PENN CENTRAL

This page covers the large former Pennsylvania Railroad yard located at Enola, Pennsylvania.   Enola lies across the Susquehanna River from Harrisburg, the state capital of Pennsylvania.  Enola marked the western reach of the PRR electrification and served as the largest classification yard of the old PRR.  Penn Central maintained full use of the yard after the merger in 1968.  Following the Conrail takeover in 1976,  operations were gradually scaled back.  Conrail terminated the electrification in 1982. They later reduced the use of the yard as most of the traffic was run through to New York or worked at other yards such as Allentown.  The decline in box car traffic and general decline in customers also lead to the yards reduced importance. 

Several of the pictures below were taken in 1973 and unfortunately the rather cloudy day made for some dark images.  However, we must remember the PC is long gone, the GG-1's are gone and many of the diesels are also gone. 

  The second GG-1 built and the first using the smooth welded carbody, 4801 rests at Enola in 1974.

  For a very large locomotive, the cab of the GG-1 is very small and cramped.

E-44 4401 and     ex-Virginian, PC class E-33, 4606 sit in the terminal.

  A trio of GP-9's pass over one of the humps.  A local railfan group was being hosted by the PC and allowed access to an otherwise off limits area.  May 19, 1974.

  GP35 2310 and two other units also cross over the hump.

   SD35 6004 sits inside a shed awaiting mechanical attention.

       Switcher 9044 leads a set of units through the washer.  May 19, 1974.

   The GP38 was a popular unit at the time and two are in the shop area.

      The more common view from the highway along the yard finds scores electrics and diesels.

   GP40 3090 in the shop area.

  U23C 6704 works a cut of cars in the yard.

    Two other GE U23C's await their next assignment in the yard.  1973 and 1974 respectively.

    GP30 2198 leads a train west out of the yard with a big Alco in the consist.  October 1973.

  GP38 7843 brings an eastbound into the yard.  1973.

At the west end of the yard lies the famous Rockville Bridge.  The mainline crosses over the river from Harrisburg and turns to follow the west bank of the river.  The junction at the foot of the bridge allows access to and from the yard.

   SD45 6116 swings around the track off the bridge and into the yard.  1974.

    SD40 6045 brings an outbound train around the sharp curve and then over the bridge.

    U28B 2873 also comes out of the yard with a coal train.  January 26, 1975.

  On a sultry summer day, GP38 8024 also negotiates the sharp curve leading out of the yard.

GP38 7841 brings a train over the bridge and is about to round the same curve and enter Enola yard.

  GP38 8119 comes out of the yard and heads west.

  6105 brings a train out of the yard heading west toward Altoona.

  Finally, here comes the poor Amtrak 'National Limited' only a few hours late bouncing over the rough track approaching the bridge.  1975.

For some early Conrail images taken at Enola and Rockville, click here.

Back to the Penn Central main page. Click Here