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EMD SD40-2 - Page 6
Numbered 6358-6524, Conrail's SD40-2s were found system wide heading up trains of all varieties as well as working on helpers over the famous Horseshoe Curve on the Pittsburgh Line.
Conrail acquired its SD40-2 fleet new from EMD in 1977, 78 and 79.
Conrail's SD40-2s had a feature unique to the road, the substitution of EMD's older Flexicoil trucks in place of the newly developed (and mistakenly believed to be flawed) HTC trucks that were delivered to all other SD40-2 owners.
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SD40-2 6406 shoves against N8B 23531 at the rear of the extra 2264 west in Washington, MA. in April, 1979.
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A quartet of CR blue leads a TV train down the Curve in August, 1981. CR SD-40-2 6408 (1977-built) heads the consist, followed by SD-45 6217, and GP-40's 3271 and 3272.
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Conrail SD40-2 6408 leads its train under a signal bridge near Toledo, OH on November 23, 1979. Photographer unknown, Chris Howe collection
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An trio of EMDs is lugging a westbound merchandise freight around Horseshoe back in 1981. In charge is SD40-2 6408, GP38 7912, and GP40 3217.
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CR 6409 & 6410 are seen on XSM-59E at Altoona, PA on 6/8/97.
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The 6409 aiding westbound tonnage through Bancroft, MA. in June, 1979.
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SD40-2 6409 working hard to " keep it moving with ConRail" at the rear of the extra 2798 west in Middlefield, MA. in June, 1979.
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The 6410 has OIBU in tow at "BD" interlocking in Binghamton, NY. on July 27, 1987.
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CR 6410 arriving with BOEL at North Adams Jct. in Pittsfield, MA. at 10:53. If the clearances beneath the Junction Rd. overhead look a little tight, they were. ConRail eventually undercut the tracks here by a couple of feet a few years later along with raising a number of small overhead bridges by the same amount.
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A neat mix of power leads ENBU-1 northbound passing MP 234 on the Buffalo Line. SD40-2 6410 leads U23B 2718 and GP10 7566 on the Buffalo bound mixed freight. Conrail 6410 later became famous as CSX 8888, the unit that was involved in the runaway train drama thru Ohio on 5/15/2001.
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CR 6411 and 7658 pull a string of empties at Conrail's Ashtabula Harbor Ohio Yard.
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Conrail SD40-2 6411 is seen trailing on an eastbound TV train at Bennington Curve in 1983.
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Conrail SD40-2 6411 is seen leading a westbound freight around Bennington Curve in 1984. Don't miss the ex-PC Centerflow covered hopper third car back in the consist. If only we had a photo of that one...
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ML 440 rolls 63 racks east, about to pass under NY 17C at west Endicott.
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Conrail 6411 and 2030 rest between assignments at Conrail's Ashtabula Harbor Ohio Yard
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CR 6412 & 6398 are seen shoving loaded slab train PMT-11 west at Johnstown, PA on 8/20/98.
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CR 6412 & LMS 708 are seen leading a WB at Altoona PA on 10/5/97.
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CR 6412 is seen at Cresson PA on 2/8/98. The 6412 was one of the 6400 series SD40-2s commonly found in the helper pool.
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CR 6412, 6368, 6425 & 5549 are seen on a WB at Cresson PA on 7/30/97. The 6412 was one of a few 6400 series SD40-2s that was used in the Altoona helper pool.
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I snapped this while driving to school one morning, March of 1992
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1977-built CR SD-40-2 6415 lined up with SD-40 6308 (ex-PC 6055) at the Bethlehem engine terminal in November, 1978.
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The 6415 leads BOSE out of the cut at Washington depot at 10:43 on Jan. 4, 1994.
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One year old CR SD-40-2 6416, U25B 2588 (ex-EL 2519), and GP38-2 8043 follow SD-45 6135 at Pitcairn, PA in August, 1978.
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CR SD40-2 6417 heads C30-7 6609* Test Unit through Allentown in July, 1978.
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On a Sunday afternoon in August 1981, Conrail SD40-2 No. 6417 leads a westbound freight on the IHB at Blue Island, IL. Doug Davidson photo with permission
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Conrail SD40-2 6417 is seen on a ballast cleaner at CP-Conpit in 1982. Seems like less-than-glamorous duty for a unit that is less than 5 years old at that point.
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CR C30-7 6609* Test Unit follows SD40-2 6417 through Bethlehem in July, 1978.
The 10 C30-7 3,000hp units were the first new six-axle power purchased by Conrail in 1977.
*Like 6609, many of the 10 C30-7's added a star and "Test Unit" under the model designation.
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Two days after Christmas, two SD40-2s bring PIEN from Pittsburgh to Enola through Duncannon PA.
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Conrail SD40-2 6418 is seen leading a westbound TV train through CP-Slope in Altoona in 1982.
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CR SD40-2 6418 (1977-built) leads former PC SD40 6252 in a quartet of power passing Valley Forge National park station on President's day, 1982.
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CR 6418 & PC 2875 are seen leading a North Bergen Extra at Ridgefield Park in March of 1978.
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CR SD40-2's 6419 and 6378 brake round the Curve as they head to Altoona in March, 1978.
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CR SD40-2's 6378 and 6419 brake round the Curve as they head to Altoona in March, 1978.
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A pair of SD-40-2s bracket an older SD-40 on a Buffalo bound coal train that is approaching the tower and diamond with the ex EL.
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The Tropicana Juice Train, OJT-6, is getting under way on Chessie System rails at CS's BA Tower in Bay View Yard. But, it won't be going east on the Philly Sub. It will pull down to North Point and then back over the connection to the Northeast Corridor to continue its journey north.
CR SD40-2s-6420 & 6519, with GP40-3200, are on the point.
2:45PM on 5/16/82 in East Baltimore, MD.
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TV-9 working upgrade by Ballou's in Washington, MA at 08:30 on July 2, 1994.
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A Westbound van train, since it is early morning it is probably TV-1.
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Conrail SD40-2 6424 is seen leading a coal train on CSX at Cumberland, MD in 1992.
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An eastbound Conrail freight rolls through Hammond on the Indiana Harbor Belt, behind SD40-2 No. 6424, in May 1982. Doug Davidson photo with permission
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SV6, formerly known as TV6, through the center of Hinsdale, MA. on Aug. 6, 1994.
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SD40-2 6424 storms over the crest of the grade at MP 142 in the center of Hinsdale, MA. with SV6 on the morning of Aug. 6, 1994.
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