Comments on: The Life of a Railroad Shop Cat…

By: Lee

Lee — Thu, 25 Apr 2024 01:21:42 +0000

Nice pictures.

The April 2024 issue of Railpace Magazine has a photo of the shop cat of the Ontario Southland Railway.

The C&O Railway had several cats as their mascot, used extensively in their advertising. Well known is Chessie. There was also a tomcat named Peake. The Dec 6, 1937 issue of LIFE magazine has a C&O advertisement featuring their mascots. It may be viewed at:
https://books.google.com/books?id=mT8EAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PA59&dq=chessie's%20family%20album&pg=PA59#v=onepage&q&f=false

By: Lee

Lee — Sat, 30 Mar 2024 02:13:53 +0000

The April 2024 issue of Railpace (just out) has a photo of C.J., the shop cat of the Ontario Southland Railway (pg 27). He’s 18 years old, but still a good mouser.

And speaking of railroad cats, let’s not forget Chessie and Peake, the mascots of the C&O Railway. Here’s an ad in LIFE magazine, December 6, 1937:
https://books.google.com/books?id=mT8EAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PA59&dq=chessie's%20old%20man&pg=PA59#v=onepage&q&f=false

Closeup of Peake, LIFE June 21, 1937: A proud tomcat.
https://books.google.com/books?id=1UQEAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PA49&dq=chessie's%20old%20man&pg=PA49#v=onepage&q&f=false

(If you’re interested in history, you can scroll through the rest of the issues. The ads from that era are very interesting.)

P.S. Chessie was written up in a nice book, “Chessie The Railroad Kitten” by Thomas W. Dixon, TLC Publishing, 1988.

By: Ran Barton

Ran Barton — Thu, 21 Mar 2024 13:47:29 +0000

Excellent feline/railroad crossover post. Hope you’re well.

By: Somebody Here

Somebody Here — Mon, 26 Feb 2024 00:57:01 +0000

Is there any chance that you might do something about the New Haven Line’s Harlem River Branch and its services before 1931?

Thanks in advance.

By: Debb Mastromatteo

Debb Mastromatteo — Tue, 20 Feb 2024 17:54:47 +0000

Don’t forget to pick up your Turbo plushie when you visit the Railroad Museum of New England!