The Chessie - C&O's Cancelled Luxury Train

[@AmtrakGuy365]

Thanks for watching the video! I made a mistake at 1:31 by referring to Ashland as being in West Virginia instead of Kentucky. Should've checked over my script a bit more especially considering I rode through Ashland on Amtrak's Cardinal back in May lol. Sorry about that!

[@NHNProductionsYT]

Its ok

[@daviddryden8088]

Yeah, but to your credit it's barely in Kentucky. 🙂

[@williammeszaros1671]

AS A CHILD IHAD MY PICTURE TAKEN IN A MOCK MODEL OF THE UNIT IN A DEPARTMENT STORE IN AROUND 1947

[@bookianaunroblox661]

its much bigger than big boy 4014.

[@bigharryyy03]

I was born in Ashland

[@keithalaird]

In one of the books about Baldwin Locomotives, they made a joke about the M-1s. something along the lines of “When a conventional steam locomotive broke down, it took 15 minutes to find the problem and three days to fix it. With the M-1s, it took three days to find the problem and fifteen minutes to fix it”

[@ivangenov6782]

God, idk which one i would prefer to fix now

[@Patrick_3751]

There was actually a very similar popular saying among railroaders during dieselization. "On steam locomotives it took 5 minutes to find a problem and 5 hours to fix it. On diesels it took 5 hours to find a problem, and 5 minutes to fix it."

[@Desmaad]

Oh God, the M1! What an absurd loco! Basically a coal-fired electrical power plant on wheels. It's also one of my faves for that reason.

[@jordandorsett3106]

It was supposed to be the first USA metropolitan steam turbine locomotive

[@catapultking8861]

Never worked. Maybe better separation of coal and coal dust from electrical equipment would improve operations, but we’ll never know. Real shame in all honesty, but experimental none the less. Maybe make it through the experimental phase before mainline service.

[@allmotorkp61]

What a cry baby

[@DerpyPossum]

it still boggles my mind how these locomotives actually existed :0

[@844SteamFan]

Not for long though.

[@SierraRail3Prod]

The turbine exists in the roblox game ro-scale central

[@re57k]

I always loved unconventional steam engines for their uniqueness

[@mechanicallogistics]

@@SierraRail3Prod I'm the guy who suggested it and got it in-game

[@jordandorsett3106]

@@SierraRail3Prod is it the famous Pennsylvania railroad turbine

[@francora4763]

Some of the Chessie coaches were actually bought second hand and operated for decades by the Ferrocarriles Argentinos in Argentina! Their yellow stripes were painted blue and they were refurbished to broad gauge to be used in the "Roca Line" between Buenos Aires and Mar del Plata in a service named "El Marplatense". Well researched video, hope you find this story interesting!

[@wavesnbikes]

They're still there, stored. Those Budd were still in service a few years ago. I wish you would've included their Argentina story briefly... Awesome video as always!

[@silvanacassanelli5339]

Si yo leí la historia y me conmovió me hubiera gustado haber viajado pero no se dio el personal de ferrobaires le rindió un tributo por los 50 años de estar en Argentina

[@MisterHecker3129]

Argentina is not a country. It is a Nazi invention which today belongs to the United Kingdom

[@Leatherface123.]

Wish they’d get brought back to the us for restoration to original paint

[@trainglen22]

I remember that Rio Grande bought some for the Prospector which then went to the Delaware and Hudson.

[@DaylightTwinkle]

Who knew the chessie logo was actually a cat sleeping lol and cute

[@jimmyhook4852]

Cute cat indeed. X3

[@Greatdome99]

You're talking about the 'Chessie System,' not the original C&O. Chessie System merged the C&O, B&O, Western Maryland and others. Later on, it merged with the Seaboard Coast Line to form today's CSX (the "C" from Chesapeake).

[@azores4439]

I thought a cheese

[@johnd8892]

Took me years to recognise that symbol as a cat. However a lady friend of mine saw it first off.

[@jimmyhook4852]

@@johnd8892 Heh. I love cats. X3

[@CarlosDeLosMuertes]

Fun fact that (almost) always comes up when talking about the C&O M1's, their throttles had 11 settings, with 11 being full power. Early interviews with crews often brought up them wanting to go "Up to 11" which predates many other references to this phrase.

[@dochammer3047]

Spinal-Tap!

[@bofan4513]

6000 Horsepower dang thats almost as much as the Big Boy...

[@ThePTBRULES]

The C&O Alleghenies were 7400hp. And the PRR Q2 was 7800hp. The Big Boys are big and powerful, but they're definitely not the top bench mark.

[@bofan4513]

@@ThePTBRULES thank you I've been wondering that

[@ThePTBRULES]

@@bofan4513 You're welcome, the Alleghenies were some of the largest steam locomotives built at 1.3 million pounds. A good source below: "PRR Fireman, Paul C Dietz, in his 2001 memoir Firing On The Pennsy, writes about the Pennsylvania Railroad 4-cylinder rigid-frame Q2 locomotive and a great beast, indeed! Although today railfans concur that the C & O Allegheny 2-6-6-6, a single-expansion articulated engine, while not as heavy as the UP “Big Boy” 4-8-8-4s was still the most overall “powerful” American steam locomotive ever built to date, the duplex Q2 actually exceeded Allegheny’s drawbar horsepower at 45 mph, producing more horses than the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway’s H8s! More about the complex problem of deciding which locomotive of the last steam age was “most” powerful can be found on this invaluable page, at steamlocomotive dot com: www.steamlocomotive.com/misc/largest.shtml" The Q2 is sadly a pretty forgotten example off the largest locomotives. That being said. So many of the locomotives at the steam are able to be declared the strongest based upon the spec you choose.

[@The_L-3C_Pro]

@@ThePTBRULES that's sad

[@cameronriccio6050]

1:15 in the foreground is Long Bridge (the Capital building in the back). Opened in 1904, the bridge still exists to this day as a rusty mess

[@TalenGryphon]

That Baldwin steam turbine M1 was an absolute BEAUTY and a wonder of Streamline Moderne design! I wish one remained. ...Or a replica would be built

[@jasonwhitler4167]

The thumbnail art looks great!

[@trainsupporter9088]

Did you know that the C&O Historical Society came out with a book on the Chessie streamliner? I have the book and found it a very interesting read! Nice video BTW!

[@The_L-3C_Pro]

The M1 was an amazing looking

[@Greatdome99]

As they say, "a camel is a horse designed by a committee." Those steam turbine electrics never made an entire trip without breaking down. They were too complicated in a time where automatic (electronic) controls were only in the future.

[@anthonyxuereb792]

Scrap, scrap, scrap my goodness what waste! Yes I know you can't keep them all and there were many worth preserving, but these were exceptional.

[@superbaddy4]

Even if it was a Failure, at least one M1 should have been preserved. There's no engine quite like them, and I love that about them.

[@fredtracy1673]

Sadly, preservation wasn't thought of back then!

[@d.e.b.b5788]

Like many other steam engines, they were being scrapped during a period when all the railroad companies were bleeding money, and the men who ran them were trying everything they could to keep from going bankrupt. In their minds, saving a locomotive might tip the balance between the railroad existing or being broken up and sold off to others, so they scrapped every thing they could. In the end, it didn't make a difference, but there was no way for them to know that when it was happening.

[@jackchen7003]

They were very beatiful engines. I would have loved to see them running like they do with UP big boy 4014!

[@chickhenkein_FAK...]

Let's rebuild them then!

[@nsvmmwhy]

0:20 Honestly did not expect to hear the progress dialogue sound from FNF in that one, but here we are

[@bigharryyy03]

Dude I love your choice of music. The Paper Mario music was hysterical as the turbines kept failing 😂

[@Kairos318]

Great video, I've always been curious about these locomotives. Seems like they were just a little ahead of their time.

[@prestonhaon3500]

Fun fact one of the dome obs built for the chessie is now in service at the Tennessee valley railroad museum

[@c.haubenriser1]

Had an MTH M-1 for the longest time and regretably sold it. Need to get myself another as it just absolutely dwarfed amything else on the local club layout. Great video as always!

[@lordbarristertimsh8050]

Did you know that a remark from an operator of one of the M1 locomotives that was printed in an issue of Popular Mechanics is one of the first uses of the phrase "up to eleven" ?

[@bluebellsfan8704]

The M1 looks huge! It looks great though. Awesome video

[@alexclement7221]

The M1's were not just "unreliable", but they also spun wheels on hills, flat-spotting rails, and none of them ever completed a complete run without breaking down. The later "Jawn Henry" steam turbine was built with parts taken from the scrapped M1's, and fared no better.

[@davidgriffin9412]

Actually, the Jawn Henry only used some of the designs from the C&O M-1s. The N&W actually liked the Jawn Henry and thought any problems could be worked out. The only reason it was a one of a kind was that when N&W wanted to order some they wanted 25 but Baldwin would only build them if they ordered 50. They couldn't come the an agreement and the locomotives were never built.

[@HarukaChan2468]

“This is Chessiepiercer.” (Snowpiercer)

[@wavesnbikes]

Mr. Chessie Wilford would like to see you, now.

[@apolofeve]

Fun fact: some of the cars were exported to Argentina where they operated the Buenos Aires to Mar del Plata "El Marplatense" train until fairly recently.

[@jordonfreeman166]

Fun fact: one of The Chessie’s dome-observation cars is privately owned and under restoration at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum and will be used on the TVRM’s Hiawassee River Rail Adventure excursions out of Delano, Tennessee, even though this dome car is the only dome car on property to be able to fit thru the Missionary Ridge Tunnel, as the other two dome cars are an ex-Canadian Pacific Dome Observation and former Iowa Pacific dome coach, which are used on the Hiawassee River Rail Adventure, are too tall to fit thru Missionary Ridge tunnel.

[@jacksonsdrones]

The Cincinnati station kinda looks like the Hall of Justice. Anyhow, Incredible Video! 👍👍👍

[@BlindingLight]

Convenient how this video came out in the peak of my fascination with the C&O

[@OMCCsam]

playing the cellphone game Trainstation ll , i was curious about this diesel looking steam engine . Thanks for this informative , entertaining & excellent production 👌🏻 regards . n-scaler in BritishColumbia

[@TheLonelyLurker1995]

When you mention the aquarium, I remembered Snowpiercer. They have one car that is dedicated for aquarium...and it was right next to the Sushi car.

[@trainglen22]

It is interesting that Robert Young could think that an unproven steam turbine engine could be successful.

[@pablotharpalo5685]

I saw the thumbnail and yellow streak and first read it as "The Cheese" and I was thinking "that's an appropriate nick name"

[@cliffwoodbury5319]

that locamotive is one of the most beautiful locamotives i've ever seen

[@fredtracy1673]

I have a picture of it as wallpaper on my phone. 🙂🚂

[@adventuresofamtrakcascades301]

The weirdest looking locomotive I've ever seen

[@victorcontreras9138]

Such a shame that none of these great locomotives are around! It would be a treat to fans to be able to see these wonders!

[@JohnGeorgeBauerBuis]

I see the M-1s were (along with the PRR T1 duplexes) some of the few steam locomotives with type H or F ‘tightlock’ couplers.

[@salty_armorer4027]

"666 miles" I think we know why people * really * didn't wanna ride.

[@northpennvalleysteamrailroad]

Great explanation video of the Chessie! Well done!

[@MOHAWKL4A3124]

Big Boy: I'm the biggest steam power engine in the world. M1: Are you sure about?

[@YaknCamp]

Service to Louisville would have been from Ashland, KY not WV. The Lexington-Louisville division terminated in Ashland. The C&O station in Ashland is still in use today, although as a bank and the tracks and platforms have long been removed.

[@lyricof3003]

I love the chessie system

[@Greatdome99]

Different railroad. C&O became a part of Chessie, later to CSX

[@Jobother]

Kinda wild to think how in 1946 they were planning an 11 hour cincinatti-DC service when in 2021 it takes 13.

[@gabrielarambula4465]

Say Jared, maybe you could discuss Amtrak’s Floridian service; it was a train that ran from Chicago to Miami/St. Petersburg from 1971 to 1979, and was the only direct Chicago-Florida service Amtrak ever operated.

[@Yushir_o]

Ngl some of the features the train would have had sound funky to me, like the aquariums, though I suppose it was a different time during then Good job on the vid, bucko!

[@RailPreserver2K]

Do you think you could do a video on the original Southern Crescent because my grandmother has memories of riding on it as a child from Toccoa Georgia to Washington DC and back

[@OfficialSEIC2K6]

However The cancelled Chessie Train paved the way for the newer luxury trains and the future. The Chessie isn't forgotten. C&O made the way for luxurious trains of the future. The Chesapeake and Ohio Railway: Paving the rails for the future.

[@MiddletownBranchProd.]

my fav editorial youve done

[@Alanpie314]

I saw the M-1 at the B&O museum about 20 years ago. It's been moved to another RR museum, this one in Roanoke, Va.

[@Handlesarestoopid]

You mean L-1.

[@russellgxy2905]

I think you mean the L-1. Also no, I think it's still in Baltimore

[@Alanpie314]

@@russellgxy2905 I was at the B&O museum last month, and it wasn't there. The Virginia Museum of Transportation in Roanoke says they have it.

[@wavesnbikes]

The coaches for the Chessie, were delivered to Ferrocarriles Argentinos for El Marplatense. They're still there: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZpLYpJSkpa2dh5Y

[@spoiler539]

Where did you find the trainz Chessie coaches featured from 1:33 to 1:48? I have searched a few sites and haven’t been able to find them.

[@AppalachianMountaineer1863]

As a life long resident of WV it is so strange seeing those beautiful art deco tunnels look worn and tired hidden in the river valley, it’s like wandering upon some ancient ruin

[@DankEngine2005]

The Chessie: The Luxury Train that never was.

[@centredoorplugsthornton4112]

Per comments about a contingent of Chessie equipment acquired by Argentina's nationalized railways in the early 1950s, search "El Marplatense" for assorted KZbin videos showing the train well into the 2000s. The coaches kept their 36 seat with end of car lounge areas, and tariffed as "Super Pullman" class. Couple pages at Facebook devoted to El Marplatense, one with ghastly photos of the cars after being pulled from service. Just 3 other former Chessie cars are at Via Rail, running as HEP 2 cars in Eastern Corridor service. Lately Via's Budd built car fleet has been inspected and 35 percent of the cars built in the 1940s and 50s have structural issues. Of the 287 car order from Pullman Standard, about 60 cars were 52 seat chair cars with a curved divider in the center of the car. Many were acquired by Amtrak and 10 ran on the Pittsburgh Versailles commuter line til 1989, after which 9 of the cars went to Connecticut to run on Shore Line East.

[@GMAuraeon]

Oh, I LOVE these M1s, and turbines in general! Wish we still had some turbines around :(

[@SantaFe19484]

This locomotive looked like quite a monster!

[@diesel10rules23]

Beautiful locomotive you done a good job with the video

[@GreenbeanProductions]

4:00 ayyyyyyyy 614 has met a CNO gas turbine before :D

[@justahillbilly7777]

Correction: The C&O's M1's were *steam* turbines.

[@peterallely5417]

Wish there was one of these around to look at.

[@AtomicVisionary]

It's such a beautiful locomotive.

[@AlcoLoco251]

Surprised you didn't mention that the fish aquarium was a failure as the vibrations of the moving train killed the fish.

[@unrelatedshark]

So you're telling me C&O built 3 locomotives heavier, and longer than big boys, that had less power, could only go 20mph faster, and were riddled with issues?

[@smitajky]

That is the difference between experimentation and conservatism. A conservative but well developed design is guaranteed to be a success but can't advance anything for the future. The early diesels were also a radical experiment. But look what happened with them. Every experimental failure is part and parcel of future experimental successes. If we stop innovating we simply become a backwards relic.

[@Ty-yt3lj]

The Big Boys were a guaranteed success with no real innovation, as they’re a lengthened version of the Challengers. The M1’s were a leap into the unknown

[@robertsettles2180]

Not Ashland West Virginia, it's Ashland Kentucky. The railroad goes through Ashland, through Catlettsburg, then crosses the Big Sandy River into West Virginia at Kenova.

[@TrainLover-wt9ix]

A few other options they could have had done besides using a turbine 1. C&O L-1 2. Make one of their other steam locomotives into their own streamlined version 3. Make a whole new streamlined locomotive

[@SouRwy4501Productions]

A bit of a slight correction; the Chessie was supposed to be ended off by one of three specially-built observation cars with domes. To my knowledge, all three survived, and one is currently operating at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum: C&O car 1877.

[@chief1b]

Thanks I always wanted to know the back story on that Hudson L1 I have seen it several time at the B&O museum. It’s seems out of place because of the design now I know

[@chief1b]

@J Bear24 You are right but I would love to have a ride from the Ellicott City station to Baltimore but I know that is a dream. Cheers!

[@mghorenstein]

Great video as usual! Thanks!

[@huskerhank6231]

As much as I love the equipment the main lesson from this sad tale is do market research. Even if everything worked (even the gold fish died from motion sickness) there was no need for a large passenger train between Cincinnati & Washington DC. If they had looked at their immediate competitors, The Baltimore & Ohio, they would have seen that a standard 4 car train was more than adequate to meet the demand. But it made for some great publicity didn't it. Young was something of a showman and wanted a big fancy train to show off. The Chessie wasn't the answer. Young went on to obtain the New York Central with all of its fancy trains & celebrities galore but those trains lost tons of money as well. Sadly he commited suicide over his disappointment of the post war passenger market. RIP

[@checkyoursix5623]

The path westward through Cincinatti was a popular one for many trains originating in the mid-Atlantic area - Baltimore, Philadelphia, Washington, DC, Richmond, etc. - other lines had trains westbound from Cincinatti to St. Louis, Kansas City, Denver, Salt Lake City, etc. Not everyone has to go from NYC through Chicago.

[@franciscampagna2711]

Ships began using turbines in the early 1900s. They quickly became models of reliability. Had American railroads begun earlier, They might have meet with success. We will never know.

[@JohnGeorgeBauerBuis]

I know that on test, a crew member remarked that he would like to take the M-1 up to 11, as the M-1s had 11-notch throttles.

[@railfan101productions7]

I knew this must be cursed 666 miles to DC and 6000 Horsepower

[@JackCarsonsRailroadVideos]

1:15 no wonder it got Cancelled 🙃🙃🤪

[@boosteraxledoesstuff2769]

If I had the money I would rebuild at least the turbine locomotive with the tender

[@WesternOhioInterurbanHistory]

THE *CHEESE*

[@glenpower1677]

The Delaware and Hudson did get a few of the C&O cars by way of Rio Grande.

[@simplsquam]

If you ever need another video idea I think it'd be nice to see you cover the interurban streamliners like the north shore electroliner

[@mariovieira838]

Some of these cars ended in Argentina

[@ILoveTrains]

Really fascinating documentary!

[@Whisperi0r]

As a kentuckian, I am insulted by his pronunciation of Louisville

[@shanestrains7179]

Would love figure out how to make an m1 turbine in ho scale. N e one out there done it yet?

[@ceehazz]

Overland Models did it, but their model is extremely rare. MTH also made one, but in O scale, so that doesn't really help you.

[@shanestrains7179]

@@ceehazz seems like ive seen a post\video about someone 3d printing one

[@diesel10rules23]

Yeah I would love one but they would be super expensive

[@isk8fast]

I have a division point m-1 in ho scale. It is extremely rare as the overland models and was produced in 2019. kzbin.info/www/bejne/oJLYaJSfqKllkMU&ab_channel=DennisB

[@WVRailroadPapa]

I have a comic book that was published by the C&O about The Chessie.

[@thomaswilson3437]

Curious as to how fuel was fed into the firebox on these locomotives. Does anyone know? Were they fed by hand?

[@pennsyr1]

They were stoker-fed.

[@stanb42]

The coal hopper was in the front of the loco, which caused a problem of weight distribution as the coal was burned.

[@LegoWormNoah101]

I think I know why it failed: 666 miles from both ends of the route.

[@amcaljosh]

Sleep like a kitten. Would love to but theres a dog that wakes me up at night

[@Edsel-fd4yp]

For some reason I really like the M1 design.

[@quasimoto7662]

Hey I think I suggested this! Good stuff. But obviously, I didn’t make the video. All credit goes to Amtrakguy

[@vermas4654]

It always is a shame none of these exotic locos have been preserved

[@nachon8440]

Algunos coches fueron comorados por Ferrocarriles Argentinos y estuvieron andando hasta 2015. Siendo el convoy de mayor lujo que corrio en la Argentina

[@trainroomgary]

🚂 Very cool railroad story 😎

[@kevinhoward9593]

2:29 there is one at the B&O museum in Baltimore. oh thats different. i read they only lasted 2 years.

[@McAttack21574]

Out of all the steam turbine locomotives, only the UK, Sweden and Italy had success, it’s just that post-war austerity kinda screwed them over. Germany had some but never got do demonstrate their potential because of WW2, aka bombs landing close or on them.

[@sernajrlouis]

Cool video. Any info on amtrak sunset route???? Did amtrak use the old sp shops by the station in san Antonio texas?

[@stuew6]

hey should do CPR/VIA Canadian with Budd Coaches with Fp7 or Fp9 and Still Running.

[@ryancoopershelmet7164]

The M-1 locomotive is featured in the app called Train Station Part1

[@masonschade6566]

I know this is nothing related but for a Q&A will you ever do an engines of Amtrak Acquired equipment like the GG1’s, E and F units?

[@lunalie6938]

these would be cool as a novelty travel option today

[@davidmolin8944]

It was pretty much doomed from the start because of all the mounting issues but it's still pretty cool nonetheless

[@alicehodges9964]

This is amazing

[@MOHAWKL4A3124]

Is it possible you good do the N&W Jawn Henry Steam Turbine.

[@RufusShinraPower]

(Haven't watched the whole video) I'm amused that the over-world theme from Conker's Bad Fur Day is used as the background music.

[@trackandtrail1]

Interesting C&O history well presented! Ofcourse I'm a bit partial

[@N00N01]

0:10 :D Also thatd be a interesting Gasturbine Lol 1:16 r/hmmn