Discover the History of the Monopoly Game RAILROADS!

[@josephgallo2613]

Wow thanks so much for this video - so well done from script to images to history. I like how you indicate where you are in the lower left corner. Looking forward to more.

[@JoseOnTour]

Thank you so much. I figured adding the location would make it easier to follow along

[@kennethstuckey7823]

Oh my gosh! I am totally flabbergasted and enthralled at the same time! Never would I have even imagined that real railroad companies were memorialized on the Monopoly game board. Well, I know this is a fact now because of you, Jose. Wow, Jose! You are a true History Powerhouse, and your videos are always so informative and spectacular. Thank you so much for all that you do! Be and stay safe out there. GOD bless!

[@JoseOnTour]

Thank you so much for this amazing feedback. I drive by the Reading Railroad everyday and one day I was playing Monopoly with my kids and that kind of started this curious search. I was just curious about the affiliation to the game which took me into this giant story

[@kennethstuckey7823]

@@JoseOnTour You did an excellent job!

[@andariegos9466]

We played this game a lot growing up in NJ. I was aware of all the railroad company’s significance but not to this extent. Very informative. Thank You.

[@JoseOnTour]

Thank you. In Paterson there’s also a big railroad history that connected to Jersey City. It was the first railroad in US to use movable bridges to cross the passaic

[@andariegos9466]

@@JoseOnTour I’ll check out that history. Thanks.

[@cherylniles418]

Love your videos, can see you put a lot of thought and effort and you do you research. The camera work is awesome also!!

[@JoseOnTour]

Thank you. I always want to give the most information possible while respecting the history

[@SimplyExploVenturing]

Fascinating Railroad History connection to Monopoly!

[@JoseOnTour]

It was such a rabbit hole of a search. At first it was just about Atlantic City being the inspiration but the railroad history became much bigger

[@BigPatrys15]

One day Jose, all the outstanding effort and work you put in these videos will pay off. At least I see (maybe too slow), but constant progress your effort brings. You need a series on Nat Geo or something! For real.

[@JoseOnTour]

This is such a great comment thank you. A little by little we'll grow. I love making these videos and will be patient for when the time comes

[@BigPatrys15]

You can tell you love to do it! @@JoseOnTour

[@MilesL.auto-train4013]

Further information: The Baltimore & Ohio became part of the Chesapeake & Ohio, but continued to operate as a separate company. In 1970, the B&O, C&O, and WM (Western Maryland) all merged to create the Chessie System, but continued to use the reporting marks of the three previous railroads. In 1980, the corporate entity merged with Seaboard Coast Line Industries, then the owner of the Family Lines System (which had ownership of the Louisville & Nashville, Seaboard Coast Line, Western Railway of Alabama, Atlanta & West Point, and Clinchfield Railroad) to create CSX Transportation, though operated separately until 1986 when the merger took full effect. CSX is what we have today. The Reading Railroad, after declaring bankruptcy, had most of its assets sold to Conrail, or Consolidated Rail Corporation. Other assets were sold off to the Delaware & Hudson Railroad for competition purposes. Though, technically the Reading existed on paper as a real estate company until about the 2000s. That's where the extend of my knowledge on that subject ends. The Pennsylvania Railroad began merger proceedings with its longtime rival and once bitter enemy, the New York Central, in 1960. The Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) essentially twiddle their thumbs on the matter, and by the time the merger was approved in 1968, both railroads are in a very shabby state. The merger was a huge disaster, and after having another railroad, the New Haven, thrust in by force in 1969, along with other issues such as in-house competition, differing computer and yard systems, deferred maintenance, etc. etc., it imploded in 1970. At the time was the largest bankruptcy in the United States, and was a huge shock to the industry. The US Government recognized that if Penn Central collapsed further than it already had, then it would have a domino effect that would destroy the entire US Railroad network (even the healthy western roads that were doing fine, but how would they have access to their connections east?) - also no thanks to other railroads declaring bankruptcy for one reason or another. These would include the Lehigh Valley, Eire Lackawanna, Central of New Jersey, and the aforementioned Reading. It was decided to merge all these bankrupt roads into one uniform railroad in an attempt to save them, and on April 1, 1976, Conrail was created. This road wasn't successful at first due to the clapped out power and rolling stock, and the maintenance needed for the entire system, but after the government sold the railroad as a private company, the leadership of L. Stanley Crane and the deregulation of railroads in 1981, Conrail became a successful turnaround and a profitable railroad. They were split between CSX and Norfolk Southern on June 1, 1999, having done it's duty and saving the Northeastern Rails.

[@JoseOnTour]

Thank you for adding such extensive background. I love the history of these rail limes. When I did the video on Reading, PA I focused on its train lines and its famous strike. Same in Ellicott City and the B&O history there