Conrail Hot Spots East

Producer: Pentrex

Timeframe: 1994

Locations: 16 in NY, NJ, PA, MA

Length: 2 hours

East volume of the two Conrail Hot Spots. These are great places for railfans to view busy train action. By the way, Conrail lingo you will need to know. CP is Control Point. TV is Trailvan. SV is Supervan.

This will be a whirlwind tour! Sixteen hot spots. There is plenty to cover. Some spots get only a quick look. A hierarchy? Travel realities and available trains. I suppose, a few variables affect the outcome.

There is a Chapter Menu. Simply go down the checklist. Choose your favorites to revisit. Plenty of maps.

For this review. We will proceed in about the same fashion. Let’s go see what Pentrex has picked.

To the Trains… 👉

Bear Mountain, along the Hudson River. A very scenic hot spot. Impressive, with traffic on both sides of the river. Major downside, is the shots are all long telephoto lens. Easily tree obscured.

Number 6465 leads out SYMS. Originated in Syracuse. Going to Montreal. This SD40 is sharp looking, in clean paint.

Amtrak 197 is a GP40TC. Former Canadian ex- GO Transit. Syracuse, New York.

Tifft Street overpass in Buffalo. The final New York hot spot. Thirty Conrail trains a day. Norfolk Southern too. BUIN= Buffalo to Indianapolis. See how that works?

New Jersey- Lehigh Line. CP- Potter. Near Edison, NJ. is a local favourite, with railfans! South Kearny yard trains, in and outbound. Tanks are on this time. To Indiana Harbor Belt move.

Allentown CP- Allen. This is another fine hot spot, along the Lehigh Line.

Reading, Penn. A crowded CP- Belt. Two Eastbounds wait on Red signals. A CSX on the left main. Shown is CR ZBB-70. A heavy ore drag. CR6067 leads that ore move. Consist has, vintage PRR and PC lettered ore jennies. Movement begins in a flurry. ALBA goes west. A TV211 too. ZBB-70 heads out. Finally, CSX8511 cleared.

Next Hot Spot, is Rockville Bridge. This one, crosses the Susquehanna River. Located 8 miles from Harrisburg PA. Again, long lens shots are required.

Horseshoe Curve. Park improvements. Conrail mini Parade. Helpers. Amtrak’s Pennsylvanian. Pentrex covers it all.

Last stop. Rochester Tower. This one controls the busy Conway Yard. Has some of the best scenes, as well.

What is your favorite? Horseshoe is still great, but touristy. Binghamton rings my bell, with variety! Rochester Tower is cool. Reading and Allentown rock!

Conrail Hot Spots East.

This one has the scenery. Mountains with helpers, on some. Operations are more interesting. The narrative lays back in the pocket. Allowing the train’s to be heard. A top notch production!

Hot Spots East or West you ask?

Get both if you can afford them. However, if you only choose one. The East has the edge! Either way. Cross that bridge, when you come to it!

Rating: 5 Stars