217 IN COMMAND on Metro-North's Danbury Branch!

For its 40th year as a successful railroad, Metro-North wrapped 4 P32 Genesis locomotives in heritage schemes to honor past railroads. Additionally, there is one designated for their employees. This unit, number 217, honors the Penn Central Transportation Company, a 1968 merger of the bankrupt Pennsylvania RR, New York Central RR, and eventually, New Haven Railroads. Although functional for less than a decade, (and only serving passengers for 3 of those) PC taught a lesson to the United States that private passenger rail was in the past. From that point on and to this day, government agencies fund railroads such as Amtrak, MTA, SLE, CTRail, NJT, SEPTA, MBTA, and even more. First, we see this striking locomotive arrive at South Norwalk station, and then further up the line in Wilton where the D&N hugs Mather Street. 55 years ago, it would not be uncommon to see FL9s sporting these same colors making the same trip up to Danbury. Thanks for watching, and please like and subscribe!!
Taken August 9, 2024