Greetings all. I have a question about what exactly happened to the Western Maryland Railway at the end of 1983. From what I gather, WM's stock was purchased by the C&O Railway while the B&O assumed operations (including rolling stock). But than you end up with one unit during the formation of CSXT that was sub-lettered "WM" (it was an SD40 I believe). What gives? I though the WM had ceased to exist and wouldn't have expected to see any sign of it as CSX was taking shape.
Thanks;
When a railroad takes over another railroad, it also takes over the rights to it's reporting marks and may continue to use them. In the 1990's, some of the last new freight cars bought by the Chicago & NorthWestern came with MSTL and CGW reporting marks for railroads they had taken over (Minneapolis & St.Louis in 1960, Chicago Great Western in 1968).
Locomotives can be complicated too, because they are normally purchased under some sort of trust agreement - kind of like the mortgage on a house. I know that into the 1920's you could see Northern Pacific engines with a "D" under the number, designating these were engines originally belonging to the St.Paul and Duluth that NP took over in 1900 - presumably NP was still making payments thru the agreement made between the St.P&D and whichever bank or investment co. they got the loan from for the engines.
Some Soo Line GP-9's had "WC" sublettering for Wisconsin Central into the early 90's.
Chess-C1223 Greetings all. I have a question about what exactly happened to the Western Maryland Railway at the end of 1983. From what I gather, WM's stock was purchased by the C&O Railway while the B&O assumed operations (including rolling stock). But than you end up with one unit during the formation of CSXT that was sub-lettered "WM" (it was an SD40 I believe). What gives? I though the WM had ceased to exist and wouldn't have expected to see any sign of it as CSX was taking shape. Thanks;
First and this is important C&O,B&O and WM was not merged under the Chessie banner and operated as independent railroads and several locomotives retained their road names instead of being painted into the Chessie colors.
Enter CSX Corporation on November,1 1980..
May 1,1983 the B&O formally merged the WM..WM locomotives still roam the rails
CSX Transportation absorbed Seaboard System Railroad on July 1, 1986..
April 30th 1987 the B&O was merged into the C&O,B&O and WM locomotives was still in operation.
August 31,1987 the C&O was absorbed by CSX Transportation.C&O,B&O and WM locomotives was still in operation as was the Chessie locomotives but,the number of these "Chessie Road" locomotives was dwindling along with the Seaboard System locomotives..
A sad end to three fine railroads.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
Seems that, the WM had been in decline for a while under Chessie as much of it pretty much went everywhere the B&O went. It had already been abandoned in several segments. Unfortunately, it was only a matter of time before it no longer made sense to keep it as an independent road. I was lucky enough to catch a photo of CSXT # 6574; she was the last unit on the roster in full WM paint.
Chess-C1223 Seems that, the WM had been in decline for a while under Chessie as much of it pretty much went everywhere the B&O went. It had already been abandoned in several segments. Unfortunately, it was only a matter of time before it no longer made sense to keep it as an independent road. I was lucky enough to catch a photo of CSXT # 6574; she was the last unit on the roster in full WM paint.
Did you know both WM BL2s retained their "fireball" scheme until they was retired in the 80s?
They worked the Hagerstown yard.
CSX changed a lot of things and abandon a lot of track.
IMHO CSX did far more damage then Chessie.
oldline1"Did you know both WM BL2s retained their "fireball" scheme until they was retired in the 80s? They worked the Hagerstown yard" Larry, Both units were renumbered in their latter years but the "Fireballs" had long been gone. Both were in the "Speed Style" Western Maryland lettering with slanted lettering and wings until the end though. I rode them in September 1974 o the Hagerstown hump, engine terminal and yards and they seemed to be in good shape but, unfortunately, weren't in Fireball. Roger Huber
Thanks Roger..The only photos I have must be misdated..These units are in the "Fireball" scheme and dated August 1980..
I picked these photos up at a train show..
I should have doubled check but,the guy is suppose to be a "professional" photographer.