Hello, Folks…
As a former block station operator on the Baltimore & Ohio RR, and later the Chessie Systems, I would like to get any info that y’all can provide on formation of CSX / CSXT.
I was qualified at towers from WJ Tower (Wilsmere, DE) to HF Office (Harper’s Ferry WV). Needless to say, I didn’t have a lot of off-duty time!
The following list of questions I cannot locate the answer to.
When the B&O merged with the C&O and WM to form Chessie Systems, did this also include the RF&P, CNJ, & Reading? Or did that take place at a later date when CSX / CSXT was formed??
Since the CSXT has taken over the (former PRR, PC) NE Corridor operations, HOW do they avoid being classified as a monopoly? CSXT (to my knowledge) is the ONLY Class A (Interstate) Railroad between Washington DC and Philadelphia (if not New York City)
WHEN was the CSX allowed to take over the N/S run on the (original) PRR? WHO took over operation of the E/W routes between New York City and Chicago? If absorbed by another railroad which operates in that territory, which trackage has remained the "main trackage?
CSXT included the Seaboard Coast Line (a merger of the Seaboard Air Line and Atlantic Coast Line). Are there any other railroads which were absorbed into the system when this merger took place?
ARE (former) WM main tracks still being used for “through service?” I am referring to BOTH tracks – the one that went thru Reisterstown, MD, and the line which went thru Hanover, PA. As I recall they merged at Highfield.
In what year was use of the Old Main Line SD discontinued altogether? It was after my retirement, and I do not know exactly. I remember (was it 72?) that Hurricane Alice had wiped out the signal system (CTC) from East Avalon to East Plane (Mt. Airy Jct.) – and the last 2 yrs I worked there, we had to use “running orders” for trains routed via the OML
CNJ and Reading were never part of Chessie. They were merged into Conrail along with Penn Central and Lehigh Valley
The only way they might now belong to CSX is if CSX got them as part of the Conrail split-up.
#2: I believe I read in Trains Magazine sometime back that another railroad (D&H?, CN? ) had been given trackage rights in the NY/Philly area, to provide competition?
Hello, Folks…
As a former block station operator on the Baltimore & Ohio RR, and later the Chessie Systems, I would like to get any info that y’all can provide on formation of CSX / CSXT.
I was qualified at towers from WJ Tower (Wilsmere, DE) to HF Office (Harper’s Ferry WV). Needless to say, I didn’t have a lot of off-duty time!
The following list of questions I cannot locate the answer to.
When the B&O merged with the C&O and WM to form Chessie Systems, did this also include the RF&P, CNJ, & Reading? Or did that take place at a later date when CSX / CSXT was formed?? Reading & CNJ were absorbed into the formation of ConRail. The RF&P was purchased by CSX from the Virgina Retirement System in the early 90’s, until then it was still a independent company although it’s operations where heavily influenced by CSX controlling most traffic on both ends of the property.
Since the CSXT has taken over the (former PRR, PC) NE Corridor operations, HOW do they avoid being classified as a monopoly? CSXT (to my knowledge) is the ONLY Class A (Interstate) Railroad between Washington DC and Philadelphia (if not New York City)CSX operates the B&O trackage from DC to Philadelphia, the nominal RDG trackage from Philadelphia to Northern NJ and the NYC ‘West Shore’ trackage to Selkirk (Albany, NY). Amtrak operates the NEC from DC to Boston - the former PRR & NH routes and NS has trackage rights for some traffic on the NEC.
WHEN was the CSX allowed to take over the N/S run on the (original) PRR? WHO took over operation of the E/W routes between New York City and Chicago? If absorbed by another railroad which operates in that territory, which trackage has remained the "main trackage?The CSX-ConRail split gave CSX PRR routes West of Crestline, OH and NYC routes east of Greenwich, OH…CSX got 42% of the ConRail mileage and assets, NS got 58% with the NS getting the NYC ‘racetrack’ from Cleveland to Chicago and the PRR routings from New York to Clev
A lettle elaboration and correction on BaltACD’s otherwise excellent answers, specifically #4:
The SCL, the L&N, the A&WP, Western of Alabama, and Georgia Railroad were merged into the Seaboard System Railroad in about 1982. Seaboard System Railroad was renamed CSX Transportation, just before taking over the C&O (see below). The L&N included all of the former Monon, which had been merged in 1972 IIRC.
The Chessie side was almost as interesting. There was no “Chessie System” railroad–it was a holding company that encompassed the C&O, B&O, and WM. WM was eventually merged into the B&O, and just before the merger with CSX Transportation (as noted above), the B&O was merged into the C&O. So CSX Transportation, as we know it, was technically a takeover of the C&O by the previous CSXT (former Seaboard), plus the later acquisitions of RF&P and remaining parts of the former P&LE, as noted in BaltACD’s answer.
L&N also included the eastern half of Chicago & Eastern Illinois (the western half went to MP)
Seaboard System also scooped up Clinchfield RR.
If you can find a copy of “The Historical Guide to North American Railroads” compiled by George H. Drury, it would give you a succint compliation of where the railroads disappeared into the mega-roads of today. It also has some simple maps, which give a great perspective of how the mega-road puzzles were pieced together.
That is not correct. CSX did not “take over” the C&O. Seaboard Systems name change to CSX was ordered by C&O chairman Hays T. Watkins as a prelude to the full intergration of the various railroads into CSX. CSX was the brainchild of Mr. Watkins, with the understanding the C&O was the “majority” player in the deal.
The reason Chessie was only a holding company was because there was huge tax advantages in keeping the B&O an independent company from the C&O (and CSX) as long as possible.
There was no tax disadvantage in merging the Seaboard System railroads into CSX, so Watkins directed the Seaboard System name change to CSX first, THEN the WM into the B&O, the B&O into the C&O last to minimize any tax liability, and finally the C&O into CSX, with the C&O being the controlling party throughout the entire deal.
So your saying the C&O(Chessie) acquired CSX(Seaboard) or are you saying they merged but with a C&O controlling interest? While it is a small point there is a difference between a merger and an acquisition. [?]
CSX Corporation was the idea of the C&O’s (Chessie System) chairman, Hays T Watkins. Chessie controlled all the strings on the merger. However, because of long standing tax issues, it was not a simple process of just the C&O (Chessie) taking over everbody else.
The C&O had controlling interest in the B&O since 1963, BUT the B&O was always an independent company for tax advantages. By 1985-86, it was determined that the efficiencies of merging everybody into one company (CSX) outweighed the tax advantages of keeping the B&O independent of the C&O.
To make matters more complicated, the B&O had controlling interest in the WM, which also was an independent company from the C&O. So, it was not a simple matter of just Chessie merging with Seaboard to form CSX.
So, Mr Watkins determined that the most financially sound way of forming CSX was for the Seaboard System to change its name to to CSX first, then have the B&O fully acquire the WM, then have the C&O fully acquire the B&O, then merge the C&O into the newly formed CSX name. In effect, the dominant company (C&O) decided to ditch its name, and keep the weaker company’s name (CSX).
There is a reason why it is CSX (Chessie+Seaboard) and not SCX (Seaboard +Chessie): Chessie pulled all the strings on this merger from the get go in 1980. During the intial formation of CSX, Mr Watkins decided to let Mr Osborn (Seaboard’s Chairman) to be the Chairman of CSX, while Watkins did all the day to day stuff concerning the merger. However, as soon as the C&O was merged in and took the CSX name, Mr Osborn stepped down, and Mr. Watkins from Chessie took over as both Chairman & CEO of CSX.
As a farely newcommer to American railroads and a keen modelleer of CSX and the companies that formed it I found your detailed eplanation excellent well done now i have most of the picture. Missing the Family Lines which i beleive were made up of L&N, CRR, ACL & SBD
Greg, The Family Lines was never anything official–but all of the railroads that made up The Family Lines were merged into the Seaboard System in 1982.