Chessie System (Railroad Color History) - Hardcover

Dave Ori has been a photojournalist specializing in rail operations since the early 1980s. His work has appeared in a variety of railfan publications, including Rails Northeast, CTC Board, and Railpace Newsmagazine. He resides in Parma, Ohio.

Formed as a holding company in 1972, the Chessie System remains one of the most unique stories in American railroad history. Created from three great railways the mighty Baltimore & Ohio, the refined Chesapeake & Ohio, and the small but feisty Western Maryland the Chessie was most renowned (aside from its stylized take on the C&O s kitten logo) for its innovations and advanced technologies. This history of the railroad traces its origins from the first affiliation of the B&O and C&O in the early 1960s, to the inclusion of the WM a decade later and the 1980 merger with Seaboard Coast Line, before launching into an examination of the Chessie System itself. Highlights include coverage of the Chessie s operating divisions, major facilities, diesel fleet, and its 1987 integration into CSX Transportation.

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.

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.