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From: "Paul R DOT Tupaczewski" paultup AT comcast DOT net
Date: Mon, 12 May 2014 12:29:34 -0400
Subject: Block Line EL content - December 1976
"CR_former_EL_line_schedule_11-18-76.jpg" - image/jpeg, 1400x1161 (256c)

On to the last month in Conrail's first year: December 1976. Yet more schedule changes (hey fans of this era - did this drive you
nuts?), news about the proposed Newburgh Branch connection, tracking the last E- and F-units (which I find somewhat fascinating -
and I'm surprised more people didn't photograph them?), and other tidbits from east and west....

- Paul





DEC 76

[CONRAIL SCHEDULE ATTACHMENT scanned from newsletter]

CONRAIL NEWS FROM FORMER E-L COUNTRY. With six major changes in the freight picture on former E-L lines since we last published a
complete freight schedule, we felt it was definitely time for a complete update. The new tabl4e reflects alterations in the
schedules of CM-96, NY-74, NY-72, HB-91, TV-75 and TV-98 (whew!) since our last newsletter. Most involve time alterations due to new
set off and pick up assignments en route, although changes in HB-91, TV-75 and TV-98 reflect the closing of the Trailvan terminals
at Scranton, PA and Elmira, NY on November 18. One train which appeared on our former schedules, MB-2 (Meadville to Binghamton) has
been annulled effective November 5th (Frank Tatnall, Bob Bahrs)

END OF THE ERIE MAIN IN SIGHT??? Conrail's (ex-EL) Newburgh Branch will receive a manual block system between Newburgh and
Greycourt, apparently to allow Croxton and Mahwah trains to operate off the River Line (ex-NYC West Shore). This could permit
through trains from Chicago to operate over the ex-NYC via Selkirk, completely avoiding the remaining segment of the ex-Erie main
between Greycourt and Akron. It seems that Conrail has just too many east-west mainlines, and it looks like the E-L will be the
first to go. (Frank Tatnall)

MONTHLY E-UNIT UPDATE. The picture on the ex-EL passenger-turned-freight cabs looks a little better this month with 11 units
reported active, including three that were previously indicated to be retired. At least FIVE of the units (including the 825 now
#4014) have been renumbered:
#809 (now CRC #4000) - Work Extra, Anderson, IND to Elkhart on Nov. 19th
#812 - FW-8, Fort Wayne to Decatur Nov. 17th
#813 - EF-2, Elkhart to Ft. Wayne Nov. 6th
#814 (now CRC #4004) - CE-6, Chicago to Elkhart Nov. 4th
#818 (now CRC #4008)
#819 - Rail Extra, Conway to Crestline on Nov. 19th
#820 (now CRC #4010) - BP-6, Ashtabula to Buffalo, Nov. 19th
#821 - EF-2, Elkhart to Ft. Wayne, Nov. 13th
#822 - Placed at Altoona, Nov. 16th
#825 (now CRC #4014) - Extra, Elkhart to Kankakee, Nov. 16th
#833 - Cleveland to Youngstown passenger service.
(Courtesy Frank Tatnall)

AND ON THE F-UNIT SIDE OF THE FENCE.
#6321 - CA-3, Canton to Akron 11/19
#6361 - YT-3, Cleveland to Toledo 11/10
#7101 - BRC-75, Fort Wayne to Hamlet 11/16
#7104 - TJ-2, Cleveland to Bedford 11/8
#7111 - CF-1, Cleveland to Toledo 11/18
#7131 - TS-2, Toledo to Cleveland 11/15
#7134 - Placed at Altoon, 11/13
In addition, #7124 (previously reported as retired) was spotted on the servicing track at Enola on 11/12. (Frank Tatnall, J.
Heffron)

AND THE BICENTENNIAL UNITS. SD-45 #3632 was reported on CN-4, Buffalo to Renovo, on November the 19th. On the same day, its sister
SDP-45 #3638 ran from Bethlehem to Philadelphia on BPE-4. Correcting an erroneous item in our last issue.. The two units did NOT run
together on RR-1 and RR-3 in October. Each unit ran separately on those trains from Rutherford to Conway on SUCCEEDING days. (Frank
Tatnall)

CLEVELAND-YOUNGSTOWN SERVICE TO DIE JANUARY 16th: Carrying only 127 passengers a day, and piling up deficits of $240,000 per year,
the last vestiges of former E-L passenger service utilizing conventional equipment will pass into history on January 16, 1977.
Trains 28 and 29 (affectionately known by railfans as the "Youngstown trains") which are essentially commuter jobs, will take with
them the memories of mainline service operating into Terminal Tower, Cleveland. 29 is the westbound from Youngstown to Cleveland. 28
is its eastbound partner. In the last years, the train has consisted of 3 or 4 smooth sides from the ex-DL&W crack "Phoebe Snow"
pulled either by a passenger GP-7 in the summer months (a #1400 class) or an E-8 in the winter. Since #825 or 833 were the last
passenger-equipped E's in the E-L system, one of them usually got the assignment of late. On rare occasions, some other type of
power would pinch hit. The equipment was based at Brier Hill Yard in Youngstown.
No state agency went to bat for the service after Conrail took it over on April 1st. If you're planning a photo trip to shoot the
train, you'd better move fast, for you have but 60 days. (Rich Behrendt)

WITH NO SETTLEMENT IN THE UNITED PARCEL SERVICE. TV-10 and TV-77 are still annulled (but NOT TV-79). HB-1 rarely operates although
it is still carried on the Conrail freight schedule. (Frank Tatnall)

CONRAIL IS PLANNING TO INSTALL a new connection at "Nave" interlocking between the River Line and the former Erie to allow
run-through operations from Meadows Yard to Croxton. (Frank Tatnall)

CN UNITS STILL BEING SPOTTED in former E-L territory, but shoot fast gang. the lease probably will not be renewed when it comes up
on December 15th. (Frank Tatnall)

LOCAL EX-EL FREIGHT SERVICE OUT OF MARION OHIO. now sports 4 trains: RM-1/RM-2 (Marion to Mansfield and return); RM-3/RM-4 (Marion
to Mansfield and return); HD-1/HD-2 (Marion to Harrod and return); RD-1/RD-2 (Marion to Richwood and return). This territory is now
part of the Columbus Division of Conrail's Southern Region. (Rich Behrendt)

MORE NEWS FROM EX-EL WESTERN TERRITORY. The only through freight which is left on the old E-L line into Cleveland, OH is known as
CB-2/BC-1. (Prior to September 1, 1976 there was one other after Conrail took over. It was CM2/MC-1 and ran to and from Meadville,
PA). The ore extras are no more, as the ore terminal at Cleveland was closed on April 1, 1976. CB-2/BC-1 is a daily train between
the E. 55th St. Yard in Cleveland and and Brier Hill Yard in Youngstown. The crew is called at 5:30 PM, and the train, being already
made up, usually leaves between 6:30-7 PM. The motive power is positioned in an ideal spot for pictures, although they would have to
be time exposures at this time of the year. The crew turns at Brier Hill, returning to Cleveland between 1 and 5 AM. however, they
may not return with the same power. CB-2 usually has two road engines, however, on Saturdays, it may have three or more. The
extra(s) are dropped off at Randall, where there are three local jobs. Two are usually kept there, and the third is serviced on the
weekend at Cleveland. Power at the E. 55th St. Yard is assigned from Youngstown. The passenger E-8 and its three coaches spend the
day at E. 55th St. in-between the Youngstown runs. (John D.L. Johnson)

RS-3 ARRIVES ON THE LACKAWAXEN & STOURBRIDGE. The big day for the infant L&S (operating the former Erie Honesdale Branch from
Lackawaxen to Honesdale, PA) came on October 14, 1976, when their new (or should I say "new") unit arrived at the interchange in
Lackawaxen. As reported previously in the Block Line, the unit is an ex-Reading RS-3 #465, purchased from United Railway Supply.
Currently, the engine is in black paint with silver trim and trucks, however, Delaware Otsego personnel indicate that it just might
be repainted in the near future. although no color scheme was mentioned. Operations are pretty much status quo. crew leaves
Honesdale late AM or early PM after office work is completed. Work extras have been dropping ties in the early AM, and from the
looks of things, the track gang is in for some pretty heavy replacement work. (Staff)
By the way, #465 replaces FJ&G Alco S-2 #20, which was temporary power on the shortline. Frank Battito informs us that #20, C/N
74328 (Sept. 1945) was one of Alco's S-2 demonstrators.

CONRAIL NEWS: More repaints are being spotted all the time so if you are keeping a list, be sure to add the following spottings of
the past month:
U25B #2593 (ex-EL #2524) with logo 10/10



CR_former_EL_line_schedule_11-18-76.jpg

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