Long before Chessie the C&O advertised itself as “The Rhine, The Alps and the Battlefield Line”. I’m curious as to its origin and would like to learn the rationale behind the slogan.
Mark
Mark, “battefield” may well refer to the many battlefields that were close to where the railroad was built. The next to last major battle fought by the Army of Northern Virginia was at Hanover Junction*–now Doswell. “Alps” may refer to its crossing the Blue Ridge. “Rhein” may refer to its following the New River.
Any other ideas, anyone?
*my grandfather was there, in the 40th Virginia Infantry. He died in 1926, going on 86 years old, so he was unable to tell me of his army experiences.
From a 1905 National Education Association booklet:
"it was decided that The Big Four Route and Chesapeake & Ohio Railway which are a part of the famous Vanderbilt System of lines was the best route that we could possibly select as it is not only the quickest as well as the most comfortable route but is famous as a Tourists Route by reason of its magnificent river and mountain scenery its numerous health and pleasure resorts and the many world famed battle fields and points of great historical interest scattered along the line which have caused it to be aptly called The Rhine the Alps and the Battlefield Line of America "
The Christian Union, 21 May 1892
Mayor Noonin Discovers the C. and O.
Meeting Mayor Noonin of St. Louis in New York, I asked him what road he came over.
“Well, sir, I came by the Picturesque Line, and I’m glad I found it out. I came by the Rhine, the Alps and the Battle-field line.”
“What line is that?”
“Well, at Cincinnati, instead of riding through cattle-pens and distilleries, I rode straight into the air over the Ohio River, and what a panarama I saw!”
“And then?”
“Why, along the lovely banks of the Ohio—that’s the Rhine part; then by Kanawha Falls and along New River Canon and the sweet Valley of the Greenbrier, and on over the Alleghany Mountains—there is where the Alps come in; then up through Virginia by the Wilderness battle-fields. Manassas Junction, and Bull Run to Alexandria and Washington—that’s the Battle-field part of the trip. They call it the Chesap
Wanswheel,
I love that poster. “Vestibuled, Steam Heated, and Electric Lighted Throughout”. Advertisers always looking to feature what is important in the era.
I first caught on to things like this about 30 years ago during the demolition of several old buildings including a small hotel on 9th Ave. S.E., across from the CPR mainline in Calgary, a long forgotten sign painted on the side of the hotel was exposed reading, “Steam Heat and Radio’s in Every Room”.
Bruce
Radios in hotel rooms! What will they think of next? Room service?
[tup]