I've been Penn-Centralized!

[3rdrail]

I kind of liked the PC. Who can argue with a railroad that owned almost every locomotive made? One of the reasons everyone hates it is the perception that when it fell, it dragged everyone else in the region with it. Of course, the CNJ, NH already bankrupt, the L&NE and O&W gone, and others already hurting, but we forget.

Frank

Actually, the ICC Order requiring the Penn Central to purchase the bankrupt New York, New Haven & Hartford for 125 million dollars it wasn't earning contributed significantly to the bankruptcy. Another significant contributor were the two incompatible computer systems. It took three weeks to get a freight bill to the customer after the service was performed. A small army was riding the "clockers" between New York and Philadelphia every day carrying computer tapes. There were days where there were 16,000 cars separated from their waybills. These clogged the yards as the yard forces had no idea where to put them.

Then they made me haul around a TV with video player with a video called "We Built a Winner."  >

[3rdrail]

"Standing derailments?" The PRR had at least a dozen in Baltimore alone come the first Spring thaw when I worked there. The only thing holding the spikes in place was the ice! Especially Calvert Street Yard by the State Pen.

So, those antedated the Penn Central.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Mmmm...

[asciibaron]

i have been on the fence to jump ahead to 1973 with a PC based layout  - I have plenty of source material, but i like modeling the last days of the PRR because it was in such dire condition.  a shadow of it's former glory and read to crumb, literally.  if i can't get enough cars for convincing TT3 and TT4, than i'm jumping ahead to '73.

-Steve

[randgust]

You don't realize how much modern railroading was influenced by PC.  I already brought up vegetation control, but the relationships between track geometry and speed were basically what the railroad wanted to risk back in the early 70's. 

One local episode involved the 100-ton HPAX  (Hammermill Paper) Thrall wood chip hoppers running across PA.   The local car shop that worked on them had a nice contract - renewing the bottom sheets.   Basically the wheels, and flanges, would beat holes in the bottom of the car from the rough PC track, and the chips would start leaking out sufficiently to slowly empty the car.

Now THAT's rough track.  I happened to be close trackside once for one of those passing wood chip trains, and the racket of wheels hitting the bottom of the cars, combined with the vertical bounce on the rail ends, loose bars, pumping spikes, etc., sent me running for safety.

I'll also never forget being unable to find the junction between PC and the Wellsville, Addison & Galeton at Ansonia, PA, in August 1974.  It looked like a cornfield.  I finally spotted a junction sign and walked in.  I tripped over the WAG, and felt for the PC, but couldn't get a picture of anything - the weeds were too high to see anything in the viewfinder.   I had a Pocket List of Railway Officials with me and I was astounded that ANYBODY would admit to being the track supervisor of the WAG, or the PC.

[Dave V]

Replace "cowbell" with "Conrail."

[asciibaron]

"Baby, I gotta have more Conrail!"

[wm3798]

Hey, if Dave wants more Conrail, I say we give him more Conrail!






Lee

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Lee, what's the story with 7556? WHere were those taken? Damn I love CR GP7s, 8s, 9s and 10s...

[Dave V]

Speaking of "Moah Conrail!!!"...

What's the deal on the Spectrum SD45?  The Favorite Spot (an eBay store I've dealt with before) has 'em DIRT CHEAP in Reading, Pennsy, and CR.  Buy it now for $35, or some of the auctions in the teens.

It says "DCC ready..."  Is there room for the decoder?  Other question is whether the model is close enough to the real thing.  You Conrail guys can be at least as picky as us Pennsy guys!

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Spectrum SD45? Don't waste your time bro.

[Dave V]

Spectrum SD45? Don't waste your time bro.

Understood.  Figured I'd ask first!

[wm3798]

Lewisport.... er... Lewistown, circa 1989. ;D

Lee

[asciibaron]

Spectrum SD45? Don't waste your time bro.

Understood.  Figured I'd ask first!

I'll sell you mine for REAL cheap.

-Steve

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Prod, prod...
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=230712