Brian,
There maybe a simpler, but less interesting reason for the Chrysler
choice by Ravenna crews. Chrysler was and is a "high end" vehicle. The
crews were probably well paid and could afford them and there was,
mostly likely a Chrysler dealer in town, but no Cadillac or Lincoln
dealer nearby. In addition, the Chrysler dealer may have had better
deals just to "corner" the market. Does anyone know what dealers
existed in Ravenna in the '30s and '40s and what auto lines were
handled.
Bill Barber
On Thursday, January 1, 2004, at 10:53 AM, CBQ@yahoogroups.com wrote:
> Date: Thu, 01 Jan 2004 14:39:49 -0000
> From: "Brian Chapman" <cornbeltroute@aol.com>
> Subject: Re: CB&Q divisions - Chrysler
>
>> Why were Chryslers the auto of choice for crews? Did the not like
> G.M. for some reason having to do with the EMD equipment? <
>
> Gary, hi,
>
> The young Walter Chrysler was Superintendant of Motive Power and
> Equipment for the Chicago Great Western during the first years of the
> 20th Century. His dad was a Union Pacific engineer. During his years
> in Oelwein, Iowa, home of CGW's system shops, Chrysler bought his
> first automobile, disassembled and reassembled it in his garage to
> figure out how it worked.
>
> Chrysler, in 1911 iirc, feuded with CGW president Samuel B. Felton
> and left the company, landing with one of the steam locomotive
> builders (Lima or Baldwin) before moving onto automobile
> manufacturing greatness. (I'm getting much of this from a recent
> thread on the cgw yahoo list; one of the listees has read Chrysler's
> (auto-?)biography and might have further info on your question.)
>
> Speculation, but maybe Chrysler had business connections within the
> railroad industry that led to deal-making on auto fleets.
>
> -Brian
>
> Brian Chapman
> Cedar Rapids, Iowa
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