General Discussion

The current issue of Trains has an article, which I purposely havent read on Langdon as the man who saved the B&O.

I received the H Roger Grant book, Jervis Landon, Visionary Railroader last week thru the Inter Library Loan system and have read most of the book.  Grant researches very well in this book, as he does in all of his books.  The book is very heavily footnoted, with just about every paragraph in the book noted, not with just one source but several. 

The first chapter in the book is heavy into the Langdon family history and Jervis Langdon's childhood and college life. Following chapters describe his railroading career from the Lehigh Valley (then law school), NYC, C&O, World War 2, a stint with a railroad group, then the B&O, Rock Island, and as trustee then President of the Penn Central.

This is a well written book and is easy to read and much like The Men Who Loved Trains, it covers the career of one man who seemed to be at the right place during much of the railroad transition. 

Grant seems to find very few faults with Langdon and while that doesnt bother me, it does make me wonder.  In the acknowledgement section he mentions "Jerv's Boys" who paid for research for the book.  Is that normal when writing a book such as this?  He does mention that Herbert Harwood Jr., a retired CSX executive approached him of writing this book. 

For me, this has been a valuable book to read, as it does cover the B&O and Rock Island, along with an insider look at Penn Central after the bankruptcy. 

Now, could Grant please write a biography on L. Stanley Crane?  I believe there is room on the bookshelves for such a book.

Does anyone have any personal or antidotal experiences with Langdon to share?  He seemed almost too good to be true.

ed

The book and the article in Trains are obviously slanted in favor of the man.. I suspect that some of his peers and the bastards at C&O who wouldn't bend to Langdon's ways might have a slightly different view. After all..there are always at least  three sides to every story..

Ulrich:

The book is pretty decent, but it did sorta bother me that it was very slanted in Langdon's favor.  About the only thing said somewhat negetively was that he was a nice guy and sought out compromise, which describes John Snow.

I have really grown to enjoy reading about the merger era and beyond, which began with the L&N merger in 1958.  Anything with NYC/PRR....Penn Central....Conrail is interesting to me.  The railroading world changed with the transition from PC to Conrail. 

ed

No personal anecdotes, but you might make the "Book Nuts" thread aware of your useful review.  -  a.s.

Based on the article I like the guy..he was a nice guy who sought out compromise... That wouldn't be  a negative in my view...one could only wish more would be like that.

Haven't read the book yet but probably will...sounds too interesting to pass up.

Ulrich:

I would recommend it.  The man was busy well into his 90's.  After C day (Conrail) he did considerable legal work on the estates of the bankrupt carriers.  He was also on the boards of Amtrak and RF&P plus the D&H.  He did considerable consulting work for G&W (shortline operator) and generally loved trains.

It seems as if he avoided people he didnt like.  He seemed to understand when his odds were poor and simply moved on.  There was always a place for him. 

ed