I wouldn’t have minded checkin that out, but I was in DC over the weekend.
Now, how did they get “NKP” out of “New York, Chicago, & St Louis RR?”
Steve;
Back in the latter part of the 19th century, the terms “Nickle Plate” or “Nickle Plated” stood for top quality. The railroad’s service was so good that people took to referring to it as the “Nickle Plate road.” Eventually the nickname stuck, the railroad’s advertizing department took to promoting the nickname, and the true roadname was forced to take a back seat. By the end of WWII, people only knew the railroad by its nickname.
Another nickname that did not stick (fortunately) was the one given to the Atlantic, Mississippi & Ohio Railroad - a 19th century predecessor of the N&W. The majority owner was William Mahone and his wife, Otellia. The wags of that day swore that the initials stood for “All Mine & Otellia’s.”
Have fun,
David Meashey
Awesome!