One for Lee (WM3798)

[3rdrail]

The other day, Chris333 posated a copy of a Howard Fogg post card with a scene from the Pittsburgh & Lake Erie. This reminded me that I have the book of prints sent out by John Barriger when he was President of the P&LE.

So, I was looking through it, and found this painting of a WM freight, pulled by F7's, at the Connellsville, PA, interchange. I thought Lee would appreciate seeing it:



Hope y'all enjoy it.

[Chris333]

I have that same book Gregg. Hard to scan without removing them, but I like having the complete book rather than buying the cards one at a time on E-bay.

So what is WM doing in PA?

[3rdrail]

I have that same book Gregg. Hard to scan without removing them, but I like having the complete book rather than buying the cards one at a time on E-bay.

So what is WM doing in PA?

No, these are not cards, Chris, these are 8 x 10 prints on pebbled art print paper and cannot be removed from the book. 

[Bob Bufkin]

The WM interchanged with the P&LE there.  Reading, WM, P&LE, and several other RR's were part of the famous Alpha bet route.  Some of the photos I've posted on here from the mid 70's was taken on a trip from Baltimore to Connellsville for their Maple festival.  60+ degrees in B-more so I didn't wear warm clothes.  Got in PA and cold and snowing.  Great trip anyways.

[wm3798]

Thanks, Bob.  Does a body good to see such art.

Yeah, between the Dutch Line, the York Sub, and the Connellsville Sub, the WM was in PA almost as much as it was in its name sake state.  Between PA and WV, it was out of state more than it was in!

I'm hoping to glimpse some of the bones of the Alphabet Route when I'm up that way in a couple of weeks.
Lee

[Bob Bufkin]

One of my favorite vehicles is the Jitney used around those parts.  Morning Sun's book on Freight and Passenger Equipment and the other book (forget the name) have some great photos of this and other equipment and facilities.  You sometimes never knew what kind of power would be on the head end of the trains into and out of Connellsville.  Never saw any P&LE but did see B&O, N&W, Reading, CNJ (rarely) and one time even a PC unit (how that got in there I'll never know). 

[Chris333]

No, these are not cards, Chris, these are 8 x 10 prints on pebbled art print paper and cannot be removed from the book.

Ahh my book is all post cards. I did buy one single 8x10 print:
http://picasaweb.google.com/ErieChris333/ProtoPhotos/photo#5069924984521596338
Guess I will keep an eye out for the bigger book. 

[wm3798]

One of my favorite vehicles is the Jitney used around those parts.  Morning Sun's book on Freight and Passenger Equipment and the other book (forget the name) have some great photos of this and other equipment and facilities.  You sometimes never knew what kind of power would be on the head end of the trains into and out of Connellsville.  Never saw any P&LE but did see B&O, N&W, Reading, CNJ (rarely) and one time even a PC unit (how that got in there I'll never know). 

The P&LE was part of the New York Central system, which was very friendly toward the Alphabet Route, being as its primary objective was to siphon as much traffic off of the PRR as possible.  After the PC merger, the P&LE came under the tutelage of the mating worms, although it continued to operate quasi-independently.  It wouldn't have been unusual to see Penn Central power running over the P&LE under such circumstances.  After Conrail, the P&LE went fully independent again, and lasted into the late 80's until the steel business around the Golden Triangle dried up.  At that point CSX took it over lock stock and barrel.

Lee

[Chris333]

I'm sure everyone knows the Erie ran passenger trains from Cleveland to Pittsburgh, they didn't have tracks to Pitts. They changed track in Youngstown and the trains would not switch crews or power. P&LE/NYC crews/locos could be seen in Cleveland and Erie crews/locos could be seen in Pittsburgh.

This Erie freight house in Y-town was jointly owned by the P&LE even though it was on the Erie main:


I can dig the P&LE, wish I was around back then.

[GonzoCRFan]

After the PC merger, the P&LE came under the tutelage of the mating worms, although it continued to operate quasi-independently.  It wouldn't have been unusual to see Penn Central power running over the P&LE under such circumstances.  After Conrail, the P&LE went fully independent again, and lasted into the late 80's until the steel business around the Golden Triangle dried up.  At that point CSX took it over lock stock and barrel.

I believe the P&LE was the only element of the PC that actually turned a profit. But anyways, the P&LE actually managed to limp along until 1992, when it was liquidated. Probably the only reason it existed so long past the 84-86 mill closures was the CSX run-throughs. But CSX didn't actually take over the whole thing, a lot of the rolling stock and all the motive power was sold off. CSX only really wanted the route itself.