Conrail Windsor St Yard (York PA) Engineering Report

[Philip H]

Putting this on my calendar to attend. Not as an operator, though--I'll just stand around and make fun of everyone else...

Get in line.

[wm3798]

Wouldn't it be logical for the D&H train to roll on through to Windsor Street on its way to Pot Yards, too?  Didn't that traverse the Port Road?  I recall seeing D&H-powered trains on the corridor in the early 80s.

Better get some 38-2s in lightnin' stripe before you tear it all down.

Lee

[davefoxx]

Putting this on my calendar to attend. Not as an operator, though--I'll just stand around and make fun of everyone else...

I believe you have met the qualifications of "dispatcher." 

DFF

[davefoxx]

Wouldn't it be logical for the D&H train to roll on through to Windsor Street on its way to Pot Yards, too?  Didn't that traverse the Port Road?  I recall seeing D&H-powered trains on the corridor in the early 80s.

Better get some 38-2s in lightnin' stripe before you tear it all down.

Lee

I think at some point post-Conrail, D&H also got trackage rights to Pot Yard over the B&O's Philly Sub.

DFF

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Wouldn't it be logical for the D&H train to roll on through to Windsor Street on its way to Pot Yards, too?  Didn't that traverse the Port Road?  I recall seeing D&H-powered trains on the corridor in the early 80s.

Better get some 38-2s in lightnin' stripe before you tear it all down.

Lee

Haha, I was wondering how long it'd take for someone to point this out.

The D&H absolutely should be present. This is one aspect of the NCR that I've never really fleshed out too thoroughly, but will in a future version.

They have really cool power too, although the truly crazy stuff wasn't cleared for use on the NEC. I've been eyeing the Atlas GP39s for just that service. I'll need a bunch of cars for it too.

[coosvalley]

If your date is after 1984, it was Guilford at that point, so anything from MEC, B&M, and D&H would be appropriate for a D&H train.  In fact, I think they started pooling power before the merger/buyout/whatever..

[Ed Kapuscinski]

If your date is after 1984, it was Guilford at that point, so anything from MEC, B&M, and D&H would be appropriate for a D&H train.  In fact, I think they started pooling power before the merger/buyout/whatever..

85. And yep. That makes it even more fun. Except... I think I read somewhere that the fun stuff (like MEC U18Bs and various Alcos) weren't equipped or cleared for use on the Northeast Corridor. Which is a bummer. Because I'd love an excuse to have a U18B and C420.

[wm3798]

Nothing would keep them from running down to Windsor Street from Sunbury.  I used to catch them coming into Enola off the Buffalo line.







Surely those L&HR clunkers weren't rated for the corridor, but a leisurely trip down the NCR would have them in your yard, no problem!

Lee

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Surely those L&HR clunkers weren't rated for the corridor, but a leisurely trip down the NCR would have them in your yard, no problem!

That's true, but their trip would eventually be taking them to Pot Yard, hence the time on the NEC.

[coosvalley]

I can add to that, I did find plenty of shots of "whatever runs" at or on trains to Enola, but not for/at Pot yard, and I only looked for a few mins! I think they had runs that terminated at Enola, separate jobs from the ones for Pot yard. But I'm just going by photo evidence,however, I have some books on the D&H I can dig out later, so I'll see what I can find out.

[coosvalley]

From "Bridge Line Blues":

"D&H equipped GP39-2s 7611-7620 with cab signals to enable them to run on the NEC. Though the Washington trains were handled exclusively by the 7600s and other EMDs, D&H Alcos were used on Enola trains."

It makes no mention of GEs, but I'd guess they were considered more reliable than the Alcos?

The ex-CR GP40s purchased by Guilford(1984, I think), assigned to B&M, most of which were patched in their CR or PC colors, also had cab signals, though some were removed...

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I can add to that, I did find plenty of shots of "whatever runs" at or on trains to Enola, but not for/at Pot yard, and I only looked for a few mins! I think they had runs that terminated at Enola, separate jobs from the ones for Pot yard. But I'm just going by photo evidence,however, I have some books on the D&H I can dig out later, so I'll see what I can find out.

Ooh, I'd appreciate that!

I know the Allentown and Philly trains were a dogs breakfast, but from what I've seen the EMD thing holds pretty true for the Potomac Yard runs. I would LOVE to be wrong about that though!!

[Ed Kapuscinski]

From "Bridge Line Blues":

"D&H equipped GP39-2s 7611-7620 with cab signals to enable them to run on the NEC. Though the Washington trains were handled exclusively by the 7600s and other EMDs, D&H Alcos were used on Enola trains."

It makes no mention of GEs, but I'd guess they were considered more reliable than the Alcos?

The ex-CR GP40s purchased by Guilford(1984, I think), assigned to B&M, most of which were patched in their CR or PC colors, also had cab signals, though some were removed...

Damn.

Also, that's funny about the GP40s. I had a fun time trying to find which GP40s Conrail let go from their leases when I chose the pair I painted up. It'd have sucked to have done one that was off the property (although now, ironically, back ON the property) in 85.

Thanks for the info!!

[Point353]

85. And yep. That makes it even more fun. Except... I think I read somewhere that the fun stuff (like MEC U18Bs and various Alcos) weren't equipped or cleared for use on the Northeast Corridor. Which is a bummer. Because I'd love an excuse to have a U18B and C420.

What you want is an excuse to run a consist such as the one shown from 0:56 to 1:06 in this video:

[Ed Kapuscinski]

What you want is an excuse to run a consist such as the one shown from 0:56 to 1:06 in this video:

Yep! Exactly!!

Oh well.

It sounds like I'm stuck with EMDs though. Do we know if the ex-EL SD45s counted?