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Virginia Polytechnic Institute

Some aspects of railroad mergers since World War II, 1945-1960

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

The purpose of this study is to give historical and factual information regarding merger of railroads since World War II. The study examines the effects of specific mergers on the railroads, on the railroad employees, on competition and on the public interest. Data for the history of the railroad mergers were gathered from government documents and railroad magazines, while information concerning the success of individual mergers was supplied primarily by railroad officials. An attempt was made to arrive at a conclusion as to the desirability or undesirability of railroad mergers. This study shows that consolidation has played a major role in railway development in the United States, since the middle of the nineteenth century. The study infers that mergers offer railroad managers an opportunity to solve some of their problems and that since World War II resulting rail mergers have proved desirable for both the railroads and the public. It is suggested that barring Congressional and Department of Justice interference in railroad merger procedure, the trend of railroad mergers in the future will be toward fewer railroad corporations.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
M.S.
Level thesis:degree_level
masters
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Business
Department dc:contributor.department
Business
Grantor dc:publisher
Virginia Polytechnic Institute
Year dc:date.issued
1964

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Ferguson, Bobby Ray

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • In Copyright
Language dc:language.iso
en

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Handle dc:identifier.uri
https://hdl.handle.net/10919/121606
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/121606

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Virginia Tech
Base URL
vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-22
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
related terms
citation

Ferguson, Bobby Ray. Some aspects of railroad mergers since World War II, 1945-1960. masters thesis, Virginia Polytechnic Institute, 1964. https://hdl.handle.net/10919/121606