Chessie System (MBI Railroad Color History)
In this wonderfully illustrated history, author Dave Ori provides readers with an engaging look at the Cleveland-based railroad that for 15 years was a fixture in the nation’s eastern half.The eastern rail scene suffered dramatically in the 1960s and 1970s. Prior to the formation of the Chessie System in 1972, the only financially viable railroads that remained were the Baltimore & Ohio, the Chesapeake & Ohio, and the Western Maryland, all of which became components of a holding company known as Chessie System in 1972.After briefly examining each of the three railroads that created the Chessie, Ori goes onto offer in-depth analyses of the Chessie System’s operating divisions and explore its major facilities, including freight yards and piers for trans-shipping, as well as its diesel fleet and services. Illustrated throughout with photography from Ori and some of the most notable photographers who chased trains over the Chessie System, the book also discusses key players involved in the railroad and the business climate in which it operated right up until its 1987 inclusion in CSX.While many of its eastern contemporaries were financially troubled, the Chessie remained strong, due largely to its strong relationship with the coal-mining industry, and to a lesser extent, with agricultural and automotive concerns. This illustrated study of the line, its operations, facilities, and equipment is a fitting testament to a rare success story amid an industry’s nadir.