Prior to the formation of Conrail, intermodal traffic on the Allentown area was predominated by the Lehigh Valley’s Apollo and Mercury trains between Oak Island and Buffalo, which bypassed Allentown yard by taking the original LV main line. Post-Conrail, these trains became the domain of the D&H, and followed the same routing. The new Conrail management saw an opportunity to reroute North Jersey – Harrisburg trains off of the former PRR electrified lines and onto a routing via Allentown and Reading. Ultimately, these trains would bypass the yard by taking the for LV between South Bethlehem and a connection with the former Reading at East Penn Junction. Until this connection could be rebuilt/upgraded, intermodal trains frequented Allentown yard, Having just made a crew change, this train is waiting to go west.
