Conrail Hotspot: Berea, Ohio

In this video, C. Vision Productions visits Conrail’s Berea tower in the Cleveland suburb of Berea, Ohio, with footage captured from the early to mid-1990s. Formerly known as BE tower, this classic structure is situated between the former New York Central Water Level and Big Four Routes. At the time of production, Berea was the crossroads of Conrail’s Chicago Line, Short Line, and Indianapolis Line. A great variety of Conrail motive power is seen powering trains through Berea, with models SD40, SD40-2, SD50, GP35, GP38, GP38-2, GP40-2, B36-7, B40-8, C30-7A, C36-7, C39-8, C40-8, C40-8W, SD60M, and SD60I all viewed passing by our camera. As of 2024, the tower still stands, but faces an uncertain future.
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[@wildbill9919]

Conrail blue is my favorite shade of blue. I once had a motorcycle that color. Nice video guys.

[@CVisionProductions1]

Thank you very much, Bill! We’re happy that you enjoyed the video. And we agree, Conrail did use a nice shade of blue. Their final Conrail Quality schemes were especially sharp. We appreciate you watching and commenting.

[@colinmulder6806]

Once again FACTOR TIME: 1. Many thanks for this upload. Just two weeks marked the 25TH anniversary of Conrail being split up by CSX & NS. 2. I'm undoubtedly shocked to find that famed videographer Dan Hadley was solely responsible for Pentrex's beloved "BEST OF" series. 3. Berea tower is without a doubt one of the TOP hotspots to visit for BIG BLUE action. However on the of Dan's first visit on October 30TH, 1991, trains to & from Pittsburgh, PA via the Pittsburgh Line were using a different junction further east which explains why he didn't see any traffic heading to & from the BIG FOUR trackage or the Cleveland Line to Rochester Tower west of Conway Yard. On the day of his return visit in 1995, track work was underway to the west on the Chicago Line & traffic using it in both directions would be issued slow orders. 4. Here's a rundown of the trains from Dan's 1991 visit: 8:41AM: TV-62(Chicago, IL - ElizabethPort, NJ). 8:55AM: TV-12(Chicago, IL - South Kearny, NJ). 9:10AM: PITO(Pittsburgh(Conway Yard), PA - Toledo, OH). 9:31AM: IHSE(Riverdale(I.H.B), IL - Selkirk, NY). 9:45AM: TV-550(Chicago(BN), IL - Little Ferry, NJ): Once-A-Week run through originated in Seattle, WA on BN & travels Chicago, IL to Buffalo, NY on Conrail. In Buffalo, NY it's handed off to NYS&W as their symbol NY10. The Guildford GP40 is EX-CR operating on former home rails. 10:02AM: HND-18(Hennepin, IL - Cleveland, OH). 10:21AM: TV-262(Chicago, IL - Palmer, Ma/ElizabethPort, NJ): This symbol splits into TWO sections at Selkirk Yard. 10:32AM: TOPI(Toledo, OH - Pittsburgh(Conway Yard), PA). 11:29AM: ELPI(Elkhart, IN - Pittsburgh(Conway Yard), PA) Traffic for this train came into Elkhart from the west off connections from SF, BN, & SP. 11:44AM: TV-10(Chicago, IL - North Bergin, NJ) Majority of this train's traffic came off SF'S Q-LANY in Chicago, IL. 11:58AM: ELMO(Elkhart, IN - Moorestown, NJ). 12:52PM: SETO(Selkirk, NY - Toledo, OH) 12:58PM: MAIL-8(Chicago, IL - North Bergin, NJ) Similar to TV-10. 5. Here's a rundown of the trains from Dan's 1995 visit: RR-232: Crestline, OH - Rochester, NY(ROADRAILER). PIEL: Pittsburgh(Conway Yard), PA - Elkhart, IN(MERCHANDISER). TV-11: Kearny, NJ - Chicago, IL(INTERMODAL STACKER). MAIL-8M: Chicago, IL - Morrisville, PA(INTERMODAL UPS). EXTRA intermodal featured is one of three possibilities(TV-1, TV-7, or TV-13). SEIN: Selkirk, NY - Indianapolis(Avon Yard), IN(MERCHANDISER). Not featured was TV-590: Chicago, IL - Croxton Yard Northern, NJ(INTERMODAL STACKER).

[@CVisionProductions1]

Well, you came through once again with a fantastic list of factors, Colin. Thank you. The audience will appreciate those train symbols; origin and destination included! We appreciate you taking the time to type up all of this information. And, we’re glad that you enjoyed the video. Thanks again.

[@colinmulder6806]

@@CVisionProductions1 My pleasure as always. Looking forward to more of Dan's work on your channel.

[@banditosafrito154]

Awesome video I love seeing footage of Old Blue Conrail.Thx so much for sharing all these videos I enjoy everyone of them.

[@CVisionProductions1]

Thank you so much!!! And you’re very welcome. We are happy to share these videos with you.

[@metalheadrailfan]

Still amazing to see Dan's extra footage that never made it into final Pentrex tapes. This is a Conrail treasure trove.

[@CVisionProductions1]

Oh, yes. It’s always nice to find a big segment of footage that was never released publicly. There’s been a lot of that in these Dan Hadley tapes. Thank you for checking out the video.

[@thomasnativo6491]

Yeah Ive Notice that The C40-8W was pulling a Chicago and Northwestern Locomotive and notching up Engine around the curve by the Buffalo line but i like the first scene when the Conrail C30-7 came by passing by Berea tower and Honking once in the beginning plus Guilford Railroad came along for ride and a GP38-2 with 1 Engine pulling Gongelas towards the Pittsburgh line and off in the distance the crossing gates go down

[@CVisionProductions1]

Sweet! We’re glad that you enjoyed the video.

[@tommilitello888]

awesome!

[@CVisionProductions1]

Thank you very much!!! We appreciate you checking out the video.

[@ScottTaipaleRail]

Back when Berea was cool. Now it’s just a parade of gevos and bland intermodal. The only time I ever bother going is after the Berea train show and even then I might only stay for 3 trains tops.

[@CVisionProductions1]

Thank you, Scott! Conrail definitely put on a fantastic show. That era is greatly missed today. We appreciate you checking out the video.

[@AlexTrain5249]

Dan Hadley's amount of footage is just huge! So great to see the Conrail Hotspots footage!

[@CVisionProductions1]

It really is, Alex! We hope to share more of this footage in the future. Thank you for watching.

[@SPRailfan4449]

Always gotta love Conrail! Will forever miss big blue! 💙🫡 👍

[@CVisionProductions1]

Absolutely! Conrail really seems to have a strong following. Thank you for supporting the video.

[@SPRailfan4449]

I know right! No problem! 👍

[@trains2057]

NS & CSX can eat their hearts out. These were the days of real money!

[@CVisionProductions1]

Conrail got the job done, and then some! These guys knew how to move freight… Thank you for the comment.

[@davesb45]

What's striking to me is no graffiti on the cars

[@CVisionProductions1]

Things were quite different back in the 90s. “Train painting” really started taking off in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Thank you for watching the video.

[@DASCO2136]

As someone who has train watched in Berea for over 20 years, since 2003, its amazing to see how different a place I've grown up look so different. No parking lot, no 2nd mainline track for CSX freights, the Indianapolis & Short Lines being barely used at all. It's eye opening to say the least

[@CVisionProductions1]

You’re very correct. Things have really changed throughout the years. It seems that railroads have gone through several boom/bust cycles over the past few decades. Shifting traffic patterns, along with the rise and fall of certain commodities being shipped have ensured that very little stays the same for long. Thank you for the comment.

[@andrewdiesel4014]

LONG LIVE CONRAIL

[@CVisionProductions1]

Yes! “Big Blue” was an incredible success story. There’s just something about Conrail that stirs those nostalgic feelings. We appreciate the comment.

[@Steelers2841]

Noticed lots of the GP40-2'S AND B36-7 & B40-8'S WERE ONCE the Kings of the Intermodal of the late 80s and early90s. Most of the B36-7's were by 1997 were used as locals in the Pittsburgh Area and Canton Helpers like 5000, 5009, 5015 and 5059 in those final years till the Spilt in June of 1999

[@CVisionProductions1]

Conrail definitely had some interesting motive power. And yes, those GP40-2s and B36-7s ruled the rails for many years. It’s always surprising to see how quickly an entire fleet of locomotives can be shifted to lower priority assignments. Thank you for the comment.

[@Steelers2841]

​@@CVisionProductions1 One Thing my Foster Dad Charlie work for Conrail out of Conway Terminal near Pittsburgh so he was on many of those Trains but rare on the Intermodal of TV-1 or Mail 9 his Train was mostly PIEL-A Or PIBR / ELPI-B OR STPI with the B40-8 power I chase it between Hudson, Ohio on the Cleveland Line to Rochester Boro in Beaver County in Western Pennsylvania on the Fort Wayne Line 5 miles from Conway Yard Suprised you didn't come to Alliance another railfan spot also close to my hometown of Canton which also based of Canton Helpers and 15 miles from Alliance and 63 miles west of Conway Yard where Cleveland Line and Fort Wayne Line Meet

[@CVisionProductions1]

Awesome! We have plenty more Conrail footage in our archives. Including some from the areas that you mentioned.

[@JohnH-ld6io]

Crazy to see how much the track layout in Berea has changed. Great video!

[@CVisionProductions1]

Thank you, John! And yes, there have been many changes over the past 20-25 years in Berea. Pretty neat stuff. We appreciate the comment.

[@sd80mac]

Oh hell, HELL yeah.

[@CVisionProductions1]

Thank you!!! We’re glad that you found this program interesting. It was about time we did a Conrail video…

[@IsaiahVerseRailfanning]

Great video. I'm still mad that I didn't really get to railfan along the busier Conrail lines in northern Ohio. Instead, I was stuck getting scraps in Columbus, OH. At least this gives me a glimpse of what it looked like.

[@CVisionProductions1]

Thank you very much, my friend. Conrail was a pretty neat operation all around. We’re glad that you got to see a little glimpse of it, at least. We appreciate you taking the time to watch and comment.

[@RonLangley-tj5dd]

um only 1 uprr

[@mjrodriguez8670]

I really enjoy seeing Conrail Blue anywhere in the Eastern United States. Contain diesels operated on the Santa Fe mainline into Kansas City from Streator, Illinois.

[@CVisionProductions1]

You’re correct on that, MJ. Streator was an important connection between the two railroads. And yes, Conrail blue is always neat to see! Thank you for the comment, MJ.

[@RailfanKnexified]

Kinda funny I'm just seeing this today, as I was at Berea on monday!

[@CVisionProductions1]

Very cool! Gotta love those coincidences… KZbin must know what you like. Thank you for watching and commenting.

[@RailfanKnexified]

@@CVisionProductions1 You're welcome!

[@davesb45]

Check that I saw one

[@CVisionProductions1]

We figured you’d find some. Good eye!

[@dhdisprsmith2296]

Great video of how it was in Conrail days. I’ve visited Berea the last few years on my way back from my eastern vacation. Today both NS and CSX lines are very busy, with the CSX now double tracked.

[@CVisionProductions1]

Thanks, Gordy! We’re glad that you enjoyed the video. Berea is a really neat place.

[@sp8192]

Wouldn’t expect anything less than this quality! Great job as always!

[@CVisionProductions1]

We appreciate the kind words. Thank you for holding us to a high standard. Quality videos are what we aim to deliver. Thanks again, and enjoy your day!

[@AndreiTupolev]

Fantastic collection of vintage power. And all those boxcars with no graffiti at all!!

[@CVisionProductions1]

Gotta love those classic locomotives and freight cars. Conrail didn’t disappoint! On a side note, it’s great seeing you back in the comments section. Welcome back!

[@thomasnativo6491]

I think this from Pentrex Best of 1991

[@CVisionProductions1]

This footage is owned by the original videographer, as you may already know. It is being used with his permission. And yes, you may have seen it in a Pentrex video as well. Thank you for watching.

[@thomasnativo6491]

​@CVisionProductions1 you're welcome I've watched SP Locomotive Shops which was 2nd episode of Best of 1991 but I do like Salt Lake city Railroads with Union pacific SP MPI units and Rio Grande Railroad even the Final episode Union pacific Millitary train 3593 the Leading train on Pentrex if you could find that episode please I'll make happy

[@thomasnativo6491]

Even Santa FE War Baronet Special on the Best of 1991

[@matthewrinehart9514]

Grew up on the C&NW Chicago to Omaha mainline. Conrail was always a treat. Especially the B units ❤ great video. 😊

[@CVisionProductions1]

Thank you very much!!! And yes, Conrail power seemed to frequent the CNW often, especially on the “East/West Main”. We appreciate the comment.

[@danielneeley5480]

So great to see Conrail in action, even if it's just video, reminds me of being a teenager again with my dad and I watching trains go by on a Saturday afternoon in Pine Bluff, AR in the late 80s and early 90s 😊

[@CVisionProductions1]

Nothing beats a little railroad nostalgia. We’re sure that there was some great railroad action in Pine Bluff back in those days. Thank you, Daniel!

[@user-lh6gv5of1r]

I.d like to see more of. Toledo's rail yards like Stanley yards. Walbridge yards rossford yards l remember hauling crews by taxi from those places to hotels or wherever they had to go

[@CVisionProductions1]

Those are neat places! If we ever come across more content that includes those places, we’ll be sure to share it. Thanks for watching.