Chesapeake and Ohio (C&O) Railway

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Chesapeake & Ohio (C&O) Railway

  • 3rd railroad to cross the Appalachian Mountains, connecting the Atlantic Ocean with the Ohio River in 1873.

The Chesapeake & Ohio (C&O) Railway was a dominant force in American railroading for over a century, a “coal-hauling juggernaut” that also became famous for its endearing “Chessie” cat mascot. From its origins as early Virginia railroads, the C&O grew through westward expansion and mergers to become a vital link for Appalachian coal and Midwest freight. Its story is one of ambitious leaders, financial struggles and remarkable resilience, technological innovation, and its eventual integration into the modern rail giant, CSX Transportation.

C&O was the first central Appalachian railroad to make it across, and over-the-top of the formidable mountain barrier. It was the second railroad, behind the B&O, to make a direct connection between the Atlantic Ocean ports with the Ohio River Valley in 1873.

Chesapeake & Ohio Railway - C&O

Photo: A loaded coal train heading east, and an empty coal train headed west on the C&O mainline near Moss Run VA in 1981. This double track C&O mainline always stayed busy through the decades with coal trains, manifest freight, and passenger trains. Photo by Roger Puta.

C&O Mainline in the Chessie era at Moss Run VA - Roger Puta photo

Forging a railroad empire: Early history and expansion

The C&O’s roots stretch back to the Louisa Railroad, chartered in Virginia in 1836. In 1850, it was renamed the Virginia Central to reflect its expanding ambitions. The Civil War, however, devastated the line, and by 1865, it had only a few miles of operable track.

The modern C&O began to take shape after the war. In 1868, the Virginia Central and the Covington & Ohio Railroad merged to officially form the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad. The completion of the line over the Allegheny Mountains was overseen by the legendary industrialist Collis P. Huntington, a member of the “Big Four” of western railroading. In 1873, the C&O reached the Ohio River at the town of Huntington, West Virginia, named in his honor.

However, the Panic of 1873 led to a financial collapse. After reorganization, the renamed Chesapeake & Ohio Railway expanded its coal-hauling business in the 1880s, building a 75-mile extension to the ice-free port of Newport News, Virginia. This move secured access to ocean shipping and cemented coal as the C&O’s primary commodity. In 1888, the C&O extended its reach westward into Cincinnati, connecting with major Midwestern railroads.

Resilient leadership and the “For Progress” era

Following another brief receivership, J.P. Morgan and other financiers took control, installing Melville E. Ingalls as president. Ingalls brought stability, and along with General Manager George W. Stevens, modernized the C&O with heavier rails, steel bridges, and lined tunnels. A significant acquisition during this time was the Richmond & Alleghany Railroad, whose “water level” route along the James River provided the C&O with a direct, low-grade line for heavy coal traffic.

The 1920s saw the C&O come under the control of the Cleveland-based Van Sweringen brothers. Though their railroad empire collapsed during the Great Depression, the C&O remained profitable due to its robust coal business. This financial stability allowed the C&O to invest heavily in infrastructure during the lean years, placing it in prime condition for the high-volume traffic of World War II.

In the mid-1940s, financier Robert R. Young took over as chairman. A flamboyant and vocal critic of railroad management, Young initiated the “C&O for Progress” marketing campaign. He introduced innovations like “no tipping” policies, credit cards, and airline-style hostesses for passengers, and created a research and development department to explore new technologies. However, passenger traffic was already in a steep decline, and these efforts were ultimately unable to reverse the trend.

Mergers, marketing, and the end of independence

A significant acquisition in 1947 was the Pere Marquette Railway, which gave the C&O access to Michigan and its burgeoning automotive industry. The diversified freight traffic, including finished vehicles and auto parts, provided a buffer against fluctuations in the coal market.

In the 1960s, the C&O shifted toward mergers to increase market reach. In 1963, the C&O acquired control of the struggling Baltimore & Ohio Railroad (B&O), marking the beginning of the modern merger era. The two railroads operated under a joint management structure, with the B&O maintaining its corporate identity for a time.

The 1970s saw a major reorganization. In 1971, the C&O’s passenger service, including its famous trains like the George Washington, was transferred to the newly created Amtrak. In 1973, Hays T. Watkins, a finance executive who had risen through the ranks, became CEO. He spearheaded the creation of the Chessie System, a holding company that combined the C&O, B&O, and Western Maryland Railway. The Chessie logo, which featured a cat’s head superimposed on a ‘C’, was an evolution of the popular “Chessie the kitten” advertising campaign from the 1930s.

A legacy of coal and consolidation

The Chessie System was a prelude to a larger consolidation. In 1980, the Chessie System merged with Seaboard Coast Line Industries to form the CSX Corporation, one of the first modern “mega-mergers” in the rail industry.

Over the next decade, the railroads were gradually consolidated into a single operating entity:

  • 1983: The Western Maryland was merged into the B&O.
  • 1986: Seaboard System was renamed CSX Transportation.
  • 1987: The B&O was merged into the C&O.
  • 1987: The C&O, the last remaining corporate entity, was officially merged into CSX Transportation, ending its independent existence.

Today, much of the former C&O network remains a critical part of CSX Transportation’s system. The historic coal lines from West Virginia and Kentucky still carry vast amounts of freight, and the scenic route through the New River Gorge is used by Amtrak’s Cardinal passenger train. The C&O’s legacy lives on in its infrastructure, its reputation for innovation, and the enduring image of its “Chessie” mascot, a reminder of a powerful railway that once dominated the Eastern rail landscape.

Coal Operations

C&O’s route ventured westward through extensive coal fields in West Virginia. Thurmond, was the primary yard and center for their coal operations, moving it both directions. But, the primary tonnage was eastward to the C&O’s coal piers at Newport News VA. In the 1981 Roger Puta photo below, two engines take a breather at Thurmond, most likely between mine runs. You can see the coaling tower in the background used in the days of steam.

Chesapeake & Ohio Railway at Thurmond WV - Roger Puta

Chesapeake & Ohio Railway Stats

  • Reporting Mark: C&O, CO
  • Operated: 1869-1973
  • Mainline Length: 5,067 miles
  • Mainline: Newport News VA – Chicago IL, Washington DC – Charlottesville VA, Buffalo NY – Detroit MI – Chicago IL, Kenova WV – Toledo OH – Detroit MI, Kenova WV – Elkhorn City KY
  • Primary Cities: Newport News VA, Richmond VA, Charlottesville VA, Washington DC, Ashland KY, Cincinnati OH, Chicago IL, Louisville KY, Detroit MI, Columbus OH, Toledo OH, Buffalo NY, Grand Rapids MI
  • Headquarters: Cleveland OH
  • Passenger Trains: George Washington, Fast Flying Virginian, Sportsman
  • Successor: Chessie System
  • C&O Today: Part of CSX Transportation

C&O Passenger Trains

Click here to see an overview of the C&O Passenger Trains.

Photo: C&O Sportsman at Alexandria VA in 1969 by Roger Puta

C&O Railway Sportsman at Alexandria VA in 1967 - Photo by Roger Puta

C&O Historical Timeline

Click here for a detailed historical timeline of the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway.

C&O Railway Map 1967

Chesapeake & Ohio Railway Map 1967 - C&O

C&O Railway Diesel Locomotive Roster

Click here for a diesel locomotive roster for the C&O Railway.

Links for Additional Information

For More Information – Sources and Resources

The following are excellent resources for those of you wanting to explore and learn more about the history and operation of the Appalachian Railroads. These sources of information also serve as reference and historical materials for Appalachian-Railroads.org. Much of the collective railroad history data points on this website are verified across multiple sources.

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