Nostalgia & History > Conrail work train on Keating Grade 32 years ago OTD

On 11/26/88 I was hoping to catch some action on Conrail's Buffalo Line and particularly on the short but steep Keating Grade that lies just north of Emporium,PA.  First shot of the helper set that was stationed at Emporium,PA. (CR 6595,6389,6361)  I was hoping to see these units hard at work shoving a train to the top at Keating Summit but the only train that morning turned out to be WOR-122 which was a work train with one GP38-2 and 17 cars loaded with MOW and track equipment heading for Buffalo.  Next 2 shots are the WOR-122 passing the helper set at Emporium.

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Top shot of the train leaving Emporium (MP 121 Buffalo Line) and heading for the base of Keating Grade which is at Gardeau (MP 113). Middle shot of the WOR-122  midway up the hill at MP 109.5.  At this point the grade is around 2.6% and that GP38-2 was really straining and down to 5 MPH.  Bottom shot is CR 8089 cresting the top at Keating Summit (MP 108). The sound was tremendous.

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Final shot further up the line and back on the level at Wrights,PA. (MP 102)   Although I didn't get to see a tonnage train get pushed up the hill, that GP38-2 put on a good show and made the grade.

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Well a clean GP-38 and CR Fish belly MOW flats with equipment are pretty darn good for only one train.
This would be a cool one to model in HO! I really dig those flats! Thanks for sharing and Happy Thanksgiving!

Those broad valleys and hardwood covered mountains back east really make for some great photos!  

Renovo and Emporium were great railroad towns back in the steam era.

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Great series Rod. One place I never "bothered" to visit during Conrail. Your photos make me wish I had !

Roger Durfee
Akron, OH

First-rate set of images.
Bob