The 1977-1978 Chessie Steam Special

TIMELINE for the 1977 - 1978 CHESSIE STEAM SPECIAL - Season One
Date	Tour Number	Total Tours	Notes This timeline is very much a work-in-progress. Any additions or corrections, please email.
April 23, 1977	*	*	The newly-readied and painted 2101 locomotive and six cars ran from Saucon Creek Roundhouse in Hellertown, PA to Philadelphia, PA and Baltimore, MD, carrying members of the press and treating them to a photo run-by at B&O's Susquehanna River Bridge. Some sources count this trip as a 'tour', which would make 47 'total tours' for this first season. We'll just count the fare-paid tours, starting May 7, 1977.
April 30, 1977	*	*	The Chessie Steam Special was dedicated at the B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore when a jar containing water from the Chesapeake Bay and the Ohio River was smashed across the rear coupler of the observation car.
May 7, 1977	1	1	Circle Tour from Baltimore, MD along the Old Main Line of the B&O. Two hour stop at Ellicott City, MD. Continued on thru Point of Rocks, with stops in Gaithersburg, Silver Spring and Laurel. Depart Baltimore 8:30AM, Return 5:30PM.
May 8, 1977	2	2	Baltimore to Harpers Ferry and return along the route of the Capitol Limited with stops in Laurel, Silver Spring, and Gaithersburg each way. Depart 8:30AM, Return 8PM.
May 14, 1977	3	3	Baltimore to Philadelphia and return on the route of the Royal Blue with stops in Whitemarsh and Aberdeen each way. Depart 8:30AM, return 7:30PM.
May 15, 1977	4	4	Circle Tour. Same as tour #2, but in the opposite direction.
May 20, 1977	5	5	Chessie Shippers Special between Baltimore and Martinsburg, West Virginia, for the exclusive use of the road's traffic departments. Via Silver Spring going, and Old Main Line returning.
May 21, 1977	6	6	Baltimore to Harpers Ferry and return via Silver Spring along the route of the Capitol Limited. Depart 8:30AM, Return 8PM. (Same as Tour #2)
May 22, 1977	7	7	Baltimore to Hagerstown, MD and return with stops in Glyndon, New Oxford, and Gettysburg each way. Depart 8:30AM, Return 12:20AM. Apparently this trip was abbreviated to just Gettysburg and return, getting passengers home at a more reasonable 7:25PM.
May 28, 1977	8	8	Baltimore to Cumberland, MD one-way ferry trip with stops in Laurel, Silver Spring, Gaithersburg, Brunswick, Harpers Ferry, and Martinsburg. Depart Baltimore 8:30AM, Arrive Cumberland 4:45PM.
May 29, 1977	9	9	Cumberland, MD to Pittsburgh, PA one-way ferry trip over Sand Patch grade, stopping in Meyersdale, Rockwood and Connellsville. Depart 1PM, Arrive 9:30PM Grant Street Station.
June 5, 1977	10	10	Pittsburgh, PA to Wheeling, WV and return with a stop in Finleyville each way. Depart Grant St. 8:30AM, Return 7PM
June 11, 1977	11	11	Pittsburgh, PA to New Castle, PA and return with a stop in Mars each way. Travel through the counties of Allegheny, Butler, Beaver and Lawrence. Depart Grant St. 8:30AM, Return 5:30PM
June 12, 1977	12	12	Pittsburgh, PA to Rockwood, PA and return with stops in West Newton and Connellsville each way. Depart Grant St. 8:30AM, Return 8PM.
June 18, 1977	13	13	Pittsburgh, PA to Rockwood, PA and return with stops in West Newton and Connellsville each way. Depart Grant St. 8:30AM, Return 8PM
June 19, 1977	14	14	Pittsburgh, PA to Cleveland, OH one-way ferry trip, stopping in Mars, New Castle, and Akron Jct. Depart Grant St. 8:30AM, Arrive Cleveland Clark Ave 6PM.
June 26, 1977	15	15	Cleveland, OH to Willard, OH and return.
July 2, 1977	16	16	Cleveland, OH to Detroit, MI one-way ferry trip.
July 9, 1977	17	17	Detroit, MI to Grand Ledge, MI round-trip.
July 10, 1977	18	18	Detroit, MI to Clio (Hoyt), MI round trip.
July 16, 1977	19	19	Detroit, MI to Clio (Hoyt), MI round trip.
July 17, 1977	20	20	Detroit, MI to Grand Rapids, MI one-way ferry trip.
July 23, 1977	21	21	Grand Rapids, MI to Plymouth, MI round trip. On the return leg, a connecting rod on 2101 broke and subsequently the train was powered by diesels from Lansing, MI to Grand Rapids. While the locomotive was in for repairs, the brass eagle over the headlight was removed, at least for a few trips.
July 24, 1977	22	22	Grand Rapids, MI to Chicago, IL one-way ferry move with diesels substituting for steam locomotive 2101.
July 30, 1977	23	23	Chicago, IL to Garrett, IN round trip.
July 31, 1977	24	24	Chicago to Hartford, MI round trip.
August 6, 1977	25	25	Chicago to Garrett, IN round trip.
August 7, 1977	26	26	Chicago to Cincinnati, OH one-way ferry trip via Peru.
August 13, 1977	27	27	Cincinnati to North Vernon, IN round trip.
August 14, 1977	28	28	Cincinnati to Chillicothe, OH round trip.
August 20, 1977	29	29	Cincinnati to Ashland, KY round trip.
August 21, 1977	30	30	Cincinnati to Huntington, WV one-way ferry trip.
August 27, 1977	31	31	Huntington, WV to Lexington, KY round trip.
August 28, 1977	32	32	New River trip, Huntington, WV to Hinton, WV round trip.
September 10, 1977	33	33	New River trip, Huntington, WV to Hinton, WV round trip.
September 11, 1977	34	34	Huntington, WV to Clifton Forge, VA one way ferry trip. The president of the railroad, Mr. Watkins, some directors and officers were aboard from Charleston to Hinton. A photo runby was made at Hawk's Nest..
September 12, 1977	35	35	Clifton Forge VA to Richmond, VA one way ferry trip.
September 17, 1977	36	36	Richmond, VA to Balcony Falls, VA round trip. On this trip, the number 1 left side driver bearing on 2101 overheated on the outbound leg and two diesels substituted for the steam locomotive. The steam locomotive and crew car were deadheaded back to Richmond.
September 18, 1977	37	37	Richmond, VA to Balcony Falls, VA round trip. Two diesels substituted from steam locomotive 2101.
September 24, 1977	38	38	Newport News, VA to Charlottesville, VA round trip. Two Western Maryland F7 diesels (7174 & 7156) substituted for steam locomotive 2101.
September 25, 1977	39	39	Newport News, VA to Baltimore, MD one-way ferry trip via Gordonsville. Two Western Maryland F7 diesels (7174 & 7156) substituted for steam locomotive 2101.
October 1, 1977	40	40	Baltimore, MD to Harpers Ferry round trip via the Old Main Line outbound, returning via Silver Spring. On the outbound leg, an air pump failed on 2101 in St. Denis, MD and diesels substituted until 2101 rejoined the train on the return leg at Brunswick, MD.
October 2, 1977	41	41	Baltimore, MD to Harpers Ferry round trip via Silver Spring. Two diesels substituted for steam locomotive 2101.
October 8, 1977	42	42	Baltimore, MD to Harpers Ferry round trip via Silver Spring. Two diesels substituted for steam locomotive 2101.
October 9, 1977	43	43	Baltimore, MD to Harpers Ferry round trip via the Old Main Line. Two diesels substituted for steam locomotive 2101.
October 14, 1977	44	44	Baltimore, MD to Cumberland, MD one way ferry trip via Silver Spring. Two Western Maryland F7 diesels substituted from steam locomotive 2101.
October 15, 1977	45	45	Cumberland, MD to Rockwood round trip. Two Western Maryland F7 diesels substituted for steam locomotive 2101.
October 16, 1977	46	46	Cumberland, MD to Baltimore, MD one way ferry trip via Silver Spring. Two Western Maryland F7 diesels substituted for steam locomotive 2101. This was the last trip of the First Season.
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			The Chessie Steam Special turned out to be such a success for the railroad that, to most everyone's surprise, they ordered a second year of tours even more ambitious than the first. A fully refurbished 2101 would be ready for the challenge in 1978.
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TIMELINE for the 1977 - 1978 CHESSIE STEAM SPECIAL - Season Two
Date	Tour Number	Total Tours	Notes
April 30, 1978	1	47	Note that this 1978 schedule is based on a projected schedule. If you have an actual schedule of the trips that were run, please email. This first trip of the Second Season, now with a freshly rebuilt 2101 steam locomotive, was a round trip from Baltimore, MD to Hagerstown, MD. Recalls passenger Randy Resor: The train left from Penn Station with WM F7s for power. We ran to Fulton Junction and onto the Western MD. At Leahigh, 2101 was put on the train. The F7s ran ahead to serve as helper power on South Mountain. The trip ran both ways via the Dutch Line. After some mechanical issues, we returned to Baltimore very late.
May 6, 1978	2	48	Baltimore, MD to Harpers Ferry round trip via Silver Spring outbound, Martinsburg/Washington Branch inbound.
May 7, 1978	3	49	Baltimore, MD to Harpers Ferry round trip via Martinsburg outbound, Old Main Line inbound.
May 12, 1978	4	50	Baltimore, MD to Cumberland, MD one-way ferry trip.
May 13, 1978	5	51	Cumberland, MD to Rockwood, MD round trip.
May 14, 1978	6	52	Cumberland, MD to Terra Alta, WV round trip with a limited consist.
May 16, 1978	7	53	Cumberland, MD to Parkersburg, WV one-way ferry trip.
May 17, 1978	8	54	Parkersburg, WV to Cincinnati, OH one-way ferry trip.
May 20, 1978	9	55	Cincinnati, OH to Ashland round trip.
May 21, 1978	10	56	Cincinnati, OH to Chilliothe, OH round trip.
June 3, 1978	11	57	Cincinnati, OH to North Vernon, IN round trip.
June 4, 1978	12	58	Cincinnati, OH to Ashland, OH round trip.
June 5, 1978	13	59	Cincinnati, OH to Chicago, IL one-way ferry trip.
June 10, 1978	14	60	Chicago, IL to Hartford, MI round trip.
June 11, 1978	15	61	Chicago to Garrett, IN and return. Depart B&O Barr Yard Riverdale, IL 8:30AM, Return 8:15PM
June 17, 1978	16	62	Chicago, IL to Peru, IN round trip.
June 18, 1978	17	63	Chicago, IL to Grand Rapids, MI one-way ferry trip.
June 24, 1978	*	64	Grand Rapids, MI Maintenance & Open House
June 25, 1978	18	*	Grand Rapids, MI to Plymouth, MI round trip.
July 8, 1978	19	65	Grand Rapids, MI to Plymouth, MI round trip.
July 9, 1978	20	66	Grand Rapids, MI to Hartford, MI round trip.
July 15, 1978	21	67	Grand Rapids, MI to Detroit, MI one-way ferry trip.
July 16, 1978	22	68	Detroit, MI to Clio, MI round trip.
July 22, 1978	23	69	Detroit, MI to Clio, MI round trip.
July 23, 1978	24	70	Detroit, MI to Grand Ledge, MI round trip. New Yorker Magazine writer and editor E.M. Frimbo, "The World's Greatest Rail Buff", was aboard for this trip.
July 29, 1978	25	71	Detroit, MI to Saginaw, MI NMRA Special round trip. Sponsored by the Michigan Railroad Club and Friends of Engine 1223.
July 30, 1978	26	72	Detroit, MI to Saginaw, MI NMRA Special round trip. Sponsored by the Michigan Railroad Club and Friends of Engine 1223. Please email if you know whether this trip actually ran.
July 31, 1978	27	73	Detroit, MI to Columbus, OH one-way ferry trip.
August 5, 1978	28	74	Columbus, OH to Ashland, OH round trip.
August 6, 1978	29	75	Columbus, OH to Toledo, OH round trip.
August 12, 1978	30	76	Columbus, OH to Cleveland, OH one-way ferry trip.
August 13, 1978	31	77	Cleveland OH to Willard, OH round trip with a limited consist.
August 19, 1978	32	78	Cleveland OH to Willard, OH round trip with a limited consist.
August 20, 1978	33	79	Cleveland, OH to Pittsburgh, PA one-way ferry trip.
August 26, 1978	34	80	Pittsburgh, PA to Rockwood, PA round trip.
August 27, 1978	35	81	Pittsburgh, PA to Wheeling, WV round trip.
September 9, 1978	36	82	Pittsburgh, PA to Point Marion, PA round trip.
September 10, 1978	37	83	Pittsburgh, PA to Rockwood, PA round trip.
September 15, 1978	38	84	Pittsburgh, PA to Cumberland, MD one-way ferry trip.
September 16, 1978	39	85	Cumberland, MD to Harpers Ferry round trip.
September 17, 1978	40	86	Cumberland, MD to Baltimore, MD one-way ferry trip.
September 23, 1978	41	87	Baltimore, MD to Philadelphia, PA round trip.
September 24, 1978	42	88	Baltimore, MD to Harpers Ferry round trip via Silver Spring outbound, Martinsburg/Washington Branch inbound.
September 30, 1978	43	*	Baltimore, MD to Harpers Ferry round trip via Old Main Line. Cancelled due to BRAC strike.
October 1, 1978	44	89	Baltimore, MD to Hagerstown, MD and return with a stop in Gettysburg. Western Maryland F-7 diesels powered the train to Glyndon, where 2101 took over.
October 2, 1978	45	90	Baltimore, MD to Richmond, VA one-way ferry trip.
October 7, 1978	46	91	Richmond, VA to Balcony Falls, VA round trip.
October 8, 1978	47	92	Richmond, VA to Balcony Falls, VA round trip.
October 14, 1978	48	93	Richmond, VA to Clifton Forge, VA one-way ferry trip.
October 15, 1978	49	94	Clifton Forge, VA to Huntington, WV one-way ferry trip. Steam locomotive 2101 took the heaviest passenger train ever pulled by a single locomotive over Alleghany Mountain.
October 21, 1978	50	95	New River trip, Huntington, WV to Hinton, WV round trip.
October 22, 1978	51	96	New River trip, Huntington, WV to Hinton, WV round trip.
October 28, 1978	52	97	New River trip, Huntington, WV to Hinton, WV round trip.
October 29, 1978	53	98	Huntington, WV to Columbus, OH round trip.
*	54	99	Need Info
*	55	100	Need Info
*	56	101	Need Info
*	57	102	Need Info
*	58	103	Need Info
*	59	104	*
*	60	105	Need Info -- Some sources say the train had 105 tours between the two seasons
*	*	*	Two successful seasons was enough to celebrate one birthday. The Chessie Steam Special passed into the history books with 99 fare-paid tours. Thousands of passengers had ridden the train. Hundreds of thousands more had watched the train from trackside. Press coverage was immense. It had been a public relations grand-slam. Still, the days of the big yellow steam-powered train seemed at a certain end. That is, until a strange turn of events led to the 1980-81 Chessie Safety Express...
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