Darn, I meant to post this yesterday, Roger, LEW, Mike, Hank, and all other New York Central fans, it was 45 years ago on February 1, 1968 that the New York Central System ceased to exist, and the ill fated merger between two fierce competitors formed the Penn Central, which only lasted two more years before declaring bankruptcy.
Sad, so very Sad. I had forgotten that black day, too emotional, I guess. With hindsight, it's easy to see how they both could have survived had they been able to modernize their management perspective and culture, starting in 1945 with the end of WW-II when they still had large cash reserves from war traffic revenues.
I was out of town on the 1st and 2nd. The NYC struggled and hoped that it was doing the right thing. History proves that it didn't. :-(
Yes , it was quite a day. The merger had been going on for about 2 years and on this day it all came together. In the ranks you could see it would not work,but to the higher ups and the outsider it looked good. Day one: We had a seating aggreement on the NYC which ment the engineer and fieman's seat had to have backs that was adjustable and other things. The PRR had to have cab signal equipment ,but they could have a post for a seat. The brakeman on the PRR had what ever he could find ,a box ,can or what ever. First day at Avon: This took some thinking to try this. Every NYC train going out had PRR power and every PRR train had NYC power. NYC could not go because of the seats and PRR could not go because of the signal equipment. I might see 1 or 2 trains getting the wrong power but all ,I don't think so. I could write all day why it would not work, but I will say this the men could work together and did. You had good and bad on both sides,but railroaders are a proud bunch and if all had of been 100% it was still doomed. What a joy when Conrail came into being.People don't realize that Conrail started from nothing but the grade. They borrowed money from the government and payed it all back when the stock went on the market. It was a great railroad to work for. Today you have to have insurance to protect yourself. It must be like working for Hitler. LEW
