I have always thought that the NKP was a subsidiary of the NYC way back when? So I have 22 NYC loco’s of various types and 6 NKP locos on the layout including two brand new Atlas NKP GP-7’s (which are really fine by the way). On a whim today I googled NKP and after reading the history on four different websites I realized that none had mentioned the NKP and the NYC having been together. So have I been confused all these years or am I missing something? Does this mean I have to throw away all of my NKP loco’s [:(][:(]
Terry[8D]
Well I am trying to write this from memory, so a more accurate recital of the details will follow, but the NKP was originally built parallel to the NYC (then LS&MS) between Buffalo and Chicago, back around 1880. I have the impression that the builders just wanted to get a pay off from the NYC, and they did, as NYC bought it as soon as it was finished, around 1882. NYC kept it as a poor stepchild until the 1920s. By this time, they probably understood they would not be able to absorb or abandon it in the 1920s regulatory climate, so they sold it to the Van Swerengen brothers of Cleveland. The Vans were looking for a right of way into Cleveland to enhance one of their suburban developments (Shaker Heights), and they approached Alfred Smith, NYC president, who offered to sell them the whole road. Once the Vans got a taste of RR ownership, they developed a series of holding companies, taking control of the C&O, Pere Marquette and the Erie too. From then on (mid 1920s) the NKP and NYC were rivals.
Bottom line: they were not together during the deisel era, and really it was the NYC that controlled the NKP for about 40 yeasrs from about 1882 til about 1920. However they served many of the same places during the diesel era, so your trains can be on parallel tracks if you model the right place.
Regards
Peter
conford
Tk you Peter. I must have missed that bit of info on the history website. So In 1964 when the NKP merged with the Wabash and the Norfolk & Western what was the name of the resultant RR? Norfolk & Western? Again thanks for your help. I guess I will hang onto my NKP loco’s.
Terry[8D]
Yes, N&W took over the Wabash and the NKP in 1964. Robert Young, who acquired the Vans’ empire during the depression, was refused permission by the ICC to merge the NKP into the C&O, which did take over the Pere Marquette (1947). I don’t remember exactly how he spun it off, but eventually the N&W was able to take control.
Could certainly flesh out details. See the following two books: Merging Lines and Stover’s _Historical Atlas of N American RRs. In fact, Kalmbach has a good one too: Historical Guide to N American RRs. All titles approximate!
Regards
Peter
conford
Terry,
For more details you might want to check with the NKP Historical Society.
http://www.onebellevue.com/madriver/
Dale
Not only did NYC buy the Nickle Plate but the purchase led to the name. When whichever Vanderbilt was in charge at the time found out how much it was going to cost he said “For that price it should be nickle plated” and when the NYC&StL regained its independence they kept the name.
and for even more details read “The Nickel Plate Story” by Rehor. Fantastic book, turned me into a complete NKP-fan! Not cheap, (I found it for about $50) but worth every penny of it. There’s a different take on how the name “Nickel Plate” came into being: originating in a newspaper article announcing the arrival of the railroad.
Hey tks for the info guys. I guess I wasn’t going nutz after all. I really didn’t want to throw away all those NKP loco’s. I have always been intrigued by the NKP and the more I read the more I may lean my layout towards it.
Terry[8D]
NKP fans may enjoy Herbert Harwood’s Invisible Giants, a biography of the Van Sweingen brothers. The NKP was an interesting railroad.
Regards
Peter
conford