David R. Sweetland | Conrail manager, 71

David Ross Sweetland, 71, of Exton, a retired Conrail manager and a lifelong railroad buff, died of cancer Saturday at Neighborhood Hospice in West Chester.

A native of Rhode Island, Mr. Sweetland earned a mechanical engineering degree from the University of Maine, where he met his future wife, J. Susan Heath.

He served in the Army Reserve with a railroad transportation group.

In 1959, he joined the Pennsylvania Railroad's mechanical department in Altoona. In 1976, when Conrail was created, Mr. Sweetland was in charge of re-numbering the locomotive fleet for the new company. He was transferred to Philadelphia in 1985 by Conrail and became manager of mechanical training, educating the next generations of railroaders. After his retirement in 1996, he was a consultant at the Academy of Industrial Training in Essington.

Mr. Sweetland wrote 72 railroad books and many articles. He was a member of several railroad historical organizations.

He was especially proud to be involved in the preservation and restoration of a Class E7 diesel locomotive, which he rescued from the scrapyard, his wife said. The train, one of the first passenger diesel locomotives acquired by the Pennsylvania Railroad, has been on display for 10 years at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania in Strasburg.

In addition to his wife, Mr. Sweetland is survived by sons Ross and Christopher; daughters Elizabeth and Joyann; and two grandchildren.

A memorial service will be 11 a.m. tomorrow at Central Presbyterian Church, where Mr. Sweetland was an elder, 100 W. Uwchlan Ave., Downingtown. Friends may call from 10.