by craltoona
Conrail's Ballast Express trains were quite interesting to me. I have a few questions on them that hopefully some of you will know the answers to.
1. Conrail painted only C32-8s into the Ballast Express scheme. I know that Conrail bought the only 10 C32-8 ever made. Did Conrail eventually paint all of these into the Ballast Express scheme? I've also seen pictures of C32-8s with the standard "can opener" w/ blue paint scheme that said "ballast express" right below the cab. Were these eventually painted into gray as well? In addition, was there a special reason the C32-8s were chosen as opposed to another model?
2. Was Ballast Express service just used for MOW service (conrail ballasting jobs), or were the ballast express (ortner) cars used for revenue service as well?
3. When did Conrail start Ballast Express service and why did they create it in the first place? Were there any other major railroads (past or present) that had "special-only ballast service" schemes?
I know it's a lot of questions, but your help is again greatly appreciated. I'm looking forward to learning more! Thanks!
-Joe M.
1. Conrail painted only C32-8s into the Ballast Express scheme. I know that Conrail bought the only 10 C32-8 ever made. Did Conrail eventually paint all of these into the Ballast Express scheme? I've also seen pictures of C32-8s with the standard "can opener" w/ blue paint scheme that said "ballast express" right below the cab. Were these eventually painted into gray as well? In addition, was there a special reason the C32-8s were chosen as opposed to another model?
2. Was Ballast Express service just used for MOW service (conrail ballasting jobs), or were the ballast express (ortner) cars used for revenue service as well?
3. When did Conrail start Ballast Express service and why did they create it in the first place? Were there any other major railroads (past or present) that had "special-only ballast service" schemes?
I know it's a lot of questions, but your help is again greatly appreciated. I'm looking forward to learning more! Thanks!
-Joe M.
Penn Central Brunswick Green - 500 parts black to 1 part green!!!