This image was taken Feb 17, 1978, so it was Conrail, but I still don’t know what a former PC E8 was doing running light, westbound at Bound Brook on the CNJ. Does anyone have any good guesses, or better yet, actual knowledge? The CNJ line was a through line at that time, could this have been going somewhere for work? I know there were some Paducah rebuilds done of the NJDOT E8s around this time, but I can’t imagine one of these would have been sent out light to Kentucky. Could it have been going somewhere to be put on a train though?
In 1978, was not CNJ part of Conrail? Today this track is CSX, but in 1978, I believe it was owned by Conrail. The E-unit may have been a New-Jersey-Transit-owned ex-PC locomotive that had not been repainted. At the time, NJT was still running commuter trains between Newark and West Trenton, possibly down to one each way each day. The E8 ruinning light may have been relief power. NJT is considering restoring commuter service to this line. Track upgrades are needed, however.
No name markings of any kind, solid black - early stealth unit !
What’s up with the patchworked carbody, midway between the two ladders ? It looks like more than just painting out the PC logo or name. I wonder if the unit had some kind of engine failure that caused some damage - but it couldn’t have been too bad, or else they would have retired it. Maybe this was an extended test run after being repaired ?
But where were the major diesel shops on CR then - at almost 2 years old ? For an E8 on the Jersey side of NYC ? I believe CNJ’s Communipaw was closed by then. Maybe it was going to Juniata/ Altoona, where they could have done almost anything ? But it was moving under its own power . . .
I believe NJDOT was still running passenger service as far out as to Phillipsburg, NJ then on this Raritan line. Maybe it was being dead-headed there to cover a unit that died, or to provide extra steam heat, or to bring back an accumulation of empty coaches, or to swap with a freight unit that was providing temporary power ? All just wild guesses, though. It’s a pretty good mystery. Let’s see what turns up.
Date would indicate that there were two major snow storms from late Jan into Feb with 15 plus inches of snow in each. NJT was a mess as fine snow got into the traction motors of EL MU’s and U34CH’s as well as the venerable GG1’s. NJT therefore was borrowing/leasing mostly SD40-2’s from CR to help manage. So anything could happen in the movement of motive power anywhere in North Jersey during that time evidently.
Along this line…Several years back, there was what appeared to be a collection of railroad cars and equiopment, mostly passenger equipment west of Birmingham,Ala. It was bing put in place along the north side of US78, between the Birmingham area and Jasper. As I recall, there was at least one E Unit that was painted in the maroon w/ gold pin striped scheme of the PRR. That unit was definitely out of place and territory. No details as to what it was intended to become.
Maybe someone can provide further details. It would have definitely been a major expenditure to move that much railroad equipment to that location. Especially, such a large locomotive, as an E-8 of PRR heritage to Alabama…
According to the caption on your photo, you identify the unit as a NJDOT E8; not Conrail. And that makes perfect sense for that line. Based on some other posts detailing severe east coast snow storms during this time period, this unit was likely going to or returning from rescuing an MU Commuter train with “snowy” traction motors.
That sounds about right. Also, CNJ (today’s Raritan Valley Line), was not electrifed, so unit had to be enroute to Raritan Yard even if only for commuter positioning.or body work by CR…