| A timid U34CH unit peeks out from the engine house. Built by GE in April of 1971, it was one of 32 built for the joint effort between the New Jersey Department of Transportation and Erie Lackawanna. The partnership was one of the possible solutions to the growing EL debt problem but unfortunately it was too little, too late. To show their NJDOT ownership, the units were painted in a dark blue and silver paint scheme with NJDOT logo and were often called "Bluebirds" by rail enthusiasts. The U34CHs on the weekends were sometimes used in Erie Lackawanna freight service, often being on freight duty from Saturday to Sunday and returning to commuter service Monday morning. In 1976, they came under Conrail control. Unknown photographer |