Penn Division Excursions (Post Conrail)...

After "C-Day", the start up of Conrail, April 1, 1976, Excursions continued on the D&H's Penn Division, but not with the PA1's in charge. A year or two earlier, Amtrak's Albany-Montreal passenger runs had been re-instated, and the old D&H ALCo's were all needed on the north end, hauling daily, fare-paying passengers. 

Since the four PA's were used locomotives, when originally acquired from the Santa Fe in 1967, the decision was made to send them to Morrison-Knudsen of Boise, ID for complete rebuilding. There, the original ALCo 244 V-16 engines were replaced with brand new, reliable, and more powerful ALCo 251 V-12's. New stainless sheetmetal panels were fabricated for the carbodies, new electrical; the locos receiving COMPLETE stem to stern overhauls in preparation their new passenger assignments. In the process, they were reclassified as PA4's. 

Here's D&H PA4 #17, a year or so after having been rebuilt by M-K. The black and red Morrison-Knudsen "builders plate" is visible just ahead of the side entry door. 

And a closeup of the engineer's side of PA4 #18 "G.W. Hockaday" (still at the M-k Shops, prior to delivery) giving an even better view of the badge. 

But I digress. The purpose of this entry was to talk about Penn Divisions Excursions after the PA's departure. The fan trips did continue, but they were now pulled by the Red-White & Blue Bicentennial painted GE U23b, and MK-rebuilt ALCo RS3u. Here they are, pulling the southbound. Image was taken from the top of EL's Starrucca Viaduct. 

PA-Powered Excursions on the Penn Division in the early 1970's...

"Aerial" view of a Penn Division Excursion in April of 1974. The train is heading north, back to Oneonta, NY, after having gone south into Wilkes-Barre, PA. This shot was taken from on top of the Erie's (then Erie Lackawanna's) Starrucca Viaduct, Lanesboro, PA. 

Though taken the year before, here's a second shot of the train, after having passed over the bridge over Starrucca Creek, this time taken from ground level. 

Lastly, a shot of the train, after having passed under the Viaduct (seen at the rear). The train stopped here for photographs.