NS Altoona-Based Local C42
This local, with a different symbol under Conrail, has been the only local based out of Altoona, PA for several years now. The job works six days per week, and rarely seven. Three of those days, they go as far east as Lewistown and Mifflin; the other three days they only serve US Silica in Mapleton. They leave Altoona yard early in the morning headed east and they occasionally drop off cars at Tyrone on their way. On days that they serve Miflin, they go there first, do their work, then stop at Lewistown for work. Recently the Mt. Union Connecting RR, at Mt. Union has started to receive occasional cars. C42 will stop here on their way from Lewistown to US Silica. C42 spends most of its time switching the US Silica plant. They average probably 10-20 loads per day. Once done here, they stop at Tyrone again on their way back to Rose Yard on day the Nittany & Blad Eagle leaves cars for NS. At least since 2000, power for C42 is always a pair of GP38-2s or GP40-2s or a mix of the two. Lately, Juniata GP38-2 and GP38-3 rebuilds have been assigned to the job.
| Winter 2001 |
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Mapleton, PA
C42 has coupled to its loads and is doing a brake test. They will soon pass through the US Silica plant and open up onto the mainline for the return trip to Altoona. |
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Huntingdon, PA
With 14 loads, C42 passes through CP-Hunt with classic Conrail units in charge. |
| July 2003 |
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Tyrone, PA
Blue units bring C42 thourgh Tyrone Forge, just east of Tyrone. |
| July 2003 |
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Mill Creek, PA
If C42 does not go east of US Silica, they must run reverse main east of CP-Hunt in order to enter the sand plant. |
| January 2006 |
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Petersburg, PA
The first pair of Juniata GP38-2 rebuilds is assigned to C42. Here they speed through Petersburg. |
| February 2006 |
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Ardenheim, PA
The same pair as in January is westbound, this time with sand loads at the rear. |
| July 2006 |
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Mt. Union, PA
Today a work crew was working on track 2 between MP 197 and 198, which meant C42 has to head east on track 1 to CP-Jacks, then reverse six miles on track two. |
| November 2006 |
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Warrior Ridge, PA
This is a pair of former GP38s rebuilt to GP38-2 by Juniata. |
| January 2007 |
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Altoona, PA
There's a good bit of power in the yard today. C42 is putting theirs away and a 536 is puting its power together. |
| June 2007 |
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Huntingdon, PA
C42 is by CP-Hunt with only a handfull of cars from the US Silica 'sand plant.' |
| August 2007 |
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Ardenhiem, PA
C42 is westbound with just five cars. |
| March 2008 |
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Barree
C42 starts west after having a truck train crossover in front. |
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Altoona, PA
A week later, C42 is seen sitting at Rose waiting for the CB10 to clear up to put its train away in the BY yard. |
