The inherent strength of rail transportation

[Brakie]

I hope there never is any government funding. If the industry can't stand on it's own two feet it deserves to die. Amtrak is sucking down too many $$$$$$$$$$$$$$ now. No need to throw good money after bad.

Mike,Most Eastern railroads was living off Government loans in the 60s and by the early 70s these roads was on the brink of finical collapse and the Feds decided it was time to do something and that something was Consolidated Rail Corporation better known as ConRail..Unlike Amtrak Conrail began to turn a profit in the 1980s and was turned over to private investors in 1987.

During this time C&O/B&0/WM,N&W ,Southern and SCL was in great finical shape..It was also during this time the Chessie System was formed as the parent company for C&O,B&O and WM--none of these roads was merged under the Chessie banner. The mergers would come under CSX in '87..B&O/WM merger came first the B&O was merged into the C&O and the C&O was merged into CSX..The Family Lines (SCL/L&N/CRR) was formed as well.These roads was merged and became the short lived Seaboard System.