March 31, 1976, was a foggy day full of drizzle. Spring was slow to come that year and it was a gloomy few days as April approached. This was to be no normal March-to-April change, though, not for railroading in the northeastern United States of America.
Fifty years ago, railroaders and their families went to bed knowing that it was hard to tell what was coming in the morning. Like the foggy sky, the future was unclear and hard to see. The largest change in the history of railroading in that region was about to become reality for them. April 1 would be the start of Conrail's operations, bringing federal help and a bold new goal into sharp focus.
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| Bob Camp, Detroit, Mort Walton photo |
As amateur historians, many of us who love railroading reflect on the past to find some solace in the present. Change is more constant than may wish it to be, and having an understanding of the past helps us to build a present and future that incorporates the better changes as we can manage it. But there is no way to tell how it is going to turn out. There is no crystal ball, really, no guarantee it will work better than it does today. We have to credit the fallen flags, the companies that tried their best to survive an era that had turned against them. They were forced to give up. And when that happens, it feels like maybe we should give up, too.
But like Conrail, we have to try. It is an obligation of every person to try. In order to push our families and our community forward, we must take action. Gloom and the fog in the future is no reason to sit and wait. To create a better today and tomorrow, you cannot wait for life to come to you. Action, accountability, compassion, and perseverance are indispensable for improving our future.
And so, let's be like Conrail was, on Conrail's 50th birthday. Let's take a chance, even if on a wild idea, to make things better. Maybe tomorrow we can do it again!
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