Penn Central Alco RS-1 # 9929 at Buffalo New York circa 1970's. From the internet.
Originally uploaded by Eddie from Chicago
I found this historic 1970's era railroad photo at My link page Fallen Flags.Org , located to the right of Your computer screen.
The Penn Central Railroad, was created from the 1968 merger of the New York Central Railroad, and the Pennsylvania Railroad. Both were large North American railroads that once experienced great financial success, and were once in fierce competition with each other.
By the mid to late 1950's, both railroad companies were losing money, and began entertaining the idea of eventually merging as partners during the 1960's.
The succesor company known as the Penn Central Railroad, was created from the 1968 merger of both of these once great railroads.
By 1969, the Penn Central bought out the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad through merger, and absorbing it in to the Penn Central system.
The big plans of these three financially troubled carriers for a bright future, did not materialize as hoped for. The PC was bankrupt by 1970. The PC existed on borrowed time and many borrowed funds, until the Consolidated Rail Corp, better known as Conrail, was created in April of 1976 by the United States Goverment. Conrail bailed out six bankrupt northeastern U.S railroads, and operated until it was purchased and split up through merger by the Norfolk Southern and CSX Transportation Company railroads in 1999.
Back in the Penn Central days, several old 1940's and 50's era first generation diesel switcher locomotives from Alco, Baldwin and EMD, were still in daily service hauling freight for the PC.
Locomotives like this 1940's era Alco (American Locomotive Company) model RS-1 roadswitcher, had originally replaced the steam locomotives.
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