Chesapeake & Ohio Heralds, Symbols, and Advertising
By Thomas W. Dixon, Jr.
This book draws together most of the symbols and typography used
by C&O and some of its predecessors in advertising itself and its services.
The intent is to place in one location all major design usages made by the
C&O over its entire life on publications, timetables, and advertising, as well
as locomotives, structures, and rolling stock. In short, this is the
iconography of the C&O, 1837-1980.
Why such a book? It has been the experience of C&OHS that
modelers, model manufacturers, preservationists, historians, railfans,
producers of memorabilia, and publishers of books are in constant need of
data regarding how C&O and its predecessors advertised themselves. We
are consistently engaged in researching these things. With this book we
intend to place all, or almost all, of this in one place for general use.
The book gives the background history of the railway itself as it
influenced the development and change of its advertising symbols and
images (iconography). You will find included Chessie and her family, the
most important and famous of all C&O symbols, as well as the best
remembered “herald” and slogan of all: “C&O For Progress.” In addition
C&O used scores of different arrangements of its initials, road name, and
many different slogans and designs. These were set in scores of varied
typefaces (fonts) and decorative designs.
Railfans and modelers often refer to a railway’s distinctive logo as a
“herald.” The book traces the development of a C&O herald with the first
truly distinctive design starting in 1884 that was used over a long period of
time. This “Big C&O” design was used in one form or another until 1931,
when more imaginative designers in the Public Relations Department
replaced it. They crested the famous 1930s-40s era “steam train” design
with a stylized steam passenger train was placed at the bottom of an
intertwined “C and O.” This morphed into the famous “C&O For Progress”
design in two iterations. Overlaid on all this was Chessie, the most
important railroad advertising symbol of all time, and George Washington in
various poses, father not only of his country but of C&O itself!
The book is illustrated with examples of almost every iteration of each
of the major heralds, as well as topography and designs used only briefly or
even once over the period of 120 years covered. The herald evolution of
the Pere Marquette and its predecessors and the Hocking Valley and its
predecessors are also illustrated. We additionally include specialty designs
such as those used for various named trains such as the Fast Flying
Virginian, Sportsman, and George Washington.
In short, this book has everything one needs to know about C&O
advertising symbols, designs, heralds, logos, and typography.
Softbound – 96 pages, 10-lb. Glossy paper
