alternatehistory.com

The thread posted by @Andrew Boyd the other day about the Transportation Act of 1929 got me to do some thinking. The anthracite railroads were very wealthy around the beginning of the 20th Century but were limited in scope, and even back then were usually thought of as being absorbed by big powerhouses like the Pennsylvania Railroad, the New York Central or the Baltimore & Ohio when consolidated schemes were proposed. My question, or challenge is, what would it take for one or two of the anthracite roads to become large and powerful enough to become a major player(s) on its/their own, to the point where the likes of B&O or New Haven, say, might instead be a target for takeover and merger into that road? The Lackawanna, Lehigh Valley, Reading, and Delaware & Hudson are probably the strongest contenders among the anthracite roads, assuming this is possible.
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