▚ America's first common carrier
The Baltimore & Ohio, chartered in 1827, was the first common-carrier railroad in the United States — it literally invented American railroading, from the first passenger and freight station to Tom Thumb, the first American-built steam locomotive, racing a horse in 1830.
▚ Royal Blue and the capitol dome
The B&O linked the eastern seaboard to the Ohio Valley and beyond, its Royal Blue trains connecting the northeast and its herald featuring the U.S. Capitol dome. It was always the scrappier, poorer cousin to the mighty Pennsylvania.
▚ Chessie and CSX
The B&O came under Chesapeake & Ohio control in 1963, became part of the Chessie System in 1973, and was merged into CSX Transportation in 1987 — its royal blue finally retired.
▚ On this layout
The B&O appears with an F7 cab unit and a 2-6-2 Prairie — a nod to America's first railroad.