Northeast Rails in the 70s #2 (RDG/PC/LV)

Part two of a collection of Robert Wilt's Super 8 sound movies taken in the mid 1970s that were copied to Hi8 tape in the 1990s. These aren't direct-to-digital transfers, unfortunately. Anyway, the bulk of this portion is taken up by heavy Penn Central action near Horseshoe Curve. Also included is a short clip of the Ironton Railroad, a shortline owned jointly by the Lehigh Valley and Reading that hauled raw materials for the anthracite coal and cement industries in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania.

[@bobpaulino4714]

It's great to see old power- the distinct sound of the older power , TRUE end of train devices, liveries of fallen flags, unmolested rolling stock (even swaying wildly on jointed rail!), old signals and signal bridges, towers, the mow equipment, wreck cranes, cities, towns, and the scenery of days gone by --- I can't honestly tell my grandkids that better days are ahead with the shape of things these days and when I yearn for the past. Thanks for the wonderful videos!

[@reddeagleamerica4706]

Great memories! Of the good old Penn Central, and 70's Railfaning! Great 👍 vid! R. E.

[@douglasskaalrud6865]

Original sound; what a joy! Not the best of course but it beats the heck out of the dubbed-in junk. What a bittersweet video. On one hand you have all the great pre-Conrail roads hauling colorful trains but on the other hand it's a testament to the de-industrialization of the country and the loss of the living-wage jobs that were the basis of the American middle class. Things haven't been the same for working people since Penn Central. It's been 50 years of watching the jobs and the wealth slipping away to China and the polyglot southeastern Asian countries where companies can pay a buck an hour-or less.

[@tommythomason6187]

Some shaky, knotty Lehigh Valley track, but they got the trains over it at a pretty good clip. Loved their burgandy/dark yellow paint sceme on those U23Bs. Penn Central's four-track line looked good. They sure ran some hefty trains through there. The large coal train was running pretty fast over that line.

[@jeffreymcfadden9403]

Jointed rail, cabooses, no graffiti and colorful paint. Those were the days. I miss them much.

[@elsdp-4560]

👍 mcfadden

[@elsdp-4560]

Thank you for sharing. Enjoyed very much.👍👀

[@eugeeropel5572]

I still love the PENN CENTRAL and their aqua green caboose, plus the colorful freight show is priceless in the boxcars, hopper cars and trailers on flatcars. Excellent job Railroad Media Archive. Thank you for sharing.

[@B-and-O-Operator-Fairmont]

The 1970s were impressive in their own way.

[@allanweaverling730]

I remember the B&O that ran in Johnstown

[@davidbrown4823]

100% WOW! Thank You.

[@allanweaverling730]

Had to add the old B&O that ran in Johnstown