Conrail Volume 1: 1976-1982

On April 1, 1976, seven major Northeastern railroads ceased to exist. Penn Central, Erie Lackawanna,
Reading, Lehigh Valley, Central Railroad of New Jersey, Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines, and Lehigh & Hudson River-- plus several of their terminal and shortline subsidiaries-- all were merged into a new railroad, the Consolidated Rail Corporation. Conrail, as the new system came to be known, was created by Congress to convert the bankrupt component railroads into a profitable operation. Many doubted that this goal was attainable, but Conrail would prove them wrong. However, it would take more than six years and seven billion dollars in federal money to make the new railroad a viable entity.
This book, the first of a two-volume set, focuses on the events leading up to the creation of Conrail, and the company's first six years of uncertain existence. This was a period when many railroad enthusiasts ignored Conrail. For many, Conrail simply meant the disappearance of their favorite railroads. Not only were the multitude of attractive color schemes of CR's smaller components vanishing, but many previously-busy main lines were relegated to branch status, and many picturesque branches were abandoned. It was a sad period for those who had been fans of the EL, RDG, LV, CNJ, PRSL, and L&HR.
Conrail's early years were a period of great change and excitement. Here was a system of freight and passenger operations of 16,000 route miles covering 16 states, two Canadian provinces, and the District of Columbia. On its first day, Conrail rostered 80 different models of diesel and electric locomotives wearing a rainbow of paint schemes.
Luckily, many fans chose not to neglect the activity which was occurring over the far-flung Conrail system. CONRAIL Volume 1: 1976-1982 draws upon the talents of more than forty of America's and Canada's best railroad photographers. An incredible selection of color views portraying the new railroad in its early years illustrates this volume.