The October 14th meeting of the Tri-State Railway Historical Society will feature a presentation by GPCo authors Brock Kerchner and Wes Reminder on their new book, Conrail Business & Research Trains!

For all 23 years of Conrail's tenure (1976-1999), the railroad maintained a fleet of specialized railcars and locomotives equipped to "test the condition of [its] track, allow Conrail’s management to inspect the right of way and facilities at the ground level, and show customers and potential customers exactly how their freight [would] move.” The specialized railcars in this fleet were split between Conrail's business train (often called the Office Car Special, or OCS) and the railroad’s research and track department.

This virtual presentation is based on Kerchner and Reminder’s comprehensive and definitive book of the same name, slated for release by The Garbely Publishing Company around the same time as this exclusive event (learn more at www.cr-ocs.com). The presentation and the forthcoming hardcover book, anticipated to reach 400 pages, will include the authors’ three decades of combined research.

Each railcar and locomotive in Conrail's special equipment fleet will be covered, with original diagrams and drawings as well as photographs depicting the interiors and exteriors of the railroad's opulent business cars and its specialized research equipment. With every specialized operation came specialized employees, and Conrail's business and research trains were no exceptions. From the mechanical staff that rebuilt and maintained the cars to the on-board management that ensured their smooth operation, this presentation will feature information and stories gleaned from interviews with the major players in Conrail's special equipment staff. These accounts are accompanied by rare photographs showing these unique and memorable trains under construction, in operation, and even in a foreign country! The presentation will also cover the Conrail Technical Services Laboratory and the special railcars equipped for the Conrail Police Department.

The membership portion of the meeting begins on Zoom at 7:00 PM, and the presentation should begin around 7:30 PM. Viewers will need to register to view this webinar by clicking the button below. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. The presentation will continue on Zoom and be simulcast on Tri-State’s Facebook page after. All are welcome to attend!