NYNH&H and NYO&W relationship

Did the New Haven Railroad own stock in the (connecting at Maybrook) NYO&W? If so, what percentage? Also if so, did the NH influence policies regarding O&W operations? I seem to have a vague recollection of, back in the early 50's, talk of the New Haven possibly absorbing the O&W in what would have turned out to be one last gasp of expansion.

RAY wrote:Did the New Haven Railroad own stock in the (connecting at Maybrook) NYO&W? If so, what percentage? Also if so, did the NH influence policies regarding O&W operations? I seem to have a vague recollection of, back in the early 50's, talk of the New Haven possibly absorbing the O&W in what would have turned out to be one last gasp of expansion.

The New Haven obtained control of the O&W during the Morgan/Mellen years-- I believe ca. 1904, shortly after the purchase of the CNE. Think it was mostly a maneuver on the part of Morgan to control coal rates. Not sure how long control lasted, however, or whether there was ever a substantial integration of operating practices, etc.

RAY wrote: I seem to have a vague recollection of, back in the early 50's, talk of the New Haven possibly absorbing the O&W in what would have turned out to be one last gasp of expansion.

Yes, in the early 1950s the NH was briefly interested in acquiring the Campbell Hall-Cadosia-Scranton portion of the O&W to give it a direct connection with the Lackawanna in those pre-EL days, but nothing concrete ever happened.

Although a separate entity, the NYO&W did have a close working relationship with the NYNH&H. When necessary, and if available, the NYO&W leased NYNH&H freight engines. And, when the NYNH&H ran football specials between West Point and Yale, the entire New Haven train, engines and all, ran onto the NYO&W and down the NYC's West Shore line to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point (the NYO&W had trackage rights on the West Shore).