by Drawhead
Since buying my LV caboose 13 years ago i've tried to learn what i can about it and others on the Lehigh Valley RR they once served and when Conrail obtained them.From picking up some books and pictures to read what i can about them and the paint schemes they wore along with looking at other surviving ones there are always things that keep one wondering.Since i live close to Bellevue,Ohio and work for NS there,wich was one of the far outreaches that the Lehigh Valley ventured to in the 60's-70's on their run through trains.There is much i don't know about the LV to the east so i have a few questions that maybe some of you can help me with.
1.My cab is still in Conrail paint and sometimes when the sun hits it just right i can see the faint outlines of LEHIGH VALLEY across the top of the one side.On the far lower bottom center there is a small rectangular area where i can see " Lehigh Div." stenciled. Is this Lehigh Division something from the Conrail era? as i don't recall reading anything about it in any LV books.Where was the Lehigh Division and what territory did it cover? The few pictures i have of my cab in Conrail paint when it was in use were 2 taken at Allentown and 1 at Sayre.
2. Over the years i've also noticed that some LV cabooses particulary in the 1970's paint scheme of red with the yellow band have the A prefix in front of the number,have seen 1 or 2 with the A prefix in the safety logo paint as well.I think i remember reading those with the A-prefix were used in run thru pool service and think i also read somewhere that only about 19 or so were used for this and only those with cushion underframes wich would be Phase 1 cabs with certain upgrades could be used for that purpose.Did the "A" stand for the Apollo trains? and were they all strictly piggy back/truck trailer trains? What were the years they ran the Apollo trains? So far to date i've only seen pictures of these LV cabs painted with the "A" prefix.
95006 , 95007 , 95014 , 95026 , 95031 , 95037 , 95041 , 95063 , 95068 , 95088 , 95089 , 95090.
In the LV color book 3 there is one on page 128 that looks like it may be A95064 but i can't tell for sure? I also think i saw 95023 in a photo with the A prefix but can't find it.
Can anyone add any other cab numbers to this list with the A prefix ? or confirm exactly how many cabs were used in this pool service? Many Thank's and Happy Thanksgiving!
Fritz N. Kuenzel
1.My cab is still in Conrail paint and sometimes when the sun hits it just right i can see the faint outlines of LEHIGH VALLEY across the top of the one side.On the far lower bottom center there is a small rectangular area where i can see " Lehigh Div." stenciled. Is this Lehigh Division something from the Conrail era? as i don't recall reading anything about it in any LV books.Where was the Lehigh Division and what territory did it cover? The few pictures i have of my cab in Conrail paint when it was in use were 2 taken at Allentown and 1 at Sayre.
2. Over the years i've also noticed that some LV cabooses particulary in the 1970's paint scheme of red with the yellow band have the A prefix in front of the number,have seen 1 or 2 with the A prefix in the safety logo paint as well.I think i remember reading those with the A-prefix were used in run thru pool service and think i also read somewhere that only about 19 or so were used for this and only those with cushion underframes wich would be Phase 1 cabs with certain upgrades could be used for that purpose.Did the "A" stand for the Apollo trains? and were they all strictly piggy back/truck trailer trains? What were the years they ran the Apollo trains? So far to date i've only seen pictures of these LV cabs painted with the "A" prefix.
95006 , 95007 , 95014 , 95026 , 95031 , 95037 , 95041 , 95063 , 95068 , 95088 , 95089 , 95090.
In the LV color book 3 there is one on page 128 that looks like it may be A95064 but i can't tell for sure? I also think i saw 95023 in a photo with the A prefix but can't find it.
Can anyone add any other cab numbers to this list with the A prefix ? or confirm exactly how many cabs were used in this pool service? Many Thank's and Happy Thanksgiving!
Fritz N. Kuenzel