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. The capacity of the Juniata Paint Shop is 16 engines per month.
Pictured here are just a handful of the thousands of locomotives painted by the Juniata Paint Shop.
Dark Green Locomotive Enamel (aka Brunswick Green) | Tuscan Red
Work In Progress - Looking for any unusual paint schemes applied at the Juniata Shops
CR 6288, United Way
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Paint Date: Photo Date: One of two power cars made at Juniata out of an SW1 for use on ballast trains in the PC era. Photo by Kermit Geary Jr. |
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Paint Date: July 1973 Photo Date: August 1973 PC 5230, one of the first two of Penn Central's RS-3M rebuilds rests in Rose Yard at Altoona. This unit is the only one that got a 'chopped' nose. The first PC RS-3M had its nose completely removed. Photo by John Eagan |
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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 |
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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 |
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Paint Date: before April 1986 Photo Date: July 1989 Conrail SD40 6300 wearing the "Buy and Hold US Savings Bonds" lettering. Photo by Gordon Lloyd Jr |
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Paint Date: c.1988 Photo Date: c.1988 Former Conrail 9251 (nee Detroit Terminal) NW2 repainted for new owner Juniata Terminal Company. This 1947-built EMD is now NIWX 9251. Photo by Don Oltmann |
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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 |
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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 |
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Paint Date: c.1990 Photo Date: December 1993 Conrail SD50 6707 helps to support our troops during Desert Storm. Photo by Gordon Lloyd Jr |
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Paint Date: c.1991 Photo Date: Specially painted load test unit Q1. Photo by Gerry Carry |
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Paint Date: Photo Date: September 1993 Special Philadelphia Division decal. Photo by Bill Hough |
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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 Mark Wurst |
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Paint Date: 1991 Photo Date: December 2012 Restored to PRR colors for the RR Museum of PA by the Juniata Shops. Photo by L.R. Myers |
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Paint Date: June 1991 Photo Date: June 1991 Former Conrail GP10 (exCR 7578 neePRR 7052) chop-nosed and repainted for "ITI." If anyone knows who/what ITI is, please let us know. Photo by Mark Wurst |
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Paint Date: May? 1992 Photo Date: May 1992 NJT 4102 GP40PH was rebuilt as NJT 4110 GP40PH-2 in 1992; Origininally CNJ 3673. Our records indicate it was released in October 1992 and yet this shot of the unit testing is from May of 1992. Photo by Bob Airhart |
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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 |
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Paint Date: June 1992 Photo Date: September 1992 CR 6373 SD40-2 also wears the same special scheme as 6726 above. 6373 was a helper. Photo by Mark Wurst |
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Paint Date: July 1992 Photo Date: July 1992 Albany Port Railroad No. 13 is a former PRR SW9. As of July 2018 it was still in service on the APD. Photo by Mark Wurst |
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Paint Date: 1993 Photo Date: February 2011 U.S. Army 4635 GP9M was rebuilt from CSXT 1744 GP16, originally built for SAL. Photo by William Grimes |
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Paint Date: September 1993 Photo Date: October 1993 FEC 442 and 443 pose outside the Juniata Testshed. Photo by Terry Nardella, collection of Steve Ondik/CRHS |
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Paint Date: November 1993 Photo 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 |
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Paint Date: November 1993 Photo Date: December 1993 This NJ Transit GP40PH-2B was extensively rebuilt from a Conrail GP40. Photo by Terry Nardella, collection of Steve Ondik/CRHS |
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Paint Date: September 1994 Photo Date: September 1994 A Conrail C40-8W sits east of the paint shop. Photo by Terry Nardella, collection of Steve Ondik/CRHS |
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Paint Date: March 1995 Photo Date: March 1995 Point Comfort & Northern 14 MP15DC departing Altoona on a power move. Photo by Andy Charlesworth |
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Paint Date: March 1995 Photo 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 |
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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. |
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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 |
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Paint Date: Fall 1995 Photo Date: Fall 1995 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 Mark Wurst |
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Paint Date: 1995 Photo Date: October 1995 San Diego & Imperial Valley 5537 is a former Conrail GP38 repainted by Juniata. Photo by Paul Tupaczewski |
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Paint Date: 1995 Photo Date: October 1995 PW 2211 is on display after an overhaul and new fresh paint. Photo by Paul Tupaczewski |
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Paint Date: September 1995 Photo Date: October 1995 A freshly painted SD50 is on display for Railfest 1995. Photo by Paul Tupaczewski |
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Paint Date: March 1996 Photo Date: Juniata painted the SD80MAC's in a new paint scheme to make them stand out from DC traction units. Photo by Al Moran |
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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 |
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Paint Date: October 1996 Photo Date: October 1996 Amtrak 5 is one of 115 Amtrak P42DCs painted at the Juniata Shops. Here it is on display for Railfest. Photo by Tom Trencansky |
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Paint Date: October 1997 Photo Date: October 1997 This NJ Transit F40PH-2CAT was converted from a F40PH-2. Photo by Ralph Bonnano |
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Paint Date: May 1997 Photo Date: December 2012 The last existing E7 was cosmetically restored by the Juniata Shop after it was saved from the scrapper's torch. PRR 5901 is a display at the RR Museum of PA. Photo by L.R. Myers |
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Paint Date: April 1998 Photo Date: May 1998 Conrail 4133 just one month from the paint shop. Photo by Unknown |
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Paint Date: April 1998 Photo Date: May 1998 Only a month old, Conrail 4136 is seen at Selkirk, NY. Photo by Bob Thamsen |
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Paint Date: May 1998 Photo Date: October 2003 This blue SD70MAC is working for CSXT. Photo by L.R. Myers |
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Paint Date: May 1998 Photo Date: May 1998 Conrail 4141 fresh from the paint shop. Photo by Roger Durfee |
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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 |
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Paint Date: November 1998 Photo Date: November 1998 BNSF SD70MAC built at Juniata. Photo by Roger Durfee |
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Paint Date: November 1999 Photo Date: April 2002 An SD60I painted in the previous NS paint scheme. Photo by L.R. Myers |
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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 |
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Paint Date: March 2000 Photo Date: March 2000 ARR SD70MAC built at Juniata. Photo by Roger Durfee |
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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 |
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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 |
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Paint Date: Fall 2000 Photo Date: October 2000 JBS overhauled and repainted several former SP units for Union Pacific. Photo by Jeff Lubchansky |
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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 |
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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 |
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Paint Date: June 2002 Photo Date: December 2012 Conrail 2233 GP30 at the RR Museum of PA was went to the Juniata Shops in 2002 for fresh paint. Photo by L.R. Myers |
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Paint Date: October 2004 Photo Date: November 2004 One of a handful of GP38H-3 rebuilds for Amtrak. Photo by Stevan Roberts |
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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 |
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Paint Date: June 2006 Photo Date: June 2006 During the summer of 2006, Juniata completed, tested, and painted ten UP SD70ACe's under contract from EMD. Photo by Andy Charlesworth |
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Paint Date: March 2007 Photo Date: July 2008 Two NS F units on display at the Railroader's Museum for Railfest. Photo by L.R. Myers |
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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 |
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Paint Date: November 2007 Photo Date: March 2008 The last GP38-2 rebuild for RJ Corman sits at Cresson. Photo by L.R. Myers |
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Paint Date: March 2008 Photo Date: March 2008 WRIX 1886 is formerly NS 59, one of the SD9Ms. Photo by L.R. Myers |
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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 |
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Paint Date: June 2008 Photo Date: August 2008 BDRV 9581 is the former NS 58, an SD9M. Photo by Andrew Blaszczyk |
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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 |
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Paint Date: October 2008 Photo Date: October 2008 WRIX 50 is ex-NS 50, another SD9M sold off. Photo by L.R. Myers |
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Paint Date: December 2008 Photo Date: July 2010 MET 2000 was rebuilt from a GreenGoat by Juniata. Photo by Stephie Kolata |
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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 |
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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 |
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Paint Date: August 2009 Photo Date: May 2010 NS 999 BP4, the experimental battery-powered yard locomotive. Photo by L.R. Myers |
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Paint Date: October 2010 Photo Date: October 2010 This new Railpower RP20BD is for the Port of Montreal. It was shipped as RPRX 1001 because POM has no reporting marks. Photo by J.B. Kerr |
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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 |
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Paint Date: January 2011 Photo Date: February 2011 NS 103 is leased to Virginia International Terminals. Photo by J.B. Kerr |
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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 were repowered with 16-710G engines by the Juniata Shops. Photo by Toad Montgomery |
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Paint Date: March 2011 Photo Date: 2011 CSXT 1603 is a new Railpower RP20CD built at Juniata on an SD40 frame. Photo by Jody Moore |
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Paint Date: September 2011 Photo Date: September 2011 FMG 905 SD9043MAC on the "display track" at the Juniata Shops. Photo by L.R. Myers |
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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 |
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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 |
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Paint Date: March 2012 Photo Date: March 2012 The first 30th anniversary NS heritage unit is fresh from the Juniata Paint Shop in this photo. Photo by Tony Kimmel |
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Paint Date: March 2012 Photo Date: April 2012 The Nickel Plate Road heritage unit also debuted in March and it's seen here after making a few runs. Photo by L.R. Myers |
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Paint Date: April 2012 Photo Date: April 2012 UPY 893 was the last of a seven unit order for Union Pacific. UP calls them RP20SD, but Railpower calls it an RP20CD. Photo by L.R. Myers |
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Paint Date: April 2012 Photo Date: April 2012 The Norfolk & Western heritage unit debuted in April. Photo by J.B. Kerr |
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Paint Date: April 2012 Photo Date: May 2012 The Standard Heritage Unit of the World, NS 8102. Photo by L.R. Myers |
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Paint Date: April 2012 Photo Date: April 2012 The Lehigh Valley heritage unit, NS 8104. Photo by L.R. Myers |
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Paint Date: May 2012 Photo Date: May 2012 Yet another heritage unit? Not quite. This GP38 belongs to the North Shore RR. It would get its trucks overhauled before being sent back to its owner without lettering. Photo by L.R. Myers |
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Paint Date: July 2012 Photo Date: July 2012 NS sold a few SW1500s to the North Shore RR. They were spruced up and repainted at the Juniata Shops but shipped out without lettering. NSHR shops did the lettering. Photo by L.R. Myers |
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Paint Date: November 2012 Photo Date: November 2012 Norfolk Southern honoring our veterans. Photo by L.R. Myers |
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Paint Date: December 2012 Photo Date: December 2012 CIND 2001 RP20BD is the first Rail America family locomotive to get the G&W orange, yellow, and black scheme. Photo by Kyle McKerrow |
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Paint Date: March 2013 Photo Date: March 2013 DGNO 145 RP20BD seen in good sun. Photo by L.R. Myers |
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Paint Date: March 2013 Photo Date: March 2013 NS 4650 GP59E features a short nose version of the Admiral cab. Photo by L.R. Myers |
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Paint Date: May 2013 Photo Date: May 2013 NS 2423 MP21E is different from MP15Es. This unit is equipped with a turbocharged 12-645 engine and a larger radiator. It's tier 2 and rated 2100 hp. Photo by L.R. Myers |
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Paint Date: Aug/Sep 2013 Photo Date: June 2014 Juniata overhauled and repainted two CEFX GP38-2s last year. Photo by Dustin Faust |
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Paint Date: December 2013 Photo Date: December 2013 CEFX 6001 is one of several former SOO SD60s overhauled and repainted for CIT. Photo by Dustin Faust |
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Paint Date: February 2014 Photo Date: March 2013 NS 6963 SD60E wears special GoRail decals. Photo by L.R. Myers |
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Paint Date: April 2014 Photo Date: April 2014 It's not often the Juniata Paint Shop does equipment other than locomotives, but it does happen. Here's the freshly painted Conrail 21313. Photo by Dustin Faust |
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Paint Date: April 2014 Photo Date: April 2014 CEFX 1568 and 1569, both former NS/CR SW1500s. Photo by L.R. Myers |
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Paint Date: March 2015 Photo Date: April 2015 NS 4718 GP33ECO. This unit started life as a GP50 and was completely stripped down and rebuilt as a practically new locomotive. These GP33ECOs have similar specs as the GP59E rebuilds. Photo by L.R. Myers |
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Paint Date: May 2015 Photo Date: May 2015 NS 5070 GP38-2, former highhood now with a low-nose Admiral cab. Photo by L.R. Myers |
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Paint Date: May 2015 Photo Date: May 2015 NS 911, Honoring First Responders unit. Photo by L.R. Myers |
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Paint Date: May 2015 Photo Date: May 2015 Union Pacific 6944 DDA40X fresh from the Juniata Paint Shop after a cosmetic restoration. Photo by L.R. Myers |
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Paint Date: June 2015 Photo Date: August 2015 BRC 150 MP15AC was rebuilt from BRC 534 MP15DC and repainted. Photo by L.R. Myers |
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Paint Date: September 2015 Photo Date: September 2015 UP 5594 had some pretty bad wreck damage. The body repairs were done by Curry Rail Servies. Mechanical and electrical repairs were done at the Juniata Shops as well as repainting. Photo by Dustin Faust |
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Paint Date: October 2015 Photo Date: November 2015 NS 8506 Dash 8.5-40CW rebuilt from a C40-8 at Roanoke and repainted at Altoona. Photo by J.B. Kerr |
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Paint Date: November 2015 Photo Date: November 2015 Rebuilt from a GP38 several years ago, NS 5642 emerged in a new "Training First Responders" scheme. Photo by J.B. Kerr |
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Paint Date: July 2016 Photo Date: July 2016 MNCW 231 is painted like a New Haven FL9. Yes the reporting mark is MNCW and not CDOT for some reason. All of the Metro-North and CDOT P32AC-DMs have been through Juniata at least once. They were overhauled by GE and sent to Altoona for paint. Photo by L.R. Myers |
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Paint Date: August 2016 Photo Date: August 2016 NS 4004 is the first AC44C6M rebuild done at Altoona. Photo by L.R. Myers |
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Paint Date: August 2016 Photo Date: September 2016 NS 4002 is the first AC44C6M rebuild done at Roanoke. It was painted at Altoona since Roanoke has no paint shop and Chattanooga's paint shop is currently closed. Photo by L.R. Myers |
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Paint Date: March 2017 Photo Date: March 2017 RNCX 101 is a cab control unit rebuilt from an F59PH Photo by J.B. Kerr |
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Paint Date: September 2017 Photo Date: September 2017 AVR 2008 GP11 was repainted as HKGX (Dagsboro Materials) 1850 at the Juniata Shops. It got some other work done while it was here including wheel work and a new snow plow. Photo by Todd Treaster |
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Paint Date: July 2018 Photo Date: July 2018 DC to AC rebuild NS 8520 AC44C6CF has been painted at Altoona after its rebuild at Roanoke. The 8520 is similar to the AC44C6M rebuilds but feature new CAF AC motors fitted to the original trucks, a TMV control system, a Ganser EUI system and reusing the original cab. Photo by L.R. Myers |
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Paint Date: September 2018 Photo Date: September 2018 DC to AC rebuild NS 1800 SD70ACC is one of the first two SD70 rebuilds. The modifications feature a new cab and AC traction. Photo by L.R. Myers |
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Paint Date: Nov/Dec 2018 Photo Date: December 2018 GMTX 3401 is former MEC (Pan Am) 614, an SD40M-2 (rebuilt SD45-2). Photo by Ian Bowling |
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Paint Date: May 2019 Photo Date: July 2019 Former Southern Railway GP38-2 chop-nosed and repainted at the Juniata Shops. Photo by Shane Dixon |
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Paint Date: September 2019 Photo Date: September 2019 NS 4001 was released in the fall of 2019 following wreck repairs. We're looking for a good roster shot to post here. Photo by AltoonaWorks.info |
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Paint Date: March 2023 Photo Date: April 2023 NS 1067 became the first of the original heritage units to get a repaint and there will be more to follow. Edwin Sims |
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Paint Date: May 2023 Photo Date: May 2023 NS 8099 has been repainted following wreck repairs. Photo by Dylan Rossman |
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Paint Date: July 2023 Photo Date: October 2023 Honorable Mention: Painted by Curry Rail in Hollidaysburg, Penn State 2020 is a former Conrail SD60I and so far the only Conrail road unit in [quasi] preservation. The unit was built in 1994 as Conrail 5582, to NS 6721, to "PSUA" 2020. It was transferred to the Altoona Railroaders' Museum shortly after this photo. Photo by AltoonaWorks.info |
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Paint Date: August 2023 Photo Date: August 2023 The Virginian is the third heritage unit to be repainted. Photo by AltoonaWorks.info |
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Paint Date: October 2023 Photo Date: October 2023 BNSF 6746 ES44C4 received a partial repaint following extensive wreck repairs. The unit was involved in a derailment on NS near Rome, GA in September 2022. Photo by Dylan Rossman |
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Paint Date: February 2024 Photo Date: February 2024 NS 6432 is an SD40-3 rebuild of a former Southern RY SD40-2, NS 3203. Photo by AltoonaWorks.info |
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