Nostalgia & History > Two for Tuesday during the "Summer of Conrail"

On August 5, 1976 in Conrail's first summer, my father Stephen J. Benkovitz lensed this ho-hum consist of a C425/F7A/F7A, with the first F7A in lovely blue-dip Conrail blue.  C425 was originally PRR, whereas the F7As were of NYC heritage.

Train is heading south through Crestline, OH on the ex-NYC "Big Four" line from Cleveland to Columbus, crossing the ex-PRR Fort Wayne line.  Quite a place back in the day.

Thanks for viewing.

Rob Benkovitz
West Palm Beach Florida

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Super rare catch!
Bob

Hard to believe it's been 50 years... :^(

Lance

Great catch.  Wasn't that the only F unit to be repainted in Conrail Blue?
John in White Marsh, Maryland

I remember that train and I think that was the only F unit to get blue paint.

Since my brother Steve (TO handle stevelv) chimed in, I need to post one more from that day (does this make it Three for Tuesday?  Not quite the same ring!).

Earlier in the day, here's an eastbound on the ex-PRR Fort Wayne line.  You can spot some of the PRR-era refueling infrastructure on the right, and the two figures on the left are an 8-year-old yours truly and a 14-year-old stevelv.  I know I took some black and whites on this trip, and Steve definitely had a camera, but I'm not sure if he took slides or B&W negs.  Someday I hope to locate and scan the B&Ws, but there are just so many slides to get to first!!

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ClubCar Wrote:
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> Great catch.  Wasn't that the only F unit to be
> repainted in Conrail Blue?
> John in White Marsh, Maryland

Yes it was.  Ben

That was a really good catch even by early Conrail standards. Looks to be one of the first trips for the blue dip 1648.

Roger Durfee
Cuyahoga Falls, OH

ClubCar Wrote:
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> Great catch.  Wasn't that the only F unit to be repainted in Conrail Blue?
> John in White Marsh, Maryland
It was the only freight F....there were several FL9s in CR blue.

Roger Durfee
Cuyahoga Falls, OH

Great shots !  The unit was later renumbered to make way for the GP15's and it has fooled people into thinking there were  2  blue F7s ; one unit with two different numbers .

Great look back. A privilege to have met you all.
JB

rebenko wrote: >> On August 5, 1976 in Conrail's first summer,

Not that anyone would care, but that was my 18th birthday!

Jeff Gast
Greenwood, Indiana   

Outstanding, thanks for the look.
—Mac

stevelv Wrote:
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"...I think that was the only F unit to get blue paint."

Correct!  Further discussion here: https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?11,5999246

Thanks for posting your Dad's pics, Rob.  Great memories!

mike woodruff
north platte ne