PC Freight on the BANTRAK Layout

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Glad to see my hometown railroad (Louisville & Nashville) represented right up front!


Gotta say, that PC train does look good...

Beautiful...  Only one nit to pick...

The LPG Tank car with the orange band is a 1980's animal, a Canadian regulation to make the cars more visible for first responders.

Here's a blog post from our own @cv_acr that gives some background.

http://vanderheide.ca/blog/category/equipment/rolling-stock/freight-cars/tank-cars/

that aside I'm loving the Pre Conrail goodness

Oooh! I did not know that. That's really good info for my mid 80s stuff.

[cjm413]

Needs more stolen LS&BC boxcars

http://www.trainweb.org/lsbc/theft.html

[Rich_S]

@Ed Kapuscinski Off topic, video background music, who was the musician and/or band, Maynard Ferguson?
Back on topic, great looking Penn Central general merchandise train. Be careful, the PC borg might sweep you away from Conrail       

[Missaberoad]

Oooh! I did not know that. That's really good info for my mid 80s stuff.

I wouldn't have brought it up if it didn't fit perfectly into your Conrail era. 

[Hamaker]

Did someone mention Maynard Ferguson ?!!!!

[Ed Kapuscinski]

@Ed Kapuscinski Off topic, video background music, who was the musician and/or band, Maynard Ferguson?
Back on topic, great looking Penn Central general merchandise train. Be careful, the PC borg might sweep you away from Conrail       

It's... "Cool Out" by Leroy Hutson. Released in 1975, so it's a bit new, but not by much.

And I'll tell you, even though my web address may be Conrail1285, my roster is starting to look more like 1278, or 1270-79.

[Dave V]

If you're going to do a PC vid, here's the only soundtrack you need...

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Needs more stolen LS&BC boxcars

http://www.trainweb.org/lsbc/theft.html

Man, I would LOVE for someone to do a run of those cars. I'd definitely be in for a few.

Does anyone make the right cars?

[Dave V]

Yeah, after doing this video a few years ago I realized I think I like Penn Central more than Conrail...   

[cjm413]

Man, I would LOVE for someone to do a run of those cars. I'd definitely be in for a few.

Does anyone make the right cars?

The car in the photo (LSBC 172447) is a patched ex-NYC PS-1 with a 6' Superior door.

Atlas offered a NYC PS-1 with a 6' Youngstown door, but LSBC apparently "stole" one of those to spare you the trouble of swapping out the door:

http://www.atlasrr.com/NFreight/n40ps1boxcar6.htm#.WFxsfnNMHqA

http://www.boxcars.us/Boxcars_A_M/L/images/138LSBC,%2040'%20Single%20Door%20Boxcar,%2017316.jpg

[MichaelWinicki]

Yeah, after doing this video a few years ago I realized I think I like Penn Central more than Conrail...   

The difference between the PC and post 1982 Conrail was night & day. 

There was a lot of RR history lost between 4-1-76 and '82, but after '82 it was pure carnage.

My feelings about CR parallel Lee's concerning the Chessie System.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

There was a HUGE change.

I think there's something to it though. Post 82 Conrail was a railroad in recovery, getting its act together, and kicking a$$. It lost some patina, but gained a new character.

[MichaelWinicki]

There was a HUGE change.

I think there's something to it though. Post 82 Conrail was a railroad in recovery, getting its act together, and kicking a$$. It lost some patina, but gained a new character.

Oh it was a totally different RR.

And yeah it was necessary.

But what was lost from the railfan perspective was devastating, but they were not the only ones.  Small local industry was looked upon as a pariah by CR management– CR had no interest in serving those folks. 

[Rich_S]

If you're going to do a PC vid, here's the only soundtrack you need...

Dave, I see your Superstition and raise you a Sir Duke

Now there's a video sound track, unless you're going to go full Zeppelin 

[Blazeman]

The difference between the PC and post 1982 Conrail was night & day. 

There was a lot of RR history lost between 4-1-76 and '82, but after '82 it was pure carnage.

I took a course for the ICC Practicioners License in Philadelphia during the last months of PC and early days of Conrail with a number of pricing analysts and managers from the railroad. They simply kept their jobs when the name on the door changed.

Universally, there was frustration with the lack of results their efforts would produce in so far as gaining or retaining profitable traffic due to equipment or service problems. I got to know them as people who tried so hard for their company that I had no alternative but to respect them despite the otherwise downward spiral of their company. One of them ultimately became VP of Marketing (Gordie Kuhn).

As Conrail untangled itself after a few years to function as a company with a direction, I felt good for those guys that by sticking it out and doing their jobs, they brought about a railroad all railroaders could be proud of and they in particular could be proud to work for.