A rare General Electric locomotive is likely entering the twilight of its career in Pennsylvania. 

Pennsylvania Northeastern, a short line that serves suburban Philadelphia, recently put a newly acquired EMD SD60 locomotive into service. That addition to the roster could spell the end for the railroad’s rare C39-8 — the only one running in North America. But for now, anyway, locomotive 8212 can still be found out on the road making weekday runs over Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) trackage.

Last year, Pennsylvania Northeastern acquired two former CSX SD60 locomotives. Locomotive 8701 has been running out of Lansdale since fall, but 8711 required additional work and was only put into service earlier this month. Both have modified CSX paint with solid yellow noses and the road name spelled out on the long hood.

The railroad interchanges with CSX in Lansdale, but has trackage rights on SEPTA to reach Warminster and Ivyland, where several customers are served. Typically, that move has been done in the middle of the night but with SEPTA running a reduced schedule because of the pandemic, Pennsylvania Northeastern has been making the Lansdale to Warminster run during the day. This section of former Reading Railroad track has not seen regular daylight freights in decades.

Pennsylvania Northeaster’s C39-8  was built in 1986 as Conrail 6021, then went to Norfolk Southern as its 8212, according to the Conrail Historical Society. GE built just 22 of the 3,900 horsepower brutes for Conrail and 8212 still retains its blue paint. A handful of former Conrail C39-8 locomotives are reportedly still running in Peru. 

—M.T. Burkhart, Railfan & Railroad Magazine