1. Home
 ›
2. Fallen Flags
 ›
3. Baltimore & Ohio

Baltimore & Ohio Railroad: "Linking 13 Great States With The Nation"

Last revised: October 15, 2024

By: Adam Burns

The Baltimore and Ohio, “Linking 13 Great States With The Nation.”  This was the railroad's slogan to which it remained devoted for many years.  

The B&O holds the distinction as being this country’s very first common-carrier railroad (chartered specifically for public use), officially created in 1827.  

Its early years were plagued with frustrations as it was blocked by the state of Pennsylvania on numerous occasions in the western route of its choosing, forced instead to rely upon a much more rugged line through Maryland and western Virginia (later West Virginia).  

Despite these setbacks, the upheaval of the Civil War, and other issues the B&O grew into a powerful railroad stretching more than 10,000 total miles of track.  

It has long been regarded as the third major trunk line to Chicago behind rivals Pennsylvania and New York Central.  

The B&O is also fondly remembered for providing friendly and high quality service until the end despite a declining financial condition during the post-World War II years. 

Its takeover by the Chesapeake & Ohio in the early 1960s helped ensure its survival and it eventually joined the Chessie System family before disappearing into CSX Transportation during the 1980s.

History

As this country’s first common carrier railroad the B&O was instrumental in growing and stimulate our nation's economy during a time when “West” meant the Ohio River.

While never a wealthy company its legacy will forever be remembered as a survivor and putting customer service above all else. 

This dedication earned the B&O a loyal following to the extent that some folks steadfastly rode its trains even if they were somewhat slower than that of its rivals.

In addition, as Brian Solomon notes in his book, "Amtrak," his grandfather, a regular rail traveler during the early 20th century, noted the B&O offered the best dining services.  

When the company’s existence finally came to an end on April 30, 1987 it had just celebrated its 160th birthday and witnessed the industry grow from nothing more than few scattered lines to a rail network consisting of tens of thousands of miles linking the country from coast to coast (it also outlived its wealthier northern competitors by more than a decade). 

At A Glance

The B&O was largely created out of a great need by the city of Baltimore to compete with the creation of the Erie Canal, which connected New York City with the Port of Albany at Buffalo.  In addition, Philadelphia was organizing a plan to build a similar transportation system across the state linking Pittsburgh.  

Fearing its city would be left at an economic disadvantage Baltimore leaders formed the B&O, originally chartered on February 28, 1827 and officially incorporated and organized on April 24, 1827.  By that Fourth of July construction began with laying of a cornerstone in the city.  

According to the book, "Baltimore & Ohio Railroad," by Kirk Reynolds and David Oroszi it was tradition to launch new canal construction on July 4th and since the B&O was a similar transportation artery Independence Day was chosen. 

There were celebrations and ceremonies to mark the occasion and Charles Carroll himself, the last living signer of the Declaration of Independence, was on-hand to take part in the festivities.  He was given the task of turning the first shovel of dirt, signaling the B&O's construction was underway.  

The goal was having the railroad reach the Ohio River at Wheeling, Virginia and connect Cumberland, Maryland along the way.  However, the task would be very difficult as the rugged Allegheny Mountains lay in its path.  

The company would also face stiff political barriers from Pennsylvania, restricting an easier route through that state and forcing it to build across western Virginia.  

The B&O's immediate concern was simply building a rail line; as a true pioneer, nearly everything decision it made was an educated guess based on what little was known about trains at the time.  

Perhaps most challenging was constructing a proper right-of-way and figuring out the curvature limits and grade severity a typical train could handle.  To aid in this endeavor engineers sailed to England, the birthplace of railroads, for ideas concerning construction and best practices.  

Among their most notable takeaways was track gauge.  In his book, "American Narrow Gauge Railroads," author and historian Dr. George W. Hilton notes the B&O was initially built to a gauge of 4 feet, 6 inches. 

However, after its engineers studied English railways and witnessed how their gauge of 4 feet, 8 1/2 inches provided for more room of moving parts on inside-connected locomotives, it was adopted and in use by the early 1830's.  The B&O's next task was in designing a track guideway for the trains' wheels to follow.  

Once again, engineers found themselves in unknown territory as they experimented with various techniques from stone guideways with wooden beams to iron straps using the same principle.  

They eventually learned the best, most economical design was a wooden beam reinforced with a iron strap supported by wooden crossties.  

Iron strap rails did work although proved incredibly dangerous as worn straps could let go causing the deadly phenomenon of "snake heads," which easily ripped through the floors of early wooden cars and maimed or killed passengers.  

By the 1840s solid iron "T"-rail was introduced, developed by Robert Stevens president of the Camden & Amboy Railroad.  In January of 1830 the B&O launched service over its first 1.5 miles from a small station in Baltimore at Pratt Street.  

Within just a few months, 13 miles was opened to Ellicotts Mills (today Ellicott City) in May where the railroad constructed a sturdy, two-story stone depot along with a small turntable.  

The location did not offer significant passenger traffic but did serve a local granite quarry, known as Ellicott's Quarries, along with nearby agriculture and less-than-carload freight.  

These early trains all operated with horses as power, trotting along with what was little more than retrofitted carriages.

That same summer on August 28th the B&O successfully tested Peter Cooper's 2-2-0 "Tom Thumb," a Planet Type steam locomotive.  It lost its famous race with a horse that day but successfully proved the viability of steam-powered locomotives.  

In early 1831 the B&O placed an order from Phineas Davis of York, Pennsylvania for an 0-4-0 steamer called the York and in time the railroad retired its stable of horses for the iron horse.  

As the 1830s progressed the B&O continued expansion towards the west reaching Frederick in 1831 (via a branch) and Harpers Ferry, Virginia in January, 1837 following a completion of a bridge spanning the Potomac River.  

System Map

As construction quickened Cumberland was finally reached on November 5, 1842, a location that throughout the railroad’s existence would be a major division point.

A further push to the west bogged down as the B&O focused on upgrading its existing property.  Unfortunately, by the 1840s the railroad was no longer alone as many other new charters and companies were being formed, notably the Pennsylvania Railroad (1846).

Under the new direction of Thomas Swann, who achieved the presidency on October 11, 1848, the railroad was soon under construction again in an effort to complete its charter; heading roughly southwest it reached the small community of Bridge Valley (later Grafton) and Fairmont, Virginia before turning northwesterly towards the Ohio River.  

Finally, in 1852 it had reached the City of Wheeling, Virginia (West Virginia after June 20, 1863) along the river.  It was not long before the B&O was again pushing west from Grafton (founded on March 15, 1856 and named after John Grafton), this time heading due west to the Ohio River at Parkersburg where it connected with the Marietta & Cincinnati.

Downtown Baltimore Map (1848)

Through a series of mergers and acquisitions the railroad had reached St. Louis by 1857 via Cincinnati, Ohio thus linking eastern markets with the Mississippi River.  

After recovering from the Civil War's destruction the company reached Chicago by 1875 (albeit indirectly, its through route to the Windy City, via Pittsburgh, was not established until 1891).

Following its Chicago link the B&O eyed better easterly connections at Philadelphia and New York to better compete against a Pennsylvania Railroad that, by then, had already established itself as the dominate road to those cities.  

It opened between Philadelphia and Baltimore (111 miles) in September of 1886 by way of subsidiary Delaware Western.  

The only way for the B&O to reach New York City was thanks to friendly connections over the Philadelphia & Reading (Philadelphia - Bound Brook) and Central Railroad of New Jersey (Bound Brook - Jersey City).

What became known as its "Royal Blue Line" was actually a patch work of through connections and passengers had to disembark from the CNJ's Jersey City Terminal where they rode ferries across the Hudson River into Manhattan.  

This setup obviously put the B&O at a disadvantage in the market but it faithfully fought hard with an elegant train known as the Royal Blue before giving up in 1958.

---

Predecessors

Baltimore & Ohio Chicago Terminal

Arguably the most important B&O Railroad subsidiary was the B&OCT, which provided crucial switching and terminal operations within the Windy City not only for its parent but also numerous surrounding railroads.  

It was formed in 1910 when the B&O acquired the bankrupt Chicago Terminal Transfer Railroad. 

The CTTR itself had a long history of predecessors dating back to the La Salle & Chicago Railroad of 1867.  At its peak the B&OCT operated from Chicago Heights to Franklin Park via Blue Island and La Grange.

 It also connected Bellwood, Forest Hill, South Chicago, East Chicago, Calumet Park, Whiting, and Pine Junction.  The B&OCT offered its parent direct access to its Grand Central Station along Chicago's North Side.  Today, the company is still a subsidiary of CSX Transportation.

Baltimore, Pittsburgh & Chicago

A wholly-owned subsidiary of the B&O, the BP&C was incorporated in March of 1872 to build a 260-mile extension from a point known as Chicago Junction, Ohio (later renamed Willard after noted B&O president Daniel Willard).  

In 1873 the line reached Newark, Ohio and was completed to Chicago by 1875.  At first the B&O used the Illinois Central to reach the Windy City's downtown area but later established a successful terminal road, the Baltimore & Ohio Chicago Terminal, to handle the daily tasks of operations throughout the city.  

The railroad's initial passenger terminal here was located along Adams Street although by 1883 it had an improved facility near Monroe Street.  Finally, the B&O moved into the handsome Grand Central Station in 1891, which became its primary terminal until passenger services ended three-quarters of a century later.

Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburgh

The BR&P was a regional line linking central Pennsylvania with Buffalo and Rochester, New York.  It was pieced together primarily to handle coal traffic and was acquired by the B&O in 1929 which formally took over the property on January 1, 1932.

The BR&P's corporate history began on March 10, 1887 when the Pittsburgh & State Line Railroad and the first Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburgh merged following the bankruptcy of the Rochester & Pittsburgh.

Then-president Daniel Willard was attempting to push the B&O into key western New York markets although the BR&P never offered the greatest connection to Buffalo.  

He also purchased a nearby road known as the Buffalo & Susquehanna in 1932, created in 1893 through the merger of several small logging lines including the Sinnemahoning Valley Railroad, Susquehanna Railroad, Cherry Springs Railroad, Cross Fork Railroad, and an earlier Buffalo & Susquehanna. 

It ran diagonally across Pennsylvania from Sagamore to Addison and Wellsville, New York via Galeton.  There were also branches to Ansonia and Keating Summit, Pennsylvania.  

The road struggled financially and never earned much revenue, even during B&O control, relying largely on sparse local industry and agriculture.

Heavy flooding in November of 1942 forced the abandonment of the B&S south of Galeton, isolating it from the B&O network.  The northern segment was later sold to form the Wellsville, Addison & Galeton in 1956.  It operated freight service until 1979.

Marietta & Cincinnati Railroad

The M&C initially carried no ties to the B&O although the Baltimore road saw it as an important link to the Midwest.  The M&C was formed in 1851 by the consolidation of the Belpre & Cincinnati and Franklin & Ohio railroads.  

Its funding came primarily from the towns it would connect such as Athens, Cincinnati, Marietta, and Chillicothe.  

The road opened in early 1857 between Marietta and Cincinnati, establishing a link to the B&O/NV via carferry service from Parkersburg to Marietta.  

After many years the B&O was finally able to construct a large, 7,100-foot bridge across the Ohio River from Parkersburg to Belpre, Ohio opening for service on January 7, 1871 and eliminating the car-ferry operation.  The B&O gained control of the M&C in 1882 and renamed it has the Baltimore & Ohio Southwestern in 1889.

Northwestern Virginia Railroad

The NV provided the B&O with a more direct western routing from Cumberland.  While its original main line to Wheeling offered access to the Ohio River and a connection with the National Road the company began searching for a better river port centered more geographically towards the Midwest.  

On February 14, 1851 the Northwestern Virginia Railroad was chartered to connect with the B&O at what later became Grafton, winding its way along the Appalachian foothills to Parkersburg, Virginia.  

Although the NV was a private corporation it was largely backed by the B&O and formally leased during December of 1856.  

The railroad opened for service on May 1, 1857 and became known as the "Parkersburg Branch."  The corridor, despite being riddled with sharp curves, tunnels, and stiff grades became an integral link of the B&O's St. Louis main line/Monongah Division.  

It always carried the moniker, "Parkersburg Branch," until its abandonment in the 1980s.  For a complete history of the Parkersburg Branch please click here.

Pittsburgh & Connellsville Railroad

The P&C was first organized in 1837 and eventually began construction in 1847 as the B&O helped fund the project to reach the Steel City.  

The railroad battled with the state and rival Pennsylvania Railroad for control of the P&C, eventually winning in court in 1868.  The road, including its famous Sand Patch Grade, was completed from Pittsburgh to Cumberland in May of 1871.  

It became a vital component in the B&O's Chicago main line.  Soon after the line opened the B&O gained additional access to Pittsburgh from the west via Wheeling (the Wheeling, Pittsburgh & Baltimore) and the south via Fairmont/Morgantown (the Fairmont, Morgantown & Pittsburgh, also remembered as the "Sheepskin Line").

Ohio & Mississippi Railway

The O&M was the B&O's link beyond Cincinnati to St. Louis.  It began construction in 1854 and was completed in 1857 at around the same time as the M&C and NV.  

It also constructed two branches, one linking Jeffersonville, Indiana near Louisville, Kentucky and the other connecting Shawneetown with Beardstown, Illinois via Flora.  

The route was originally built to 6-foot gauge and later converted to standard gauge in July of 1871.  In 1893 the B&O formally acquired the O&M and integrated it into the B&O Southwestern in 1900.

Ohio River Rail Road

The ORRR began construction south of Wheeling, West Virginia in 1882, backed with funding from the Rockefeller/Standard Oil interests.  It was completed to Huntington, West Virginia in 1888 as it closely paralleled its namesake river.  

In time oil and petrochemical industries sprang up along the route as the B&O took an interest in the property.  It leased the ORRR during September of 1901 and purchased it in 1912.  

The line not only offered growing freight traffic but also linked the B&O's main lines at Wheeling and Parkersburg while a southerly connection was established with the Chesapeake & Ohio at Huntington/Kenova.

Virginia Extension

As the B&O carried out its rapid expansion after the Civil War it fanned out in all directions, including the Deep South.  

This idea was quite unique for an eastern road and had it been successful would likely have provided the B&O an important connection with systems like the Southern and Norfolk & Western.  

Its first acquisition occurred on July 1, 1867 when it leased the Winchester & Potomac running 22 miles from its main line at Harpers Ferry to Winchester, Virginia.

It then acquired the 19-mile Winchester & Strasburg while in 1873 the Virginia Midland offered access as far south as Harrisonburg via Strasburg (50 miles) once completed the following year.  

As it continued its push down the Shenandoah Valley the B&O-backed Valley Railroad, aiming for Salem (near Roanoke), made it only as far as Lexington in 1883 before further construction ceased.  

The Baltimore road was busy with other ventures and with little local public support to complete the extension the VRR withered.  

In 1896 the B&O, attempting to restructure its finances following bankruptcy sold its northern interests and the great project's fate was sealed.  The VRR operated until the early 1940s when operations were suspended.

---

At the B&O’s peak the railroad served the markets of New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Chicago, Buffalo, Detroit, and St. Louis via more than 6,000 route miles (over 10,000 miles in total). The B&O was always the underdog in an eastern market dominated by the PRR and NYC.

The company also had an on-and-off again struggle to remain independent as it once went into receivership in early 1896 and later ownership by the PRR. However, throughout it all the road steadfastly carried a pride that held true until its final days under CSX.  

Despite its marginal financial situation the B&O holds many “firsts.” It was quick to adopt the more efficient mode of diesel power in 1930s and the first to include air-conditioning on its passenger trains.

Other accomplishments included the first to place electric locomotives in service (through its Howard Street tunnel in Baltimore, a project developed in conjunction with General Electric), championed the use of streamlined passenger trains early on, and pioneered dome cars in the eastern United States (tight clearances had largely restricted these east of the Mississippi River).

The B&O’s financial situation would, however, eventually catch up with it as a severe national recession in the 1950s saw the company in a serious situation and facing bankruptcy by the early 1960s.

It had been skillfully headed by Daniel Willard from 1910 until June of 1941, guiding the company through the struggles of World War I and the Great Depression era.  

In his place stepped Roy White who also did a superb job through the World War II era.  The 1950s, however, proved more problematic and new president Howard Simpson had to deal with these issues.  

As traffic slipped, eroded by other modes of transportation, the road struggled after 1956 to sustain profitability.  

It tried many tactics to curb losses, from slicing down its payroll to implementing new types of freight service such as intermodal/trailer-on-flat-car (TOFC).  These efforts helped but by 1960 the B&O was showing significant losses.  

Perhaps as a blessing the modern merger movement began at that time, kicked off by the Norfolk & Western's purchase of the Virginian Railway in 1959. 

C&O Acquisition

During this time the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway (C&O) took an interest in the company and would later win a battle with the NYC for control of the B&O.  

After a drawn out process, Chessie was declared the victor.  The Interstate Commerce Commission formally approved the merger on December 31, 1962.  

A few months later, on February 4, 1963 the C&O took direct control.  The B&O was to suffer a better fate than either the NYC or PRR, which would merge in 1968 to form the ill-fated Penn Central Corporation.

Chessie System

The C&O, for several reasons, chose to leave the B&O almost entirely independent, only gradually merging the operational aspects of both companies.

This finally changed in 1972 when both, including B&O-subsidiary Western Maryland, formed a holding company called the Chessie System in which all three were included.  

An entire new livery was drawn up featuring a brilliant yellow, blue, and vermilion paint scheme adorned with a Chess-"C" silhouette of the C&O's famous Chessie the kitten napping on her pillow. 

---

Baltimore Belt Railroad

The Baltimore Belt Railroad and Howard Street Tunnel project undertaken by the Baltimore & Ohio essentially kicked off electrified rail operations in the United States when it began service in 1895 (in 1888 when General Electric successfully demonstrated the motive power on the Richmond Union Passenger Railway).

The B&O’s project was constructed to fill a gap by connecting the railroad’s New York-Washington (north-south) and Washington – Cumberland (east-west) main lines.  

According to the railroad's "Official List No. 29" issued January 1, 1948 notes the territory covered 7.2 miles from Milepost 90.7 at Bay View, Maryland to Milepost 97.9 at Hamburg Street, Baltimore.

Of this, 4 miles was electrified.  Prior to this project it had used a circuitous car ferry operation across Baltimore Harbor, which made competing effectively with rival Pennsylvania Railroad nearly impossible.   

After the first successful demonstration in Richmond, which involved a lightly powered locomotive, the motive power sprang up on light rail, interurban, and trolley systems all across the country.  

The B&O's system used a 600 volt direct current system with four gearless, 360 horsepower, locomotives (or “motors” as electrics are often called). 

The primary reason for the B&O’s Baltimore Belt Railroad was to solve a safety issue with its 1.4-mile long tunnel situated under residential neighborhoods where smoke would become a health issue.

Even by the late 19th century steam locomotives in large urban areas were becoming a serious health and safety issue due to their suffocating smoke and impairing vision.  

The issue became all too real when a New York Central train collided with a New Haven suburban run in January of 1902 within New York City due to a smoke-obscured signal.  

The result of this incident banned steam within downtown Manhattan and other cities began passing similar ordinances.  

In all the B&O’s electrified system stretched three miles with initial power provided by General Electric that employed “steeple cab” electrics. First operated on May 1, 1895 the new line used steam locomotives fired by coke, which burned much cleaner than coal. 

Electric Locomotive Classes

In all, the B&O employed six different classes of electric locomotives, which are listed below: 

· Class LE-1: B&O’s first class of motors were delivered in 1895 and 1896 and were of a steeple-cab design totaling three units. 

· Class LE-2: B&O’s second-class of motors were delivered between 1903 and 1906 by GE and were a boxcab design totaling four units. 

· Class OE-1: B&O’s third-class of motors were delivered in 1910 by GE and were a steeple-cab design totaling two units. 

· Class OE-2: B&O’s fourth-class of motors were delivered in 1912 by GE and were a steeple-cab design totaling two units. 

· Class OE-3: B&O’s fifth-class of motors were delivered in 1923 by GE and were a steeple-cab design totaling two units. 

· Class OE-4: B&O’s sixth, and final class of motors were delivered in 1923 by GE and were a steeple-cab design totaling two units. 

Finally, the electrified system was completed about a month later and the first electrically powered train completed a test run on June 27th.

A few days later, on July 1st, the B&O introduced the revolutionary new mode of transportation to the public.

Initially, the company employed an overhead third-rail system, whereby “shoes” picked up power, similar to later overhead systems that used strung wires (catenary).

However, this system proved vulnerable to coal smoke and by 1900 a conventional third-rail system running near the ground was used.  

One other addition was the railroad’s beautiful Mount Royal Station, constructed at the north end of Howard Street Tunnel.  Today, the station remains in place and has been beautifully restored. 

---

Final Years

The Chessie System, by far one of the best-loved railroad liveries ever created lasted only a short eight years; in 1980 the Chessie roads and those of the Family Lines/Seaboard Coast Line Industries (which was a holding company for a number of southeastern railroads including the Seaboard Coast Line and Louisville & Nashville) to form CSX Corporation on November 1st.

The creation of CSX entered the B&O into its last of many long and storied chapters. By now the company was merely a "paper" railroad (remaining in existence partly because of a tax exemption it retained in its home state of Maryland) and would be gone in only seven more years. 

Passenger Trains

"Abraham Lincoln"

"Ambassador"

"Capitol Limited"

"Columbian"

"Cincinnatian"

"Diplomat"

"Metropolitan Special"

"National Limited"

"Royal Blue"

"Shenandoah"

According to Trains Magazine, the Western Maryland was the first to disappear, merged into the B&O on May 1, 1983.  The B&O survived until April 30, 1987 when it disappeared into the C&O (ironically it had just celebrated its 160th birthday on April 24th).  Finally, the C&O was formally dissolved as a corporate entity on August 31, 1987.  

Alas, the 1980s and the years to follow were not good for the former B&O lines  as CSX began a long and continued campaign of abandoning or selling lines it deemed redundant/unprofitable.  Unfortunately, large sections of its network were deemed as such. 

In 1985, just as the intermodal container revolution was gaining steam, CSX announced intentions to sever its St. Louis main line between Clarksburg and Parkersburg, West Virginia (the "Parkersburg Branch") as well as much of the Ohio Division.

When the intermodal business truly took off soon afterwards CSX was left without a market to move containers competitively until its acquisition of Conrail in 1999.

This event has long since been questioned and had the line been left in place, upgraded to carry double-stack containers it would likely be profitable today, offering the shortest distance between the St. Louis gateway and east coast.

Diesel Roster

The Baltimore & Ohio's diesel locomotive roster was initially an eclectic array of road-switcher models from all of the major builders, except General Electric (the railroad did own a few GE switchers).

However, by the 1950s it was largely a loyal Electro-Motive customer, purchasing large batches of first-generation cab and GP units.  Due to severe financial constraints by the 1950s, the railroad went nearly ten years without acquiring new locomotives.

That all changed with the Chesapeake & Ohio's acquisition in early February of 1963.  The C&O was a very healthy company and its infusion of cash enabled the B&O to purchase large batches of second-generation power such as GP30's, GP35's, GP38's, GP40's, GP40-2's, and more.

The final new locomotives to wear any kind of "B&O" markings were a batch of SD50's that rolled of La Grange in 1984 wearing the Chessie System livery. 

From a historical perspective the B&O had been fascinating line to railfan dating back to the late steam era with big 2-8-8-4 EM-1's and 2-10-2 "Big Sixes" working Sand Patch, and 4-8-2's hustling fast freights through the Midwest.

This enthusiasm continued into the diesel era as the railroad operated a variety of locomotives, ranging from Electro-Motive's very early EA passenger model to Baldwin's RF16 and Alco's stylish FA freight units.

In a move to eliminate steam locomotives in an urban setting and comply with a city's smoke abatement ordinance, the B&O put into service its first diesel in 1925.

That year it acquired a 60-ton, 300 horsepower boxcab produced by American Locomotive/General Electric/Ingersoll-Rand to carry out switching chores along its confined yard at 26th Street in New York City, situated on Manhattan's West Side.

Then, in 1935 the railroad acquired Electro-Motive's early boxcab design for main line service, an 1,800 horsepower testbed unit numbered 50. 

It tested on Sand Patch and spent time pulling the Royal Blue between Washington and New York before being transferred to Abraham Lincoln on subsidiary Alton Railroad.

The railroad came back to Electro-Motive in 1937 for the streamlined variants of these boxcabs known as the EA model.  The cab units featured a beautiful sweeping carbody with a slanted nose.

They went to work on the flagship Capitol Limited that year and the B&O was quite pleased with the units.  From this point forward the railroad was a loyal EMD customer although did experiment with some models from other builders.

You could find Baldwins, FMs, and Alcos in yard work while the B&O even tried out a few of the latter's dual-service cab model, the FPA-2.  

After the War Production Board eased restrictions on buying new diesels during World War II, the B&O picked up its efforts to fully dieselize its locomotive fleet in the late 1940s.

During the 1950s the Baltimore & Ohio purchased large batches of GP units, like the GP7, and even tried out Baldwin's unique AS616 road-switcher.

In 1958 the B&O had completed dieselization when its final steam locomotives entered retirement.  Interestingly, this was also a period when the railroad was struggling financially.

It acquired its first GP30's in 1962 but it wasn't until the C&O's takeover a year later and subsequent cash infusion this acquisition provided that the railroad acquired the new power needed to meet increasing traffic demands.

Its final new power included a fleet of twenty SD50's, rated at 3,600 horsepower, delivered in the Chessie System livery in 1984.  

American Locomotive (Alco)

*  A joint GE/Alco/Ingersoll-Rand project.  The boxcab employed 300 horsepower and could produce 7,900 pounds of tractive effort at 10.0 mph.  Its top speed was 30 mph.  The trio broke down the work as follows:

• Alco carried out mechanical work at its Schenectady, New York plant.

• Ingersoll-Rand supplied the engine from its Phillipsburg, New Jersey plant, and was responsible for sales.

• General Electric installed all electrical equipment and carried out testing at its Erie, Pennsylvania plant.

** Steam-generator equipped.

*** See Table Below

**** See Table Below

***** See Table Below

Baldwin Locomotive Works (BLW)

Electro-Motive (EMC/EMD)

Fairbanks-Morse (FM)

General Electric (GE)

Lima-Hamilton Locomotives

Lima never gave model names to its diesel line.

Plymouth Locomotive Works

Steam Roster (Post 1900)

As the nation's first common-carrier, the B&O operated an array of different wheel arrangements, from the ubqitious 4-4-0 to the monster 2-8-8-4.

During the 19th century the railroad relied on the common types of that era, such as the American, Mogul, and early Consolidations (its first being purchased in 1873).

Into the modern, post-1900 time period the B&O acquired increasingly larger, heavier, and more powerful arrangements to handle freight and heavyweight passenger movements over the stiff grades found on its West End.

General freight movements tended to be operated by 2-8-2s, 4-8-2s, and 2-8-0s while large articulateds like 2-8-8-0s, 2-8-8-2s, and 2-8-8-4s worked heavy drag service.  Passenger assignments were generally carried out by 4-6-2s and, in some cases, 4-8-2s.

The B&O was an early proponent of articulated/Mallet designs and, in fact, operated the first example in the U.S., 0-6-6-0 "Old Maude" completed at Alco's Schenectady Works in 1904.  The locomotive was based from Anatole Mallet's 1885 concept and spearheaded on the B&O by superintendent of motive power, John E. Muhlfeld.

Ironically, however, the railroad was not a big proponent of compound steam.  Its most famous large articulateds were the 2-8-8-4 EM-1s acquired in the mid-1940s from Baldwin.

Notable Steam Classes

4-6-2 Pacific (Class P)

2-6-6-2 Mallet Mogul (Class KK)

2-6-6-4 (Class KB-1)

2-6-8-0 (Class KL-1)

2-8-2 "MacArthurs" (Class Q)

0-8-8-0 (Class LL-1)

2-10-2 "Big Six" (Class S)

4-6-4 Hudson (Class V)

2-8-0 Consolidation (Class E)

2-8-8-0 Consolidation Mallet (Class EL)

4-4-4-4 "George H. Emerson" (Duplex Drive)

2-8-8-4 (Class EM-1)

4-8-2 Mountain (Class T)

While the building of the Baltimore Belt Railroad and its electrified lines helped significantly improve operations in and around Baltimore the project was extremely expensive and forced costly debt on the railroad that helped drive it into bankruptcy in 1896.  

Even though the B&O updated its electric fleet from 1909 through 1912, and again between 1923-1927, with diesel-electric locomotives efficient and affordable by the mid-20th century the railroad shut down its electrification in the early 1950's.

Interestingly, today the original Baltimore Belt Railroad remains an important artery under the CSX Transportation banner.

Perhaps Mike Schafer said it best in his book, "Classic American Railroads":  although the B&O was never a healthy and extremely profitable railroad it will forever be remembered for:

"...its pioneer spirit, determination in the face of adversity, innovative technology, superior service, courteous employees, and aesthetic equipment," which made it beloved by so many throughout the years.

Heritage Unit, CSX #1827

In May, 2023, CSX Transportation release a heritage locomotive in a Baltimore & Ohio-inspired blue and grey livery, ES44AH #1827. 

Timetables (1952)

Sources

• Kirkland, John F. Diesel Builders, The:  Volume One, Fairbanks-Morse And Lima-Hamilton. Glendale: Interurban Press, 1985.

• Kirkland, John F. Diesel Builders, The:  Volume Two, American Locomotive Company And Montreal Locomotive Works. Glendale: Interurban Press, 1989.

• Kirkland, John F. Diesel Builders, The:  Volume Three, Baldwin Locomotive Works. Pasadena: Interurban Press, 1994.

• Liljestrand, Robert A. and Sweetland, David R. Baltimore & Ohio Diesel Locomotives: Volume 1, Switchers & Road Switchers. 

• Mainey, David. Baltimore & Ohio Steam In Color. Scotch Plains: Morning Sun Books, 2001.

• Reynolds, Kirk and Oroszi, David. Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. Osceola: MBI Publishing, 2000.

• Schafer, Mike. Classic American Railroads. Osceola: MBI Publishing, 1996.

• Solomon, Brian.  Electro-Motive E-Units and F-Units: The Illustrated History of North America's Favorite Locomotives.  Minneapolis:  Voyageur Press, 2011.