Conrail-Amtrak-Chessie System: Crestline Ohio in Film

When I think of Crestline, Ohio, I think of Pennsy T1's, as PRR's line from there to Chicago was their racetrack. So when I came across this Conrail footage in the Prelinger Archives, I decided to add a bit of T1 footage for context. Yes, PRR fans, I know it was filmed at Harrisburg, but it still shows off the T1's in their heyday. I also included some stills of the Crestline station, before and after its lobotomy. I estimate the time frame for the video at circa 1980. Thanks to the unknown filmer for this look at Crestline before the Fort Wayne Line was downgraded to secondary status. Sounds added from my video library. Enjoy!

[@jw6982]

My Stepdad worked in the brick switch house in the late 60's and I got to go see him work one day, thanks for the memories. You can see it mid-screen at 8:29.

[@SignalAspect]

My grandmas dad worked on the steam locomotives while Pennsylvania Railroad was around, this videos gives her many great memories of her childhood

[@RailPreserver2K]

Loving these gems

[@lvc420]

Future Delaware-Lackawanna C636 #3642 at 15:41! Ironically, it might be the only unit in that lash-up that's still in service today!!

[@DASCO2136]

I would imagine the SD40-2s and SD45-2 is probably still in service

[@surgemeister01]

Thanks for the memories. I remember a lot of this from the late 70's/early 80s growing up in Crestline. Had a lot of fun with my friends "exploring" the abandoned roundhouse in the early 80's. Good times back then, simpler times.

[@sharkymcsharknose2979]

I model early Conrail in HO and N scales. These videos with dog's breakfast consists are awesome reference material since the rainbow era ended before I was born! Thank you for uploading them.

[@HOTRAILProductions]

1979 or before. The Broadway was converted to HEP in April, 1980. The trees look like it is summer.

[@erikmcc804]

Love this , Thanks for the memories :-)

[@markwilliams5811]

Great Show! Nice to go back in time and see all the classics! Thank You for the show!

[@iusetano]

Thank you for sharing. I enjoy watching your video. Excellent as always.

[@fmnut]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@mikeflynn1629]

I'm astounded what quality this has one of the best films with sound from the early days. Thanks for sharing this it is a total pleasure to watch

[@fmnut]

Sound was added, original film was silent. Thanks for watching.

[@popps2502]

I Miss The 70s before the flag's had fallen. When all the railroads we're still around and most of all still Needed in America.

[@Robbi496]

What makes you think they are not now needed???

[@AndreiTupolev]

How completely awesome. I think that steam footage is some of the best vintage film you've uncovered yet

[@fmnut]

That footage is from a PRR promotional film, therefore professional grade equipment and filming. I was lucky to get a good digital transfer.

[@johnmacqueen1777]

Was only there once - about month before Conrail. (And through there once on the westbound Broadway Limited in '78). Great stuff!

[@ronniefarnsworth6465]

That silly ex N&W guy that ordered a block of GE U23B for PC set up N&W style long hood forward 3:37 !!

[@b3j8]

I grew up near the old PRR Fort Wayne Div mainline. Right after Conrail began was the hottest I'd ever seen traffic-wise. By 1980, the good times were already pretty much over w/many hot TV trains already running on the Chicago Line. Great look back!

[@dknowles60]

the Old NCY Had every thing. CTC more coustmers

[@b3j8]

@@dknowles60 Yep. Better, much better, track. Tho I once heard the FW Yardmaster say the railroad still saved time using the PRR due to delays in/around Cleveland.

[@dknowles60]

@@b3j8 wrong. Prr track in very bad shape. why do you think Amtrack left the x PRR track

[@b3j8]

@@dknowles60 Yes, I know how bad the track was. And in spite of that all the Van trains, and both the old PC and EL freight trains initially used the Fort Wayne for afew yrs until Conrail opted to route nearly all traffic north. Amtrak did NOT reroute the 2 passenger trains on account of bad track. By the mid 1980's, Conrail had single tracked the line and upgraded it's condition significantly. Amtrak as the primary user contributed a hefty amount toward those upgrades! THAT was the primary for rerouting the 2 passenger trains. Amtrak did not want to continue bearing the brunt of the cost of maintaining the track to passenger train standards. Instead the Fort Wayne stop was moved up to Waterloo Ind o the Chicago Line where it still is.

[@dknowles60]

@@b3j8 wrong. i am a lot older then you. i spent lots of time train watching on Toledo west and Toledo east. both were in 1st class shape. could handle over 120 trains a day. also spent some time on the OLD PRR FROM 1974 TO 2010.. it was in very poor shape in 1974. Now. now keep in mind in 1998 csx brought the Old Prr from crest line Oh to apx Hobart In. If the OLD PRR were so good why did CSX sell in. I can see you are very Young. The OLD NCY was in good shape in 1968. I sorry THE PRR had bad track But the PRR was going down hill since the end of WW2. I dont dislike the Men and women Of the PRR that work out in the field But the Manage ment was very Crapy . . the old PRR is still double tracked from Mansfield Oh to Alliance OH. yes i do Miss the El

[@rjl110919581]

thank you share this video

[@eugeeropel5572]

To fmnut, are you able to combine this KZbin video and a similar one and create a DVD. These videos I’ve viewed over the recent past are a pleasure to watch and I can only say Thank you for posting.

[@dougonodera8764]

Certainly not the glory days but awesome stuff nonetheless! Who would’ve thought that Conrail blue and SD-40s would be anything but common place? Thanks!

[@J3scribe]

Epic footage. Historically, Crestline was a crossing of the PFW&C and the Big Four. How/when did Chessie enter the mix? With the formation of Conrail in some manner?

[@fmnut]

The Chessie footage was taken at Willard, 20 miles away. I included it for variety.

[@jimikrentkowski4073]

Very cool !!

[@ericzerkle8486]

Nice first gen E8s on Amtrak

[@Tom-xe9iq]

I've seen refueling set up like Crestline in old pictures of Clovis, NM on the Santa Fe.

[@fmnut]

Many railroads had and still have main line refueling points like that. Harrisburg PA and Belen, NM come to mind.

[@tundewillis3326]

Love those u 30 units

[@paulw.woodring7304]

I would say circa +/- 1980. I think the clip of the Amtrak "Broadway Ltd." is probably more like '78 or '79. By 1980 Amtrak was well into Phase II paint, and the "Lake Shore Ltd." had been converted to Head-end Power coaches and F40 locomotives. I'm not sure when the Broadway was revamped, but I think it was in the same general time frame.

[@fmnut]

The Broadway ran E8's into March of 1980, I have shots of a 4 unit consist coming into Harrisburg then. I'll check my slides to see how the cars were painted.

[@paulw.woodring7304]

@@fmnut Ok, I know it took about a year for most eastern trains to get HEP equipment and either F40s or P30CHs. I rode the 'Lake Shore" in early Nov. '79 out of Chicago, right after it had been re-equipped, first time I ever ate in an Amfleet diner/lounge.

[@sharkymcsharknose2979]

Some of the footage is def. from 1979 or earlier. Conrail had purged its roster of Alcos (seen at 5:28) by the end of August 1979.

[@fakecumberland]

Seems to be more activity on the Fort Wayne Line than on the Big Four.

[@ronniefarnsworth6465]

Nice !! A Big Blue Alco C636 (15:39) !!!

[@ChadsRailfanExperience]

Cool old power.

[@Steelers2841]

1981 CONRAIL transfer all Chicago Manifest and Intermodal Trains to Cleveland at Alliance and Traffic from Pittsburgh to Columbus and Indianapolis to Crestline and Canton instead of the Panhandle Route East of Columbus

[@ikonseesmrno7300]

Ah, Conrail! They'll get ya by hook or by crook. Then my dad would say, "no, the crook has the hook". :v) Say, I was looking at recent imagery & am wondering if the depot was in the NE corner of the diamonds? Almost looks like two poured platforms still exists in that spot.

[@fmnut]

Yes, that's where it was. While researching this I checked historical aerial photos and confirmed it. Amazing how the site has changed today with almost nothing recognizable from the era of this film left.

[@chuckabbate5924]

God those E-8s were brutal.

[@dc9345]

WHAT YEAR IS THIS VIDEO?

[@fmnut]

1978 or 1979. I did not do the filming and there was no date on the source. AND TAKE YOUR CAPS LOCK OFF, YOU'RE SHOUTING!!!

[@tonyboloni64]

What happened to the top two stories of the depot?

[@fmnut]

The top two stories were a hotel when the station opened in 1864. Eventually the business failed and they were demolished/removed leaving only the station portion.

[@thomasdupee1440]

17:12 - 19:09 is the east end of Willard yard!

[@fmnut]

Thanks. I was pretty sure it wasn't Crestline but I included it for variety. Thanks for the identification.

[@thomasdupee1440]

@@fmnut You're welcome. I worked there during that time frame.

[@eugenekleis3836]

Food was good

[@Robbi496]

It is obvious that the Pennsy and PC had been letting track maintenance go for awhile here :(

[@fmnut]

Yes, not just here, everywhere.

[@dknowles60]

the Pennsy had been letting Track Maintenance go since the END of WW2

[@chuckabbate5924]

@@dknowles60 for real musty mgt.

[@thedenverrailfan1985]

Hahaha haha conrail school bus that's funny

[@fmnut]

They were used to haul the track gangs out to the job.

[@ericzerkle8486]

Yup saw this in my town a few times in the 1980s.