Nostalgia & History > CR-CSX Office Car Special 27 years ago OTD Hagerstown-Pittsburgh

On 3/5/92 Conrail and CSX ran a joint Office Car Special from Hagerstown,MD. to Pittsburgh,PA. Conrail's E-8s 4021 and 4020 provided the power for this move. There were 9 cars in the consist. CSXT Baggage Car 362, CR #1, CR #8, American European Express-"Paris", CSXT #363 "Kentucky", CSXT #300 "North Carolina", American European Express-"Zurich", CSXT #315 "Indiana", and CSXT #318  Track Observation Car. I can't recall the reason for this particular trip. Hoping someone out there can fill that in.  The symbol given for this move was P-923-05. The train departed Hagerstown at 6 AM. A combination of being run that early and some fog along the Potomac valley made it tough for photography, but we gave it our best shot.   #1  P-923-05 still on the ex-WM crossing the bridge at McCoys Ferry,MD. at 7 AM.   #2  Coming into North Branch,MD. on the ex-B&O passing under the ex-WM bridge at 8:10 AM.   #3 Making a stop at the Amtrak station in Cumberland,MD. at 8:15 AM.

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#4  Train departed Cumberland at 8:30 AM and is seen passing Viaduct Jct. heading for Sand Patch.   #5  We were pacing the train through the narrows and I grabbed a shot of the Track Observation Car near Mt. Savage.   #6   We took Rte 160 and headed up the mountain for Mance,PA. The fog seemed to get thicker, but just below Mance we broke through into clear skies. Happy Days ! This turned out to be the shot of the day. The E units sounded great roaring by us at 9:15 AM.

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#7   Framed the Theater Car under the Mance Store porch.   #8 and #9     We gave it a shot and managed to beat the train to Connellsville. We stood on the famous foot bridge and got him passing "VI" and the old hump tower at 10:50 AM.  CSX was in the process of tearing up the old yard. They had been storing old cars here for some time. This is where we gave up the chase and spent the rest of the day photographing freights. I want to thank my pal Tom Luckey for doing all the driving for this chase. Chris Bost was also along with us for this chase. It was an awful lot of driving for just a few shots, but we were satisfied with the results. What the Heck. Somebody has to do it !

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If I remember when I let Tom know about this special, I do belive it was some sort of joint venture with Conrail and CSX about some major coil steel business between the 2 railroads, but take it with a grain of salt.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 03/05/19 18:39 by dozerman.

the video still looks great. Rodney, remember when we were doing 75 on I68 and that Md. State Trooper went blowing right by us? Great train great day! I believe this was a 3 day trip that started in Jacksonville

tom



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/05/19 15:40 by globalethanol.

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Yes Thomas, You drove like a demon that day ! What a great video !

What a rare movement. I’ve made that chase from Mance to Connellsville several times - and not always successfully. i know you guys had to be haulin’ butt! Terrific coverage and thanks for sharing.

P92103 - March 3, 1992
DP Jacksonville 0630
BY Savannah  0845
AR. Florence  1200
DP Florence  1235
AR Rocky Mount  1530 (Inspection Tour)
DP Rocky Mount  1630
AR Richmond 1900 -- Layover

P92204
DP Richmond  0645
BY Pot Yard  0845
By Halethorpe  1015
AR Philadelphia Eastside  1215
DP Philadelphia Eastside 1230 - to Conrail
BY Capital  1530
BY Lurgen 1700 - to CSX
AR Hagerstown  1830 -- Layover

P92305
DP Hagerstown  0630
BY Miller  0745
AR Cumberland  0930
DP Cumberland 0945
AR Connellsville  1215
DP Connellsville 1230
BY Pittsburgh Glenwood  1350
BY Pittsburgh Field  1410 - to CR
AR Pittsburgh Amtrak 1430

Consist
CR 4020
CR 4021
CSXT 362
CR 1
CR 8
AMTK 800290 - Paris
CSXT 363 - Kentucky
CSXT 300 - North Carolina
AMTK 800301 - Zurich
CSXT 315 - Indiana
CSXT 318

Trip was a regular quarterly inspection trip.  At least one each year would be joint with a significant connecting carrier.  Nothng more interesting than that.  Great video -- a real trip down Memory Lane.  

Gordon

  



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 03/05/19 19:25 by gbmott.

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Thanks Gordon, I never knew that.

Back when there was still some class with CSX,  I love the photos but I especially love the video, all first class quality.  Nothing like those E units on a passenger train if one cannot have steam.  Thanks so much for posting and sharing these photos and the video.
John in White Marsh, Maryland

Really nice video. Certianly deserving of video of the day.

Posted from iPhone

Yes indeed! Great memories.
 

Chris Bost
Leesport, PA