We need to get the Pennsy fans, the NYC fans, the NH fans, and yes, darn it, even the PC fans together and sing a little “Kumbayah.” Let the healing begin… [(-D]
You may be right about PRR fans in the old days, but by 1966 and later after the NYC merger, some of the main line speeds were down to 15 mph maximum because of the lack of maintenance.
The did not have a leg or track to stand on at that point.
And I think it bears repeating that the Pennsy wasn’t absorbed into NYC… In fact, it was really Pennsy that pushed for the merger. I believe the stock went 60/40 in favor of PRR, which was also part of the resentment (never mind 100 years of fierce corporate competion!). In retrospect it seems silly to believe that 2 giant but ailing railroads (NYC being in better physical shape than PRR at merger time) could somehow how make all better by merging, but PRR was desperate. After all, it had been stuffing the pockets of its stockholders to keep them happy while neglecting its own physical plant. Money that should have gone to maintenance and upgrades went instead to dividend payments. By the 1960s, though, PRR couldn’t keep up the facade. The cash hemmorage was too profound by then. Decaying right of way was less a problem caused by PC and more of a problem inherited by PC.
In answer to the question, I’d say that the Colorado narrow gage folks would be. I used to hang out with some of them, and it appeared they knew every bolt, spike, and brake wheel on the entire line. Now, I think that’s great–I like enthusiasm and knowledge. I think maybe it’s because narrow gage lines are so intimately small. Short lines are too; but they still interchange directly with the big guys, so they’re a bit less “intimate”. That’s my thought, anyway. Very fond of the Pennsy, Ed
I may be mistaken, but I believe the NYC was frought with tons of cooked books due to corruption. That’s why they appeared to be in better shape, but in actuality were the Enron of their day.
Probably, but so was Pennsy. I was really talking about the physical plant. NYC was down to 2 tracks and CTC while Pennsy still had its expensive 4-track main with manual blocks and interlockings. NYC also had more modern yards than Pennsy.
All this talk about NYC being corrupt??? What!!! They can’t be corrupt if they are still around.
-dekruif
Those are sweeeeeeeet! I always liked the NYC’s schemes. Makes me want to do a GEVO in 5-stripe DGLE!
They sure are. I have met the guy who owns these. He has more than SD70
MAC’s. He has somewhere around 20 painted in that scheme.
-dekruif
Too cool dekruif! Why can’t any of today’s roads come up with something that elegant?
Nice paint jobs. [tup]
They ain’t mine although I wish they were. I’m working on something like that. should be done pretty soon.
dekruif
Very well done. The top one had me fooled for a couple seconds! Some great photography there!
Not my photos either…but I will tell him you liked it.
-dekruif
Trucking kicked Pennsy’s booty.
NOT ANY MORE!
Pennsy has been gone for almost 40 years and not been doing well for 50 years! That is a LONG time ago. PRR is fading fast in popularity finally
The NYC diesels look great but they are not in character for the NYC. At the time of the PC merger, only the PRR had 6 axle freight units, NYC and NH only had 4 axle freight units. [:)]
Rick
Well, I’ve seen some pretty rabid PRR modelers im my life. Heck, I’ve seen even crazier CSX modelers like myself. I guess you are naturally crazy about whichever railroad you model, and that’s why you model that particular railroad (I think). [;)]
-Brandon
Hmm… Bowser, Bachmann, MTH, and BLI all offering the unique-to-Pennsy K4… Hmm… Trix, BLI, and IHC offering the PRR GG1… Hmm… Walthers, Bowser, and Trix offering PRR cabin cars…
Doesn’t sound like “fading fast” to me!
Are there more or less Pennsy fans than year ago? Clearly fewer
There are probably more Conrail Modelers than PRR modelers now and more Conrail Models as well
People move on. CSX, BNSF, NS, UP, they are what exists TODAY not 50 years ago (not counting UP since they are both!)