The Heritage Series Norfolk Southern Takes Over The Middle Division
Come along for a look at the
former Pennsylvania Railroad line over the Alleghenies and around Horseshoe
Curve in the first half of the 21st Century’s first decade, as
remnants of Conrail survived even as the Norfolk Southern image had firmly
taken hold.
The show begins with a quick
look at the last day of Conrail before its splitting up between Norfolk
Southern and rival CSX. Videographer
George Redmond went trackside on the former P.R.R. mainline between Effingham
and Vandalia, Illinois, to capture the end of the Conrail era.
Next, we head to Pennsylvania
for several visits in 2004 and 2005.
There was no doubt that this was now a Norfolk Southern route, complete
with Triple Crown roadrailer trains! But
among the black diesels sporting the thoroughbred logo, there were still plenty
locomotives still showing off their Conrail blue. It was a time that N.S. was short of power to
the point that a number of new G.E. locomotives were delivered in primer,
bypassing the paint shop to get them on the road fast. Several of them make an appearance before the
camera.
Locations include Cassandra,
Lilly, Cresson, Gallitzin, Horseshoe Curve, and Tyrone.
There is plenty of mountain railroad
action, as there are numerous meets and trains racing side by side in multiple
locations. Additionally, we see plenty
of train from Amtrak’s Keystone Service and the now discontinued Pennsylvanian
makes an appearance; complete with a refrigerated boxcar bringing up the rear.
It’s plenty of action during
the transition from yesterday to today.
