuff is largely responsible for my desire to model that era. He did great stuff! I also really enjoyed his later southern stuff (ACL/SCL), but I'm a bit bummed he's gone all midwestern NYC now. Midwestern stuff like that seems to be so trendy right now in the MR press.

[wmcbride]

I remember some Model Railroader article he did on kitbashing a Conrail Dash-8(?) and the 4-foot or so diorama he had to accompany it (or maybe it was the diorama first and the engine just on it). I remember thinking at the time how great it looked but also of how much space it took for such a relatively small scene in HO.

Bill McBride

[lock4244]

Nice one on an SDP45 build. Would look better as an EL unit, but blue is also nice.

http://www.trainlife.com/articles/704/el-s-best-became-conrail-s-biggest-sdp45

[m301]

An absolutely fabulous article. Everyone in the beginning saw ConRail as a failure that PC was.
But the right people at the right time turned Conrail into the giant it was.
I am glad to say I owned stock Consolidated Rail.

Its passing was a huge loss a lot of us will miss.

[conrail98]

Thanks for the articles guys. Interesting, I've seen his layout featured a few times in MR and their specials. Reading the CRHS Quarterly and the article on the Marion Branch I kept saying to myself, I've seen this modeled somewhere before. Sure enough, it's the same line Jim's modeling in NYC times,

Phil

[Dave V]

[Wlal13again]

There was no doubt that when I had space I would model CR in the late 70`s early 80`s..just look at that neat stuff..

[LV LOU]

 I live right in the middle of where ALL those pre CR railroads ran,anthracite coal country,even the D&H ran less than a half mile from me to add to the interest.I just really got interested in trains in 74 or so,we all absolutely HATED CR when it first formed.I miss it now,those first ten years or so were probably the most awesome modeling era ever devised..All the old Northeast roads,EL,LV,CNJ,PC,PRR,RDG,L&HR,the addition of NYC,plus all the cool stuff from those roads that went to the D&H,all the crazy patch jobs,PLUS the run through stuff from B&O,C&O,N&W,SP,UP,BN,all the crazy mergers with the D&H,don't even mention leased stuff....I gotta stop,my head is gonna explode...No wonder I ended up with 500 locomotives..

[ai5629]

I have the print issue of Nov/Dec 1984 Prototype Modeler that started this thread.  It came out when I just started getting into model railroading.  Jim Six and Terry Stuart were the Conrail gods of modeling to me and my high school modeling buddy.  I loved all their  articles on modeling Conrail in Prototype Modeler and Model Railroading.  I couldn't beleive it when he switched prototypes to the ACL and SAL.  For the Conrail modeler, it was a sad day.  Thanks.

Jeff

[Leggy]

I've got a question for the Conrail-philes, it's past the era we're discussing but what are the thoughts on the SD80s? Conrail was the only buyer and they're synonymous with Conrail so what's the thoughts on them?

Other than that it's a good article, if I was in the US I'd definitely model them.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I haven't met a single CR fan who doesn't have a soft spot in their heart or head for them.

They're definitely awesome locomotives. I view them as CR's penultimate locomotive purchase. They knew where they were going, knew what they needed to get there, and purchased boldly and accordingly.

If you like the 80s, definitely check this out: http://thecrhs.org/ConrailEquipment/Locomotives/EMD/SD80MAC/Videos. Those are the crew familiarization videos for them from when they just came out.

[Ian MacMillan]

The 80MAC is my favorite CR locomotive ever. 2nd is the -8W, then it jumps right to the switchers.

[conrail98]

The 80MAC is my favorite CR locomotive ever. 2nd is the -8W

Wow, I have the exact some favorites and order. It's the reason I set the layout in 1996, I can run them and it's not merger time/public discussion yet,

Phil

[Ian MacMillan]

Wow, I have the exact some favorites and order. It's the reason I set the layout in 1996, I can run them and it's not merger time/public discussion yet,

Phil

Exact reason why I am doing 1996...