EL Erie Lackawanna logo

nicktodd Nov 3, 2006

  1. nicktodd

    nicktodd New Member

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    Who currently owns the rights to the EL name and logo?
     
  2. SecretWeapon

    SecretWeapon Passed away January 23, 2024 In Memoriam

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    My guess would be NS. Conrail originally had it.
     
  3. Hytec

    Hytec TrainBoard Member

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    Ya know, that's an interesting question....:zip:

    Sometime in the 60's Erie and DL&W merged corporations and corporate assets, including logos. etc. to create the EL. BUT...did Conrail acquire the EL corporate name, or just the rights of way, locos, cars, and other physical stuff?

    Then, what did NS and CSX acquire when Conrail was split and sold by by DOT? It appears that NS and CSX only acquired physical assets like ROW, locos, cars, etc., but the logo probably is still owned by some obscure bank or holding company in New York who have it stored in a safe deposit box and forgotten long ago....?

    I assume that some enterprising young lawyer will offer to trace the EL logo ownership for a mere $100,000.00....:eek:mg: :teeth:
     
  4. EL03440

    EL03440 TrainBoard Supporter

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    The Erie Lackawanna name and logo are wholly owned trade marks of the Norfolk Southern Corp., as are the CNJ, LV, Rdg, PRR, PC and LHR. CSX owns NYC and P&E.
     
  5. SecretWeapon

    SecretWeapon Passed away January 23, 2024 In Memoriam

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    I knew John would know. :thumbs_up: :shade:
     
  6. mikecyc72usa

    mikecyc72usa TrainBoard Member

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    Are you sure NS owns it?

    I say this because when Conrail was formed, I believe three or four EL employees were given the task of selling all assets other than what Conrail needed. They were actually paid by EL until they finished which was 1992 or 1994. Essentially, Conrail ran the railroad, and these guys were EL. If memory serves me correctly, EL is the only member of Conrail who actually paid all creditors the full balance due, even if it did take almost 20 years. There's a book about it that was published about 10 years ago or so but the name escapes me.

    In summary, if the 4 person division was actually the last remnant of EL and they had the power and capacity to make whatever decisions the "railroad" needed, then I'd imagine they owned the EL logo. These guys were wholly independent of Conrail. Just some food for thought.
     
  7. nicktodd

    nicktodd New Member

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    Erie Lackawanna: Death of an American Railroad, 1938-1992?
    I am aware of Dereco, the N&W subsidiary, controlling EL for a time.
    So was "Erie Lackawanna" (,Inc.?) liquidated and rights sold to NS, or perhaps transferred to CR? And for all we know Morristown & Erie may have gone shopping at NS recently :)
    I guess the only way to find out is to put the EL logo on a billboard advertising ebay
     

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