Hello Everyone,
While doing some spring cleaning, I came across a few forgotten photos that I took back in Oct. 1982. Thought someone might enjoy them. The first 2 photos were taken on the old B&O Pittsburgh-Connellsville mainline between West Newton and Sutersville. A friend and I were out riding our motorcycles and had pulled over for a water break. Heard the diesel's horn blowing for a crossing down the road and just managed to pull out my camera a click a couple of shots(pictures aren't the greatest) as this Chessie inspection train rolled by. From my notes that day the train consisted of Chessie System(ex B&O) GP40-2 #4307, first car Chessie System RI-3 Roadway Inspection Car-Chessie Engineering Department, second car I have no information, last car Chessie System TGC-2 Track Geometry Car-Chessie Engineering Department. I had written the speed to be estimated at 35-40 MPH.
The second group of photos were taken at the old B&O Pittsburgh Grant Street Station(built 1954-1955)/freight terminal complex. The #6690 was originally SP FP7A #6443 and the #6691 was originally SP(T&NO) F7A #365. From the SP, the units ended up on the Wellsville, Addison, and Galeton, then to the PaTrain, then to the Connecticut Dept of Transportation. I don't know where they are now. The cars are all ex C&O smoothside coaches. There were no turning facilities at either end of this commuter operation, and the trains operated in a push-pull configuration. The end cars were control cars with a small cab area. I believe they operated 8 round trips daily, a couple on Saturday and none on Sunday. The photo of the outbound train is passing under the Liberty Bridge and the spire of the 10th Street Bridge can be seen in the distance. The whole station/freight house complex is long gone, having been torn down and replaced by the new Allegheny County Jail(how's that for a great tradeoff!)
Nick
