Re: (erielack) EL vs. PC

["Tim Stuy" <njmidland_@_verizon.net>]

A little off topic, but yes the book does cover it.  NYC wanted these
combinations to go through.  PRR went to the C&O and told them to cut out
NYC or else the PRR would fight the C&O/B&O combination.

For a little EL content:  the "hero" of this book is Jim McClellan who
started with the Southern, then NYC/PC, then DOT/USRA and eventually with
NS.  Jim graciously lent ELDCPS his Erie/DL&W/EL photo collection.  The 2007
EL calendar has one of his photos - a great shot of 3 Lackawanna
Trainmasters on the Cutoff just east of Slateford Jct.  IMO the best photo
in this year's calendar!

Tim

On 10/9/06, Paul Brezicki <doctorpb_@_bellsouth.net> wrote:
>
>  According to Trains, it has lots of good info. Presumably this is
> mentioned in the book, but there was a group in the early 60's who favored
> combining each of the Northeast's two biggest (along with the also-rans like
> EL) with a profitable Pocahontas region coal carrier, ie: NYC with C&O/B&O,
> PRR with N&W. This made good sense and would have created a reasonably
> balanced two-system Northeast, each with a firm footing in coal traffic to
> ensure long-term viability. However NYC and PRR were hell-bent on merger,
> but after 35 years, bankruptcy and Conrail, this is more or less how things
> ended up anyway.
>
> Paul B
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> *From:* Tim Stuy <njmidland_@_verizon.net>
> *To:* Paul Brezicki <doctorpb_@_bellsouth.net>
> *Cc:* EL Mailing List <erielack_@_lists.elhts.org> ; Fred Stratton<erief7@msn.com>
> *Sent:* Sunday, October 08, 2006 9:07 PM
> *Subject:* Re: (erielack) EL vs. PC
>
> While not as detailed a history of the PC, I think anyone interested in
> how PC came about and we ended up at today's eastern system, you should read
> Rush Loving's new book, "The Men Who Loved Trains".
>
> Tim
>
> On 10/8/06, Paul Brezicki <doctorpb_@_bellsouth.net> wrote:
> >
> > It's been a long time since I read "The Wreck of the PC", but I seem to
> > recall a claim that PC chairman Stu Saunders (ex-PRR, of course) believed
> > that jumbo jets would eventually take all the RR's long distance traffic,
> > including coal ! I don't know whether or not this was true, but high-level
> > management brilliance and commitment was in short supply at that outfit.
> > Those interested in the PC fall will want to look at "Penn Central RR" by
> > Peter Lynch. This book is much more focused on the operational side and I
> > recommend it.
> >
> > Gary is correct, PC's collapse weakened the entire industry, including
> > RR's like EL that were primarily competitors, since so much traffic was
> > interline. The revenue shortfalls tended to outweigh the benefits of traffic
> > diversion.
> >
> > Paul B
> >
> > "Wreck of the Penn Central" is a very good read overall but it does
> > go  heavy
> > on the details. Sparse mentions of EL, mostly regarding
> > possible  pre-merger
> > line ups, i.e., DL&W-NKP, etc.
> >
> > Rick
> >
> > - --- Fred  Stratton <erief7_@_msn.com> wrote:
> > > Keep in mind when talking about  the EL and PC, it took the EL 16
> > > years to fall while it took the PC  only 872 days. Much of the EL's
> > > financial woes were not the  mismanagement of money, although at
> > > times some practices were  questionable. However the fall of the PC
> > > in part involved not puting  finances back into the physical plant.
> > > This is verified in the book "  wreck of the Penn Central." They
> > > were more interested in other  ventures and let the RR go to H _ _ _
> > > in a handbasket.
> >
> > Once PC  declared bankruptcy, they were 'protected'.  They didn't have
> > to pay  their past bills from other railroads until the courts sorted
> > things  out.  Going forward, they could delay paying demurrage, etc,
> > yet  demand the other lines pay them on time.  This sucked most of the
> > cash  out of the other lines in the northeast, one of the major
> > reasons for the  EL, Reading, CNJ, LV, and L&H all going under.
> >
> > Gary R.  Kazin
> > DL&W Milepost R35.7
> > Rockaway, New  Jersey
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >         The Erie Lackawanna Mailing List
> >         Sponsored by the ELH&TS
> >         http://www.elhts.org
> >
>
>


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