Is it really the PRR?

Trains Magazine General Discussion
1

On the commute in this morning, along the old Reading mainline along the Schuylkill in Philadelphia, I saw a locomotive in pretty sharp looking Conrail paint. Under the cab window was painted a large white rectangle with the unit number - 5349, I think - and under it ,PRR. No way was this locomotive old enough to predate the Penn Cental merger. Anybody know what the PRR means?

2

PRR was assigned to NS and NYC was assigned to CSX when they divided the equipment as part of the Conrail acquisition.

3

Yes…it made it a simpler way to label the locos and rolling stock. On NS, it also identified what belonged to NS. Other ex-Conrail units assigned to NS were classified on paper as CRCX or leased Conrail units of which many have been returned to the lessor. although PRRX units have been retired too. GP38’s, select SD50’s, etc. The NS ex-Conrail SD40-2’s numbered 3329 to 3424 are an example of this classification. 3329 through 3376 are PRRX, 3377 through 3413 are CRCX, 3414 through 3424 are PRRX , and 3425-3447 are CRCX. It was rumored a couple of years ago that NS was going to return the CRCX SD40-2’s to the lessor. This has not happened, and NS is repainting units from the CRCX grouping as well as the PRRX group into new Horsehead livery, so it looks like they will be around for awhile. The NS ex-Conrail SD40-2’s are well known for being the primary power for the Altoona-Pittsburgh helper pool. Dave Williams http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nsaltoonajohnstown

4

Incidentally, 5349 is an NS GP38-2, formerly Conrail 8192 built in June 1978. There are actually some locos still running around on NS from actual PRR heritages. A group of the SD40-2E’s, which were from a group of 40 SD40’s that Conrail rebuilt to SD40-2 specifications in the mid 1990’s still run on NS. Among the group from 3425-3447, the following were at one time PRR SD40’s: 3432 through 3437, 3439,3441,3442,3444,3446,and 3447. If you see any of these units, you are looking at a former PRR SD40 CSX got the remainder of the 40 and some former PRR units are running around on CSX too. Dave Williams http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nsaltoonajohnstown

5

Thanks to both of you for the enlightenment.