Conrail enthusiast-the best locomotive conrail had.

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
41

It’s hard to argue against the SD40-2! (Just remember that Conrail’s had Flexicoil trucks, not the standard HTCs)

Conrail also had a huge fleet of GP40-2s (120+ of them). An iconic image is four of them on van trains (intermodal). Later they were mixed with B36-7s (60 of them) and B40-8s (30 of them).

If the 1990s is your cup of tea, the iconic locomotives of that era would be the SD60M, SD60I, and C40-8W. They were the mainstays of the road fleet.

The “best” of Conrail would be the SD80MAC. It was the most “Conrail-ish” and blended all the up to date technology. It was state of the art when built. AC traction, radial trucks, electronic fuel injection, electronic air brake, Ultracab II cab signal/speed control, integrated flat panel displays, isolated cab - and it all worked! (they are still in service 20 years later)

42

Cute little “bugger”

43

For me it’s a tie between the SD80Mac and the GE C32-8. Both are uniquely Conrail. The latter was especially cool in the grey “Ballast Express” scheme.

44

I have a pair of powered GP40-2, back to back. And of course I had to have to GP-9’s One dummy, one powered, also an MP-15 I think it is. And a pair of GP-38-2’s in Erie Lakawana

45

I hated Conrail and that weird logo.

But I do miss that spot of blue in the mountains or around town in my old stomping grounds of Western and Central Pennsylvania.

46

Conrail was an excellent railroad company that the U.S. government made to save the bankrupt northeast railroads.

On the Conrail historical society is is no mention of the meaning of the logo. The “can opener” logo really means Wheel on Rails. I believe this self explanatory to their program as a railroad.