THE HISTORY OF PENN CENTRAL AND CONRAIL-1976-1997

Charles Smiley Presents Videos
Charles Smiley Presents Videos
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Published 2024-01-12
This NEVER BEFORE SEEN 34-minute video is one chapter of a 2-hour and 20-minute DVD historic documentary of the forming of Conrail that made a success out of the chaos of eastern railroading in a troubled time. Scenes were shot by Tom Luckey, Jack Kuiphoff and Tim Hosey in this project.

This is the 1976 to 1997 story of the Consolidated Rail Corporation, widely known as Conrail. It was created from the bankrupt Penn Central and a number of other bankrupt northeastern roads in 1976. We bring the early years of rebuilding, and the later years of a successful operation, that surprised nearly everyone. Everyone that is except the committed employees and the leadership Conrail had during its four phases of existence. This was like a four-act play -- with every element needed to make a great story that will be studied by business analysts and rail historians for years to come. The four principal phases of Conrail's existence each had a CEO from a different business background that helped forge Conrail into a valuable operation.

These are all visions you can no longer see along the rails of today. Conrail has since been divided and integrated into the Norfolk Southern and the CSX systems. Learn the plan that could have bolstered Conrail's future as a separate, large system -- but for a twist of fate. Our presentation includes many maps made especially for video to keep the viewer informed and to help paint the big picture.
All Comments (21)
  • @gregbowen617
    It’s hard to pass up the importance of Conrail in saving the North Eastern Railroad scene from collapse. The “Big Blue “ helped to restore faith in rail…
  • @johnhauser4589
    I worked for PennCentral in 1973 and 74. I can remember derailing trains going 2 or 3mph thru the yards. The track would just open and you were on the ground. I also remember very generous pay checks.
  • @rickydrone9274
    Started my career in January of 1973 with Penn Central becoming a freight and passenger conductor. Retired in 2014 as a yardmaster with the local commuter rail service in Philadelphia and tri-state area. During my freight years, we mostly operated on the Northeast Corridor with electric power. This included GG1's that were geared for freight. If we ever got diesel power, we considered it a luxury, since they were more comfortable than electric power. One of my wildest rides was deadheading back to Philly , from Newark N.J. on the caboose of Mail No.3. They even had postal employees on that train in cars, sorting mail enroute. The good old days and was certainly blessed to survive my whole career. Would I do it again if I could go back? Absolutely !!
  • @thedesertdwellerfromutah4354
    Did I miss the mention of the New Haven Railroad that was part of the Penn Central Merger? The Penn Central was originally created by the New York Central and the Pennsylvania but they were required to take on the New Haven which was on life support at the time..
  • @NorlandBoxcar
    Educating. I see the odd Conrail rolling stock periodically but now I know its story. I also didn't know that electric locomotives were being used for freight. Very cool..
  • @tomt9543
    “You would think that after 8 years, PC would have had time to plan a smooth merger”. What a great comment, and those same words would apply decades later when Conrail was split. Leading up to day one, supposed extensive studies had been done to guarantee seamless changeover at NS, and much promotion was done declaring that it would be a quick, hiccup-less process. Day one came, the switch was thrown, and instantly the computers crashed! And not in a small way either! Waybills disappeared, entire trains disappeared etc. (electronically speaking of course) and NS’s mainlines, including their part of big blue, turned into linear parking lots! The situation was so dire that NS quickly initiated an incentive program encouraging employees to delay vacations, and rewarding attendance during that period with healthy payments into what they called a twist account, similar to an IRA. It took months to straighten out the mess, and as much as a year later, we’d get cars through the rip track for repair that showed empty in the computer, but had actually been running around loaded for a year or more! Who’s load was it, and where did it come from? Good question, but nobody had any answers because the records vaporized!
  • @AndreiTupolev
    The history of Penn Central can be summed up in one emoji ... 🥺
  • @bobbyb2014
    having hired out with PC 4-1-74 I got to live it and breath it ! , 47 years later I finally retired !
  • @stereoplayers
    I was born (September 1975) at the end of Penn Central/beginning of Conrail. I barely remember seeing PC rolling stocking, but remember quite well growing up with Conrail.
  • @jeffreymcfadden9403
    25:56 2501 was the second loco painted blue. I remember seeing 3091 in May 1976 in blue. 3091 was the first painted blue. CR made an attempt and planned to have all locos renumbered and CR'd by the 1 year anniversary in 1977. In June 1977, I photoed my last pure pre CR (non PC) loco. A EL GP35 on the point ready to leave Sharonville , OHIO. PC locos would turn up still pure PC into 1980.
  • @PRR5406
    Scrapping the E44 electrics wasn’t a smart decision.
  • @Greatdome99
    16:50: One of two experimental EMD GM6C/GM6B electrics that never made it into production.
  • @thedesertdwellerfromutah4354
    Did I miss the mention of the New Haven Railroad that was part of the Penn Central Merger? The Penn Central was originally created by the New York Central and the Pennsylvania but they were required to take on the New Haven which was on life support at the time as well. The New Haven was an integral and very important part of Penn Central...
  • @jeffreymcfadden9403
    Can we all agree that selling the last 4 PA locos to MEXICO was about the most stupid decision in all American railroading history?