"I am still not quite certain how N&W was permitted to acquire VGN; surely the merger had anticompetitive effect both in coal and in potential bridge traffic to tidewater."--Nor am I, but when government regulatory agencies get involved common sense takes a back seat to politics. Don't forget: N&W was still a subsidiary of the Pennsylvania in 1959. Penn probobly had a lot of political muscle back then.
"Think of the fun of a fleet of 4483s in VGN colors... with all the mod cons of the era."--I'd like to think the VGN of 2018 would look like NS's VGN heritage model. Can't beat the bunblebee colors.
NYC? Hummm..then 20 years later VGN is with Conrail.
mudchicken erikem One likely outcome would have been the electric operation lasting longer. ... and then vanished faster than the PCE of the Milwaukee.
erikem One likely outcome would have been the electric operation lasting longer.
One likely outcome would have been the electric operation lasting longer.
... and then vanished faster than the PCE of the Milwaukee.
I am still not quite certain how N&W was permitted to acquire VGN; surely the merger had anticompetitive effect both in coal and in potential bridge traffic to tidewater.
The electrification would surely have had 'legs' far longer had the merger not occurred and directional running then been implemented; every source I've read on the subject says the reason for dropping the electrification was the effective deadheading required. This was an 11kV AC system, not 3000VDC with no upgrade path in two separated islands with stuff on wooden poles to maintain, so I have to wonder if much of the expedient argument for de-electrification in the late '60s to early '70s would apply; I expect it would have been preserved after the OPEC embargo at least long enough to get to the era of Conrail-style dual-mode-lite or road-slug-plus MU if there were an advantage to running consists through as MILW discovered there was with modern diesels.
On the other hand, I have to wonder how many of the aspects of the Tumbler Ridge electrification were common to VGN operations. Probably no few.
Think of the fun of a fleet of 4483s in VGN colors... with all the mod cons of the era.
BaltACD VGN Jess History has been written and acted upon account the economics of the time.
VGN Jess
History has been written and acted upon account the economics of the time.
The Virginian Rwy operating in the N&Ws 'neighborhood' was constanly, beset with poor financial interactions with the bigger N&W. Its major connection outside that sphere was as has been stated in the Norfolk Port area with C&O. Itwas in the early 1930's when VGN built a bridge over the Kanawah River, in the area of Mullins,W.Va. That gave VGN access to the NYC, and changed it from just a coal carrier to potentially, a bridge route from the midwest to the port of Norfolk.
It is somewhat interesting that monies for its construction came from individuals who had gotten their wealth as investors in Standard Oil Co. Money was not a problem for its building, and the railroad was well engineered and laid with heavy rail from its start. As wa the 134 miles of electrification from Mullins to Roanoke. Its neighboring road was very well aware of the VGN and gave it financial problems at every opportunity.One way was car exchange rates, kept high for VGN by N&W. It is of some interest in the late 1920/30's era the VGN was sometime know as "...The richest little railroad in the world..." Here are a couple of links that may be of some interest:
https://www.american-rails.com/virginian-railway.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginian_Railway
It seems the most likely alernative merger partner would have been the NYC which connected with the VGN at Deepwater, WV.
VGN JessI'm curious to thoughts, as my grandfather was a brakeman and then engineer for over 30 years with the VGN. 1) Would it have maybe lasted to 1964 before N&W mergered NKP and Wabash, then gone to N&W? 2) Would Chessie or Seaboard Systems have benefitted from merger if VGN lasted to the 70's?, 3) Would MP, UP, or SP have extended VGN track from WV/Ohio to the Mississippi River to give "them" access to Norfolk and the Atlantic Ocean? 4) or some other scenario? Thanks.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
I'm curious to thoughts, as my grandfather was a brakeman and then engineer for over 30 years with the VGN. 1) Would it have maybe lasted to 1964 before N&W mergered NKP and Wabash, then gone to N&W? 2) Would Chessie or Seaboard Systems have benefitted from merger if VGN lasted to the 70's?, 3) Would MP, UP, or SP have extended VGN track from WV/Ohio to the Mississippi River to give "them" access to Norfolk and the Atlantic Ocean? 4) or some other scenario? Thanks.
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