When Conrail was formed, the former EL Bangor & Portland subdivision received its cars at Portland, Pennsylvania. Local crews out of Bangor would serve the various customers along the B&P. Those cars were delivered to Portland via the former DL&W main line until May, 1979, when an alternate route was initiated by Conrail. The new deliveries would come from Allentown, coming to Easton on the former LV, cross the Delaware River on the former L&HR bridge, proceed northward on the former PC Bel-Del division, and then cross the Delaware back into Martins Creek . At Martins Creek, the train would run the length of the Bangor & Portland to Portland, swap cars, and return to Allentown.
The new train was originally symbolled APB-1, and started on May 16, 1979. The first run of the new train is seen here emerging from the morning for at Stiers, Pennsylvania.
