Early Conrail freight through Connecticut

[Earle Baldwin]

Did PC and CR freights using the Shore Line and Harlem River Branch during the 70's typically carry perishable traffic for Oak Point?

Thanks in advance.

[shlustig]

Trains that ran via the NH were usually solid for Long Island. No set-off at OP.

We had HP-2 and HP-4 that handled most of the perishable traffic (HP= Hunts Point). Later symbols used the SEOP designation.

Early PC and CR also had 2 round-trips that went into the West Side before all traffic was diverted to OP, plus a daily transfer from W. 72nd St to OP.

[Earle Baldwin]

Thanks for the information. Was power for HP-2 and HP-4 usually four axle GE's?

Thanks again.

[Noel Weaver]

Thanks for the information. Was power for HP-2 and HP-4 usually four axle GE's?

Thanks again.

Usually but sometimes former New York Central or Penn Central EMD's also. GE's were maintained at Selkirk for the most part so they were the most common power in the area.
Four axle power was always used to New York on the Hudson, on the New Haven via Beacon and Danbury they tried six axle power for a period but they decide six axle power
was too heavy for the Beacon Branch so even though they were not officially restricted, they were not used on that job. At some point after Conrail took over, the track on the
Beacon Branch was improved and six axle power was then used but this was not until I think the late 80's or so.
Noel Weaver

[shlustig]

Power for the Hudson Div. freights between Selkirk and Oak Point was originally ex-NYC units that had the 3rd rail clearance. Later on, we had an assigned pool of small GE's (2800 - 2818, IIRC) that had the 3rd rail clearance and cab signals which were usually run in 3-unit combinations.