This is a thread for people who are fans of the PRR & NYC. I would like to know your thoughts about these two. Do you think it was a good idea for them two to merge or not?
What do you think would have happened if the PRR had not Merged with the NYC?
- Thread starter Chessie6459
- Start date
Would the PRR be using the SD-40's as helpers if the railroad would have survived? Would they have used them between Altoona and Gallitzin?
I wish the merger could have been avoided.My Father was a NYC employee in the car department at Dewitt Yard In East Syracuse NY. It seems that a lot of the better equipment was transfered to the PRR. The PRR management seemed to treat employee's quite differently than the NYC. The Interstate Highway system,and the Airlines passenger business was the death of these two once great Railroads.Even more so was the head long rush of management to sell off right away and valuable properties.Years of ICC control of railroads that forced them to operate trains to areas where there was hardly any business was just as harmful.The main lines went the same places once out of the states of NY & PA . The way the companies operated was so different and the attitude toward each other so hostile Green team va Red team I don't think the merger ever had a chance
What, no Penn Central!?!!! Horrors!!!! Well, even though I'm a fan and modeller who grew up with the PC, the merger was a disaster. Too much redundancy in track routes, terrible relations between the two roads, bad investments that took money for the railroad, the ICC's insistance that the broke New Haven be part of the system, etc. etc., etc.!
SD-40 helpers? Cool!
Ralph
Well, even though I'm a fan and modeller who grew up with the PC, the merger was a disaster. Too much redundancy in track routes, terrible relations between the two roads, bad investments that took money for the railroad, the ICC's insistance that the broke New Haven be part of the system, etc. etc., etc.! SD-40 helpers? Cool!
Ralph
I think that it was a very big mistake that they did merge because look what happened to them. They are not around anymore. I think that if they did not merge they would still be around to this day. I am the webmaster for the Independent Live Steamers. We are a group of people that are keeping the Pennsylvania alive here in pennsylvania. So no matter how you look at it the Pennsylvania will live forever.
The address for the website is:
http://www.geocities.com/miller68_69/ilsn1.html
The address for the website is:
http://www.geocities.com/miller68_69/ilsn1.html
As I understand it the PC merger was proposed because both the NYC and Pennsy were having financial woes. Maybe if they hadn't merged one or both of the roads might have eventually merged with some one else? Pennsy/C&O maybe?
Despite just missing the NYC and Pennsy years as a young rail fan I really enjoy seeing Pennsylvania power and rolling stock. Best wishes with your preservation efforts!
Ralph
Despite just missing the NYC and Pennsy years as a young rail fan I really enjoy seeing Pennsylvania power and rolling stock. Best wishes with your preservation efforts!
Ralph
Here is a website you guys can look at, it is the Independent Live StHere is a The link is at the bottom with my signature
Roger that is an excellent vision of alternative reality! I LIKE it!!! Really, virtually every piece of equipment on rails would look good in that NYC lightning stripe scheme! Neat idea! I wonder what else might contribute to the 21st century NYC look?
Ralph
Ralph
That is a cool what if paint scheme.
Have any of you ever read “The Fallen Colossus?” It was very insightful on the whole PC merger.
Greg Elems
Have any of you ever read “The Fallen Colossus?” It was very insightful on the whole PC merger.
Greg Elems
Hey Roger, nice locomotive, and a very good choice of a paint scheme too. Long live the fallen flags of the past!
I hate to burst your collective bubble, but even if Penn Central hadn't been created in 1968 the PRR, NYC, and NYNH&H would cease still cease to exist today. All three, although very shaky financially, had prime routes that were coveted by other railroads. The PRR probably would have ended up with the N&W and the NYC probably would have ended up with the C&O. (Of course, that totally kills some of the other mergers of the last few decades and would have definately changed railroading as we know it today.) Given the course of things leading up to and after the Penn Central merger those would be the most logical conclusions.
Remember, too, that the original plan by the USRA called for two seperat federally funded railroads in the Northeast. The Penn Central was going to operate as it was and all the other smaller roads (E-L, CNJ, LV, Reading, PRSL) were to be merged together with one of the Penn Central lines to St. Louis. This would've created two competing systems in the Northeast and at the time given hope for future competition in the region. This plan failed, of course, when the E-L chose to remain independent and not be included in Conrail at first, only ending up in it at the last minute after its final bankruptcy.
Remember, too, that the original plan by the USRA called for two seperat federally funded railroads in the Northeast. The Penn Central was going to operate as it was and all the other smaller roads (E-L, CNJ, LV, Reading, PRSL) were to be merged together with one of the Penn Central lines to St. Louis. This would've created two competing systems in the Northeast and at the time given hope for future competition in the region. This plan failed, of course, when the E-L chose to remain independent and not be included in Conrail at first, only ending up in it at the last minute after its final bankruptcy.