The Juniata Paint Shop

The names Altoona and Juniata have always been significant in the locomotive repair industry since PRR days. Probably the most noticable display of Juniata's fine workmanship, particularly in terms of quality and durability, is the work done by the paint shop personnel. After an April 1981 fire destroyed a neighboring building to the existing paint shop, Conrail seized an apportinity and built a brand new, modern, state-of-the-art, paint shop next to the former paint shop. Completed in 1982, this new paint shop has enabled Conrail, and now Norfolk Southern, to keep durable coats of paint on their locomotive fleet. There have been many outside contracts solely for the purpose of a repaint. Since at least 1994, the Juniata paint shop has used only Dupont Imron paint, an extremely durable, and expensive paint. Just look at how well the paint is holding up on the 14-year-old (as of 2009) SD60Is that are still blue.

The first step is cleaning. This normally takes two men 10 hours to ready a locomotive for sanding. Second, it takes about 90 man-hours to sand down a locomotive to the metal. There is usually some amount of body putty applied to units being repainted. From primer to stenciling, it takes about 18 hours to paint an entire locomotive inside and out.

Pictured here are just a handful of the thousands of locomotives painted by the Juniata Paint Shop.

Work In Progress - Looking for any unusual paint schemes applied at the Juniata Shops

CR 6288, United Way

Paint Date: May 1979
Photo Date: 1984
One of the Juniata-rebuilt RS-3Ms is seen shifting in the Hollidaysburg yard.
Photo by Dick Bregler
Paint Date:
Photo Date:
When PRR 1361 was removed from display at the Horseshoe Curve in the early 1980's, this GP9 took its place. Conrail painted it up in PRR colors, but it has since been repainted.
Photo by William Davis Jr
Paint Date:
Photo Date: July 1989
Conrail SD40 6300 wearing the "Buy and Hold US Savings Bonds" lettering.
Photo by Gordon Lloyd Jr
Paint Date: c.1984-91
Photo Date: June 1991
Point Comfort & Northern GP38 #16 is a former PC and CR unit.
Photo by Randy Smith
Paint Date: August 1990
Photo Date: August 1990
Amtrak 415 is one of the group of six former GO Transit F40PHs which Amtrak bought. Before entering service on Amtrak, they were sent to the Juniata Shops to get dynamic brake and cab a/c added as well as other Amtrak-specific tidbits.
Conrail photo
Paint Date: c.1991
Photo Date:
Specially painted load test unit Q1.
Photo by Gerry Carry
Paint Date:
Photo Date: December 1993
Conrail SD50 6707 helps to support our troops during Desert Storm.
Photo by Gordon Lloyd Jr
Paint Date:
Photo Date: September 1993
Special Philadelphia Division decal.
Photo by Bill Hough
Paint Date: March 1983 (originally)
Photo Date: October 1998
Juniata painted all three Executive E8s. CR 4022 is seen here on display next to the power plant.
Photo by Ralph Bonnano
Paint Date: June 1992
Photo Date: 1994
CR 6726 SD50 carries a special paint scheme for the USCF Olympic Road Trials which were held in Altoona.
Photo by Gary Dryhouse
Paint Date: June 1992
Date: June 1992
CR 6373 SD40-2 also wears the same special scheme as 6726 above. 6373 was a helper.
Photo by Kevin Galau
Paint Date: September 1993
Date: October 1993
FEC 442 and 443 pose outside the Juniata Testshed.
Photo by Terry Nardella, collection of Steve Ondik/CRHS
Paint Date: November 1993
Date: November 1993
An MT-6 slug has been repainted. This one went to CSXT.
Photo by Terry Nardella, collection of Steve Ondik/CRHS
Paint Date: November 1993
Date: November 1993
This former MGA unit has just been upgraded from a B23-7R to a B30-7R and repainted.
Photo by Terry Nardella, collection of Steve Ondik/CRHS
Paint Date: November 1993
Date: December 1993
This NJ Transit GP40PH-2B was extensively rebuilt from a Conrail GP40.
Photo by Terry Nardella, collection of Steve Ondik/CRHS
Paint Date: March 1994
Date: April 1994
Freshly painted B23-7.
Photo by Terry Nardella, collection of Steve Ondik/CRHS
Paint Date: September 1994
Date: September 1994
A Conrail C40-8W sits east of the paint shop.
Photo by Terry Nardella, collection of Steve Ondik/CRHS
Paint Date: March 1995
Date: March 1995
This MT-4 slug was retired just 7 months after it was painted.
Photo by Terry Nardella, collection of Steve Ondik/CRHS
Paint Date: August 1995
Photo Date: May 2007
This is one of several SD60I's built in Altoona under contract for EMD and Conrail in 1994 and 1995.
Paint Date: 1995
Photo Date: May 2003
In 1995 Conrail sold three GP8s and one GP10 to the Nittany & Bald Eagle Railroad. The four classic units were repainted at Juniata before being sent to the NBER.
Photo by Andy Charlesworth
Paint Date: 1995
Photo Date: October 1995
San Diego & Imperial Valley 5537 is a former Conrail GP38 repainted by Juniata.
Photo by Paul Tupaczewski
Paint Date: 1995
Photo Date: October 1995
PW 2211 is on display after an overhaul and new fresh paint.
Photo by Paul Tupaczewski
Paint Date: September 1995
Photo Date: October 1995
The last SD60I built at Juniata (and last SD60I period) is on display for Railfest 1995.
Photo by Paul Tupaczewski
Paint Date: September 1995
Photo Date: October 1995
A freshly painted SD50 is on display for Railfest 1995.
Photo by Paul Tupaczewski
Paint Date: January 1996
Photo Date: Spring 2002
Juniata painted the SD80MAC's in a new paint scheme to make them stand out from DC traction units.
Paint Date: May 1996
Photo Date: March 2007
The last existing E7 was cosmetically restored by the Juniata Shop after it was saved from the scrapper's torch.
Photo by Lance Myers
Paint Date: Fall 1996
Photo Date: November 2011
Here's M&D 801 still looking pretty good 15 years after Juniata painted her in this special "Conrail Express" scheme.
Photo by Al Moran
Paint Date: October 1997
Photo Date: October 1997
This NJ Transit F40PH-2CAT was converted from a F40PH-2.
Photo by Ralph Bonnano
Paint Date: May 1998
Photo Date: October 2003
This blue SD70MAC is working for CSXT.
Photo by L.R. Myers
Paint Date: September 1998
Photo Date: September 1998
Built and freshly painted in Altoona, NS 2574 is on display next to the General Office Building. This group of SD70s were the last engines to get real Conrail blue.
Photo by Ralph Bonnano
Paint Date: November 1998
Photo Date: November 1998
BNSF SD70MAC built at Juniata.
Photo by Roger Durfee
Paint Date: February 1999
Photo Date: June 2002
Standard paint C40-9W departing Altoona.
Photo by L.R. Myers
Paint Date: November 1999
Photo Date: April 2002
An SD60I painted in the previous NS paint scheme.
Photo by L.R. Myers
Paint Date:
Photo Date: September 2004
One of 27 P32AC-DMs completed for Metro-North at Juniata in the 1990s These units were slowly being rebuilt by GE in the late 2000s and repainted at Juniata into a more pleasing scheme.
Photo by David Sommer
Paint Date: March 2000
Photo Date: March 2000
ARR SD70MAC built at Juniata.
Photo by Roger Durfee
Paint Date: August 2000
Photo Date: October 2000
The first NS GP38 rebuild is on display for Railfest. The 5500's were actually financed and owned by First Union Rail.
Photo by Jeff Lubchansky
Paint Date: Fall 2000
Photo Date: October 2000
NS overhauled and repainted many former Conrail GP38-2 for CSXT after the breakup of Conrail.
Photo by Jeff Lubchansky
Paint Date: Fall 2000
Photo Date: October 2000
FAIX leasing bought these units after other plans fell through. These are former Conrail units.
Photo by Jeff Lubchansky
Paint Date: Fall 2000
Photo Date: October 2000
JBS overhauled and repainted several former SP units for Union Pacific.
Photo by Jeff Lubchansky
Paint Date: January 2002
Photo Date: April 2007
This is a standard NS repaint in the former NS paint scheme.
Photo by L.R. Myers
Paint Date: July 2002
Photo Date: July 2006
NS 3329 was Conrail's first SD40-2. It was painted Maersk as a promotion for a new intermodal facility in California.
Photo by R.J. Vitchner
Paint Date: February 2004
Photo Date: February 2004
GP38-3 5801 is the first NS GP50 rebuild.
Photo by L.R. Myers
Paint Date: March 2004
Photo Date: May 2008
An SD60I painted in the current standard NS paint scheme.
Photo by L.R. Myers
Paint Date: October 2004
Photo Date: November 2004
One of a handful of GP38H-3 rebuilds for Amtrak.
Photo by Stevan Roberts
Paint Date: November 2004
Photo Date: November 2004
Five B36-7s were overhauled and bulletproofed for El Cerrejon-Zona Norte of Columbia. Juniata did three including this one.
Photo by Fred Shook
Paint Date: August 2006
Photo Date: August 2006
During the summer of 2006, Juniata completed, tested, and painted ten UP SD70ACe's under contract from EMD.
Photo by Mike Breen
Paint Date: Late 2006
Photo Date: December 2006
Load test unit Q1 was repainted as NS 1000. Decals were modified a little because of the middle hood missing.
Photo by L.R. Myers
Paint Date: March 2007
Photo Date: March 2007
NS F units, painted up for the OCS train, are on their test run with two clean GP38 rebuilds.
Photo by L.R. Myers
Paint Date: May 2007
Photo Date: June 2007
A handful of Juniata's GP38-2's and GP38-3's have received Operation Lifesaver decals. It's been a while since any units have received them.
Photo by L.R. Myers
Paint Date: August 2007
Photo Date: August 2007
Here is NS 3072, the second NS GP40/GP40-2 conversion.
Photo by J.B. Kerr
Paint Date: November 2007
Photo Date: March 2008
The last GP38-2 rebuild for RJ Corman sits at Cresson.
Photo by L.R. Myers
Paint Date: March 2008
Photo Date: March 2008
WRIX 1886 is formerly NS 59, one of the SD9Ms.
Photo by L.R. Myers
Paint Date: July 2008
Photo Date: July 2008
Two of the OCS F units and one of the completed RP14BDB's was placed on display for 2008 Railfest. Here is the first look at the cabless remote genset switcher.
Photo by J.B. Kerr
Paint Date: June 2008
Photo Date: August 2008
BDRV 9581 is the former NS 58, an SD9M.
Photo by Andrew Blaszczyk
Paint Date: June 2008
Photo Date: June 2010
Norfolk Southern's original research "slug" got a major overhaul in 2008 which including major electrical work and the addition of a cab for computer equipment.
Photo by Nikos Kavoori
Paint Date: October 2008
Photo Date: October 2008
WRIX 50 is ex-NS 50, another SD9M sold off.
Photo by L.R. Myers
Paint Date: December 2008
Photo Date: July 2010
MET 2000 was rebuilt from a GreenGoat by Juniata.
Photo by Stephie Kolata
Paint Date: 2008/2009
Photo Date: May 2009
The Metro-North P32AC-DMs were overhauled by GE in Erie, then shipped to Altoona for paint.
Photo by Brent van Dorp
Paint Date: July 2009
Photo Date: August 2010
NS decided they needed a second research "slug" and built NS 38 at the Juniata Shops on an SD40 frame.
Photo by Scott Ikemeyer
Paint Date: August 2009
Photo Date: October 2009
NS 999.
Photo by Andy Charlesworth
Paint Date: October 2010
Photo Date: October 2010
This new Railpower RP20BD is for the Port of Montreal. It was shipped at RPRX 1001 because POM has no reporting marks.
Photo by J.B. Kerr
Paint Date: October 2010
Photo Date: October 2010
NS 54 has been sold to the Winchester & Western as their number 954. Here it is after an overhaul and paint job.
Photo by Andy Charlesworth
Paint Date: October 2010
Photo Date: November 2010
NS 6900 SD60E seen at Birmingham, AL
Photo by Casey Thomason
Paint Date: November 2010
Photo Date: December 2010
TRWX 121 is one of three F59PHs overhauled and painted for Trinity Railway Extra in Texas.
Photo by Mike Ray
Paint Date: January 2011
Photo Date: February 2011
NS 103 is leased to Virginia International Terminals.
Photo by J.B. Kerr
Paint Date: February 2011
Photo Date: June 2011
FMG 903 is one of four former Union Pacific SD90MAC-Hs overhauled and repainted in the US for Fortesque Metals Group in Australia. Juniata did two of these, 901 and 903. The remaining 5 units of FMG's order are being repowered with 16-710G engines by the Juniata Shops.
Paint Date: March 2011
Photo Date: July 2011
CSXT 1601 is a new Railpower RP20CD built at Juniata on an SD40 frame.
Photo by Jamey Rickens
Paint Date: May 2011
Photo Date: July 2011
NS 6085 features a new NS Admiral Cab.
Photo by Andy Tucker
Paint Date: July 2011
Photo Date: August 2011
FMG 909 SD9043MAC undergoing tests on the Pittsburgh Line at Fostoria, PA.
Photo by Tony Kimmel
Paint Date: September 2011
Photo Date: September 2011
FMG 905 SD9043MAC on the "display track" at the Juniata Shops.
Photo by L.R. Myers
Paint Date: November 2011
Photo Date: December 2011
MET RP20BD 2004
Photo by Jerry Jordak
Paint Date: November 2011
Photo Date: December 2011
UPY 887 is the first of a seven unit order for Union Pacific. UP calls them RP20SD, but Railpower calls it an RP20CD.
Photo by Tony Kimmel
Paint Date: November 2011
Photo Date: December 2011
CEFX 1557 is former NS 2231. It's one of the few SW1500s to actually get an entire repaint after being sold.
Photo by Tony Kimmel
Paint Date: November 2011
Photo Date: December 2011
CSXT 965 is one of a batch of brand new GEs painted into CSX colors for GE.
Photo by Tony Kimmel
Paint Date: November 2011
Photo Date: January 2012
NS 5901 is a GP22ECO rated at 2,000 hp.
Photo by Tony Kimmel
Paint Date: November 2011
Photo Date: n/a
Wanted: Photo of one of the five SD40-2 former BNSF SD40-2 repainted for export to Saudi Arabia. They were lettered ITC 005-009
Photo by n/a

Copyright © 2007-2012 L.R. Myers. All rights reserved.

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