Two former PRR U25Bs (2606-2605) and a former NYC U30B (2885), all still wearing Conrail blue and running "elephant style" in reverse are in charge of a long afternoon freight from Paris, Illinois. It's fitting that two-thirds of the consist is former PRR since the line they are running on is the former PRR Peoria Secondary that has been cast-off from Conrail. After the train's arrival at Hervey City and securing permission from the ICG dispatcher to enter and run on ICG track to Decatur, a friendly young Conductor threw the switch for their move and then came over to talk to me. After exchanging a few moments of small talk, I asked him
if the old GE's could produce some black smoke for my camera. He gave me a grin and said "Sure!" He then spoke only one word into his hand-held radio: "Smoke!" The Engineer quickly complied by notching out the throttle on the 2606. The other two elderly GE's followed suit and here are the results.
