(erielack) LCL C&O/PM to DL&W and Erie

[William Shultz <wshultz1_@_twcny.rr.com>]

Another good example why it is worthwhile to join other railroad 
historical societies even if your primary interest is a single road. In 
the latest, July/August issue of the C&OHS magazine is an article on how 
the C&O handled LCL shipments in the post WWII era into the 1950's.

An interesting tidbit of information was there were direct cars which 
left daily from the PM (later C&O) Grand Rapids, MI LCL transfer house 
to the Erie at Hornell, NY and the DL&W to Scranton Transfer (via either 
the NKP or PM/C&O-Black Rock Branch-East Buffalo most likely). Since the 
primary  LCL commodity shipped out of Grand Rapids was furniture, the 
cars used would most likely be one of the PM Automobile/Furniture cars 
or similar C&O or foreign road car. Another car for you transition era 
modelers to include in the consist.

The article is very well done and anyone with an interest in how 
railroads handled LCL, I recommend getting a copy. I don't know what 
availability is to non-members, but you can find contact information on 
the web site:

http://www.cohs.org/

As a bonus, there is an excellent article on the C&O 95000 series 40 
foot, double door automobile box cars in the second half. Almost 
certainly these would have traveled on DL&W or Erie rails. Worth the 
cover price of $5.95 alone is a terrific back cover color shot of a C&O 
1950's tractor-trailer painted in the C&O colors in a publicity shot in 
front of the West Virgina state capital building. Not DL&W or Erie, but 
very impressive.

While I'm on the topic of the C&OHS, if you have any interest in freight 
cars, connecting freight schedules or LCL schedules, the C&OHS offers an 
excellent selection of reprints of all of these for the C&O and PM along 
with several other regional or connecting roads. You can order them from 
their web site.

The NKPH&TS is another excellent source of information. I've learned 
more about DL&W through line passenger service and equipment from the 
NKPH&TS publication than I have from The Diamond I'm sorry to say.

The bottom line is, if you really strive to understand a specific 
railroad, you have to remember it operated as part of a national 
network. It wasn't an island.

Will Shultz

	The Erie Lackawanna Mailing List
	Sponsored by the ELH&TS
	http://www.elhts.org

------------------------------

End of EL List Daily V3 #1751
*****************************