The Story of Railroading’s Most Remarkable Brothers: W. Graham Claytor, Jr. and Robert B. Claytor

By Grattan Price

The story of two major leaders in American railroading who also happened to be brothers. The book covers the lives and accomplishments of Graham Claytor, Jr. and Robert Claytor. The brothers were presidents of two major railroads. Later, Bob became Chairman and CEO of Norfolk Southern. Graham was Secretary of the Navy under President Jimmy Carter. He also was chosen President of Amtrak.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Grattan Price, Jr
• Release date: Dec 28, 2012
• ISBN: 9781301749775

Grattan Price

Charles Grattan Price, Jr. was a Captain in the Transportation Corps' Military Railway Service, where he served as Superintendent of the Holabird Railway Shops in Baltimore, and as Master Mechanic of the 709th Railway Grand Division in France, Belgium, Holland and Germany during WWII. Following the war, he worked as a consultant to railroads evaluating conversion to diesels. His career included being a partner of an insurance company. He authored "The Crooked and Weedy", a history of the Chesapeake Western prior to his death in June, 1996.

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The Story of Railroading’s Most Remarkable Brothers:

W. Graham Claytor, Jr. and Robert B. Claytor

By Charles Grattan Price, Jr.

Copyright 1996 Charles Grattan Price, Jr.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Dedication

Introduction

Chapter I The Early Years

Chapter II The War Years

Chapter III Big John Is Born; Big Steam Reborn

Chapter IV Resurrection of the 611, Birth of Norfolk Southern

Chapter V Uncle Sam Calls Graham

Chapter VI Doctor Claytor Saves Amtrak’s Life

Chapter VII The Final Years Bring Sadness

Epilogue

Photographs

Dedication

This book is dedicated to my children: Julia Price Lanier, Melinda Price Childress, Charles Grattan Price, III (Butch), and to my beloved fourth child, daughter-in-law Rosalinda Gabaldon Price.

These young folks (they’re actually beginning middle age but I still humor them!) have been of inestimable assistance, through their encouragement of my scribbling efforts over a period of many years.

My love and deep gratitude go to each of them for providing many excellent suggestions and continued support.

Charles Grattan Price, Jr.

Harrisonburg, Virginia

April 1996

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Introduction

This book is a labor of respect, awe, gratitude and affection in an effort to relate the story of two American railroad giants of the Twentieth Century, and of the two great and gracious ladies who did so much to assist these men to achieve their distinguished positions in history.

It is intended to illuminate the lives and times of William Graham Claytor, Jr., Frances Hammond Claytor, Robert Buckner Claytor, and Frances Tice Claytor. Sadly, all but Frances H. are now gone and this world is lessened by the passing of the other three.

The rules of biography-writing are rather strict but they are being willfully violated here, because I deem it essential to share with you a number of treasured personal remembrances and happenings involving these wonderful people. I believe such reporting will enhance your perception of true gentility, which did so much to make life a better place by their presence in it.

You must not search here for faults or failures; my emphatic feeling is that there are none known to me, in friendships I was privileged to have for more than 40 years.

Words adequate to express my great appreciation and heartfelt thanks to all the members of the Claytor Clan, who so generously and enthusiastically gave so much of their time and essential research material to me, are impossible to express. So, thank you, dear friends, thank you!

The wise, beneficial and vigorous leadership Graham and Robert Claytor gave will be honored and appreciated by the American Nation in general, and by our indispensable railroad industry specifically, far into the future. The two men were in the forefront of the leaders who piloted the American railroads from the brink of destruction to their present day resurgence into a living, vital force in our economy.

To you railroaders of the Twenty-first Century: Keep the faith – keep these super-efficient steel wheels a-rollin’ on those silvery-polished steel rails!

Highball, and may the blocks ahead each display the high green!

Charles Grattan Price, Jr.

Cover photo: Graham Claytor, Jr. and Bob Claytor on the rear platform, Secretary of the Navy’s business car, at the Army-Navy football game in 1992.

Cover design by Rita Toews.

Chapter 1 - The Early Days

High above the tranquil beauty of Virginia’s legendary Shenandoah Valley, separating it from the Piedmont, rise the Blue Ridge Mountains – celebrated in song and history, beloved by all Virginians. They are a part of our heritage.

This wall is pierced by Swift Run Gap (which carries today’s US Highway 33) lying about 20 miles east of Harrisonburg, Capital City of the Shenandoah.

Virginians living east of the Blue Ridge and Tuckahoes; those living the Valley are Cohees. The twain seldom sees eye-to-eye.

At the very crest of the Blue Ridge (on the south side of route 33) two dignified monuments have been erected. The larger, a sizeable native