Locomotives of Conrail (Railroad)

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Conrail

Conrail Locomotives

Conrail Railroad

Photo: Horseshoe Curve with an SD-40-2 in the lead, October, 1992

Consolidated Rail Corporation, better known as Conrail, was established on April 1, 1976, as a government-funded entity to salvage the remnants of several bankrupt Northeastern U.S. railroads. These included Penn Central (PC), Erie Lackawanna (EL), Reading Company (RDG), Lehigh Valley (LV), Central Railroad of New Jersey (CNJ), Lehigh & Hudson River (L&HR), and Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines (PRSL). Conrail inherited a vast, eclectic locomotive fleet—over 4,700 units—dominated by aging diesels from the 1940s to early 1970s, with about three of every four units originating from the Penn Central. This initial roster reflected the predecessors’ diverse operations, from passenger service to heavy freight, but it was plagued by maintenance issues, inefficiency, and redundancy.

Evolution and revitalization of the fleet

Over its 23-year independent existence, Conrail’s roster evolved dramatically. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, the company focused on rationalization: retiring unreliable or obsolete units, such as many ALCOs and early EMD F-units, while rebuilding others for extended life. New acquisitions began in 1977 with reliable, fuel-efficient models like EMD SD40-2s and GE Dash-7 series, emphasizing standardization to reduce costs. By the mid-1980s, Conrail had phased out most pre-1960s locomotives, favoring six-axle road units for coal and intermodal traffic. The 1990s saw high-horsepower additions like SD60s and SD80MACs to handle increasing tonnage. Deregulation via the Staggers Act of 1980 boosted profitability, enabling fleet modernization. By 1997-1998, the roster had shrunk to around 2,200 units, more homogeneous and powerful. In 1999, Conrail was split between CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern (NS), with locomotives divided roughly 58% to NS and 42% to CSX, many repainted or rebuilt post-acquisition.

Conrail Railroad

Photo: Altoona PA at Horseshoe Curve. September, 1992. #6088, a GE C40-8W.

Locomotive Roster

Below, we examine Conrail’s locomotives grouped by manufacturer, highlighting key models, road numbers, heritage, and evolutionary changes. While not a detailed roster, this top-level summary provides a starting point for further research.

Electro-Motive Division (EMD) Locomotives

  • GP7 — Inherited from PC, EL, CNJ, RDG (CR 5600–5999 series); most retired by mid-1980s due to age.
  • GP8 — Rebuilt from GP7s starting 1976 (CR 5400–5462); used for yard switching.
  • GP9 / GP9M — Large inherited fleet from PC, EL, LV (CR 7000–7559); many rebuilt into GP10s.
  • GP10 — Rebuilt GP9s (CR 7513–7597); uprated to 1,800 hp, 1976–1979; used until 1997.
  • GP15-1 — New light-duty switchers (CR 1600–1699, 100 units, 1979); largest such fleet on a Class I.
  • GP18 — Small inherited group from LV (CR 7496–7499); retired early 1980s.
  • GP20 — Inherited from PC (CR 2100–2112, 13 units); retired by 1985.
  • GP30 — Inherited from RDG and PC (CR 2168–2249); stored/reactivated sporadically; retired early 1990s.
  • GP35 — Large inherited fleet from RDG, EL, PC (CR 2250–2399, 3620–3692); heavy use but mostly gone by 1990s.
  • GP38 / GP38AC — Reliable switchers/locals from PC and PRSL (CR 7656–7939, 141 units); GP38ACs from LV (CR 7656–7659); long service life.
  • GP38-2 — Major workhorse; inherited from PC plus 236 new-built 1972–1979 (CR 7940–8281); used for intermodal and locals to end.
  • GP40 — Inherited heavy road-switchers from PC (CR 3000–3274); mostly retired by 1995.
  • GP40-2 — Fast freight units; five from RDG plus 126 new 1973–1980 (CR 3275–3403); key late-roster type.
  • SW1 — Early small switchers inherited from PC (CR 8400–8587).
  • SW7 / SW9 / SW900 / SW1200 — Various early/medium switchers inherited; many retired 1980s.
  • SW8 — Small inherited group.
  • SW1001 — New small switchers (CR 9400–9424, 25 units, 1973).
  • SW1500 — Medium switchers (CR 9500–9620, 116 from PC/EL/RDG); widely used.
  • F7A / F7B — Cab/freight units inherited from PC and EL (110 units); retired early.
  • FP7 — Passenger/freight units from PC (18 units) and RDG (3 units as CR 4371–4373); transferred to SEPTA.
  • FL9 — Dual-mode units inherited from PC/New Haven; mostly scrapped or to MTA.
  • E7A / E8A — Passenger units inherited from PC and EL; most retired by 1978; 10 E8As (e.g., CR 4020–4022) kept for office car specials until 1999.
  • SD7 — Early six-axle hump units from PC (CR 6998–6999, two units); retired early 1980s.
  • SD9 — Hump/yard units from PC (CR 6900–6924, 25 units); retired early 1980s.
  • SD35 — Inherited heavy freight from PC and CNJ (CR 6000–6051); retired by 1984.
  • SD38 — Yard/heavy switchers from PC (CR 6925–6959, 35 units).
  • SD40 — Inherited from PC and CNJ (CR 6240–6357); 40 rebuilt as SD40-2R (CR 6960–6999) in 1993.
  • SD40-2 — Major new-built road freight (CR 6358–6524, 167 units 1977–1979); backbone of fleet in 1980s–1990s.
  • SD45 — High-horsepower inherited from EL, RDG, PC (CR 6066–6239); reliability issues; retired mid-1980s.
  • SD45-2 — Fast freight from EL (CR 6654–6666, 13 units); used as helpers until 1999.
  • SDP45 — Passenger/freight variant from EL (CR 6667–6699, 33 units).
  • SD50 — 3,500–3,800 hp units (CR 6700–6834, 135 units, 1983–1986).
  • SD60 — 3,800 hp units (CR 6840–6867, including three demos).
  • SD60I — Isolated-cab variant (CR 5575–5654, 80 units, 1993–1995).
  • SD60M — Wide-cab variant (CR 5500–5574, 75 units, 1992).
  • SD70 — Late high-horsepower (CR 2557–2580, 24 units, 1998; built to NS specs).
  • SD70MAC — Late AC-traction (CR 4130–4144, 15 units, 1998; built to CSX specs).
  • SD80MAC — 5,000 hp AC units (CR 4100–4129, 30 units, 1995–1996; including demos).

General Electric (GE) Locomotives

  • U23B — Medium four-axle road units (CR 2700–2798, 77 from PC, 12 from LV, 10 new).
  • U23C — Six-axle variant (CR 6700–6718, later 6900s, 19 from PC).
  • U25B — Early four-axle (CR 2500–2685, 179 from PC/EL).
  • U25C — Six-axle (CR 6500–6519, 20 from PC).
  • U28B / U28C — Small inherited groups (retired 1980s).
  • U30B / U30C — Medium inherited (U30C: CR 6535–6539, 6579–6583).
  • U33B / U33C — Larger inherited (U33C: CR 6540–6578, later 6845–6882).
  • U34CH — Commuter variant from EL (CR 4151–4182); transferred to NJ Transit 1976.
  • U36B / U36C — High-horsepower (U36B: CR 2971–2974, four new 1976; U36C: CR 6587–6599, 13 from EL).
  • B23-7 — Dash-7 four-axle (CR 1900–2023, 124 new 1978–1979; CR 2800–2816, 17 new 1977).
  • B30-7R — Rebuilt from Monongahela U23Bs (CR 2030–2040, 11 units, 1989–1993).
  • B36-7 — High-horsepower four-axle (CR 5000–5059, 60 new 1983).
  • B40-8 — Late four-axle (CR 5060–5089, 30 new 1988).
  • C30-7 / C30-7A — Six-axle Dash-7 (CR 6600–6609, 10 new 1977; CR 6550–6599, 50 new 1984; plus leased ex-ATSF).
  • C32-8 — Ballast/special service (CR 6610–6619, 10 new 1984).
  • C36-7 — Heavy six-axle (CR 6620–6644, 25 new 1985).
  • C39-8 — Late six-axle (CR 6000–6021, 22 new 1986).
  • C40-8 / C40-8W — Dash-8 wide-cab (CR 6025–6049, 25 new 1989; CR 6050–6284, 235 new 1990–1994; plus leased units).

American Locomotive Company (ALCO) Locomotives

  • RS-1 / RS-2 / RS-3 / RS-3M — Early road-switchers; RS-3Ms rebuilt with EMD engines (CR 9903–9999).
  • RS-11 — Medium road-switchers (CR 7587–7654 from LV/PC); some scrapped 1977–1978.
  • RS-27 / RS-32 — Small inherited groups (RS-32: CR 2021–2044 from PC).
  • RSD-5 / RSD-15 — Six-axle units; some RSD-15s converted to MT-6 slugs (CR 1100–1128, 1978–1979).
  • C-420 — Century four-axle from L&HR (CR 2072–2077).
  • C-424 / C-425 / C-430 — Century four-axle from PRR/EL/RDG/PC.
  • C-628 / C-630 / C-636 — Century six-axle from LV/PC/RDG (CR 6721–6794); retired mid-1980s.
  • S-2 / S-4 — Switchers inherited from PC/EL.
  • T-6 — Small switchers from PC (six units).
  • MT-4 / MT-6 — Slugs rebuilt from ALCO RS/RSD units for yard use (MT-6: CR 1100–1128).

Other / Minor

  • Baldwin switchers — Very few inherited; retired quickly post-1976.
  • Fairbanks-Morse units — Sparse inherited; retired early.
  • GE 80-Ton — Small industrial/shop switchers.

For More Information – Sources and Resources

The following are excellent resources for those of you wanting to explore and learn more about the history and operation of the Appalachian Railroads. These sources of information also serve as reference and historical materials for Appalachian-Railroads.org. Much of the collective railroad history data points on this website are verified across multiple sources.

  • Personal Maps & Memorabilia: Documents, maps, timetables, and track charts
  • Associations, Historical Societies and their Archives
  • Archives of Appalachia: ETSU, Johnson City TN
  • Newspaper Articles: Newspapers.com
  • Magazines/Online: ‘Trains‘, ‘Classic Trains‘
  • Books
    • Drury: The Historical Guide to North American Railroads
    • Appalachian Region
      • Grant: ‘The Louisville, Cincinnati & Charleston Rail Road’
      • Graybeal: ‘The Railroads of Johnson City
      • Huddleston: ‘Appalachian Crossings – The Pocahontas Roads‘ and ‘Appalachian Conquest‘
      • Poole: ‘A History of Railroading in Western North Carolina‘
      • Timko and Young: ‘Appalchian Coal Mines and Railroads, Vol. 1, 2, & 3‘
      • Roberts: ‘Sand Patch, Clash of the Titans‘
      • Yanosey: ‘Tidewater Triangle’
    • Atlantic Coast Line Railroad
      • Calloway: ‘Atlantic Coast Line, The Diesel Years‘
      • Griffin: ‘Atlantic Coast Line, The Standard Railroad of the South‘
      • Goolsby: ‘Atlantic Coast Line Passenger Service, The Postwar Years‘
    • Baltimore & Ohio Railway
      • Jacobs: ‘The History of the Baltimore & Ohio’
      • McGuirk: ‘Baltimore & Ohio Railroad in the Potomac Valley‘
      • Ori, Salamon and Oroszi: Baltimore & Ohio/Reflections of the Capitol Dome‘ and ‘Baltimore & Ohio/Sunburst Trail to Chicago’
    • C&O Railway/Chessie System
      • Dixon: ‘Chesapeake & Ohio, Superpower to Diesels‘, Chesapeake & Ohio in the Coalfields, ‘C&O Allegheny Subdivision‘, and ‘Chesapeake & Ohio Railway – A Concise History and Fact Book‘, and ‘The Chessie Era’
      • Dorin: ‘The Chesapeake & Ohio Railway’
      • Huddleston: ‘Riding the New River Train‘
      • Ori – ‘Chessie System‘
      • Paton: ‘Allegheny with an A’
      • Turner: ‘Chessie’s Road‘
    • Clinchfield Railroad
      • Beach: ‘The Black Mountain Railway’
      • Goforth: ‘Building the Clinchfield‘ and ‘When Steam Ran the Clinchfield‘
      • Helm: ‘The Clinchfield Railroad in the Coal Fields‘
      • Irwin & Stahl: ‘The Last Empire Builder: The Life of George L. Carter‘
      • King: ‘Clinchfield Country‘
      • Marsh: ‘Clinchfield in Color‘
      • Poteat & Taylor: ‘The CSX Clinchfield Route in the 21st Century‘
      • Stevens & Peoples: ‘The Clinchfield No. 1 – Tennessee’s Legendary Steam Engine‘
      • Way: ‘The Clinchfield Railroad, the Story of a Trade Route Across the Blue Ridge Mountains‘
    • CSX Railroad
      • Springirth: ‘CSX Transportation Heritage‘
    • ET&WNC: Listed on the website’s ET&WNC pages
    • Interstate Railroad
      • Wolfe & Wolfe: ‘Appalachian Coal Hauler’
      • Wolfe: ‘The Interstate Railroad‘
    • L&N Railroad
      • Castner, Flanary & Dorin: Louisville & Nashville Railroad The Old Reliable‘
      • Flanary: The Louisville & Nashville Cumberland Valley Division
      • Flanary, Oroszi & McKee: ‘The Louisville & Nashville in the Appalachians‘
      • Oroszi & Flanary: ‘Dixie Lines, The Louisville & Nashville Railroad‘
    • NC&StL Railway
      • Prince: ‘Nashville Chattanooga & St Louis Railway‘
    • Norfolk Southern
      • Esposito: ‘Norfolk Southern Railroad’
      • Lindsey: ‘Norfolk Southern 1995 Review‘
    • Norfolk & Western Railway
      • Newton: ‘Rails Remembered, Volumes 1-6
      • Warden: ‘Norfolk & Western: Diesel’s Last Conquest‘ and ‘Norfolk & Western’s Passenger Service’
      • Wolfe, Wilson & Mandelkern: ‘Norfolk & Western’s Clinch Valley Line‘
    • Pennsylvania Railroad
      • Jacobs: ‘The History of the Pennsylvania Railroad‘
    • Seaboard Air Line, Seaboard Coast Line, Seaboard System
      • Calloway and Withers: ‘Seaboard Motive Power‘
      • Carleton: ‘Locomotives of the Seaboard System‘
      • Griffin: ‘Seaboard Coast Line and Family Lines Railroad‘ and ‘All Lines North of Raleigh‘
      • Johnson: ‘Through the Heart of the South‘
    • Southern Railway
      • Davis: The Southern Railway, Road of the Innovators‘
      • Flanary, Lindsey & Oroszi. The Southern Railway‘
      • Webb: ‘The Southern Railway System: An Illustrated History‘
      • Wolfe: ‘Southern Railway Appalachia Division‘
    • Virginian Railway
      • Reisweber: ‘Virginian Rails’
      • Wiley & Wallace: ‘The Virginian Railway Handbook‘
  • Online Article: Flanary: ‘The Quick Service Route, The Clinchfield Railroad‘; Scientific American: ‘The Costliest Railroad in America‘
  • Online Videos: Ken Marsh on Kingsport area railroads and region’s history Video #1 | Video #2:
  • Websites:

3Cs Websites

Appalachian-Railroads.org | Clinchfield.org | Southern-Railroads.org