The Shadow
Clifton Forge, Va. (VR) – The Chesapeake & Ohio Historical Society has announced the production of two
historically-accurate pieces of railroad dining car china, created in partnership with the Fiesta Tableware
Company of Newell, West Virginia. After a year-long development process, the C&O Historical Society
now offers these pieces for sale in support of their non-profit organization that preserves, studies, and
publishes the history of the C&O Railway. For the 53-year-old historical group, the project brings to life
some of the glamor and history behind a nearly-lost American tradition—the railroad dining car
experience.
Featuring the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway’s famous mascot, Chessie the Railroad Kitten, and used on the
Chesapeake & Ohio’s prestigious dining cars from 1955 to 1971 (and several more years under contract
with Amtrak), the “Chessie” china pattern was the last china pattern used in C&O passenger service.
From this collaboration with the Fiesta Tableware Company, C&OHS is currently introducing two
pieces—one reproduction and one “fantasy” addition—an authentic dinner plate and a modern, functional
mug based on the “dolphin”-style cup and saucer from the C&O’s original china pattern. Using over 150
years of American craftsmanship experience, the Fiesta Tableware Company’s Art Department digitally
analyzed the Chessie cat art and coloring of original C&O china pieces from the collection of a long-time
C&O Historical Society member to accurately reproduce the 1950s-era design.
The reproduction plate, fired using a vintage mold in FTC’s archive, best matches the shape and size of
the C&O Railway’s original pattern. In addition, the china’s blue and mustard striping, originally meant to
match the enchantment blue and federal yellow on the railroad’s tri-color passenger cars of the era, has
been painstakingly matched to the original. C&O Historical Society President Mark Totten stated, “Thanks
to this partnership with the Fiesta Tableware Company and the skill of their employees, we are proud to
unveil the most accurate Chessie china reproduction ever created.”
Katie Bricker, Director of Marketing for the Fiesta Tableware Company stated, “We are proud to partner
with C&OHS to preserve the history of the C&O railroad. As a 150-year-old American company, the
history of our country and the industries that made it are very important to us.”
The C&O Historical Society says their partnership with the Fiesta Tableware Company, the last major
dinnerware producer operating in the United States, again brings this staple of C&O passenger service
back to life with even greater historical accuracy than before thanks to FTC’s unique ability to combine
their vast manufacturing experience with modern, digital-age techniques. Totten continued, “I have wanted this project to happen for several years. Now this classic dinnerware pattern, once familiar to
the C&O Railway’s traveling public, has been recreated with marvelously-accurate detail.”
At their peak, the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway’s passenger trains ran from the Virginia shore, throughout
Appalachia, and to Michigan. Even the railroad’s fleet of Lake Michigan train ferries used a china pattern
that matched the “Chessie” pattern from the railroad’s dining cars. C&OHS President Mark Totten noted
some poetic appropriateness to this project, “With C&O Railway passenger service once being so
prominent throughout West Virginia, the reproduction of ‘Chessie’ china in Newell is especially fitting.”
Several decades ago, the C&O Historical Society created and sold both reproductions of and “fantasy”
additions to this china pattern’s original pieces. A “fantasy” piece is how dinnerware collectors refer to
“new” pieces that are created retroactively to match and add to a vintage china pattern. Like the “fantasy”
pieces added to the “Chessie” pattern decades ago by previous C&OHS custom china runs, the new
Chessie mug is a modern-mold piece that borrows its meticulous details from the original “dolphin”-style
cup and saucer from the 1955 pattern. A contemporary piece with the C&O’s decoration, this mug
matches all striping found on the top, bottom, and on the handle of the original mid-century cup and
saucer.
The C&OHS noted this latest reproduction of ‘Chessie’ china combines American-made quality from the
Fiesta Tableware Company with modern benefits. For example, all china products from FTC are
microwave, dishwater, and oven safe. The non-profit organization is hoping this versatility will appeal to
a variety of customers, whether they purchase the historically-accurate china for formal display or
everyday purposes.
A historically-appropriate plan is already in place by C&O Historical Society member Bill Gray of
Pennsylvania Pullmans, Inc. Mr. Gray has pre-ordered this reproduction china from C&OHS for use on
the sleeper/kitchen/diner/lounge-observation car 2500/1923 “Blue Ridge Club.” This is one of the
Chesapeake & Ohio Railway cars where the original “Chessie” pattern dinnerware was used for its meal
service. Returning the reproduction china to service on board Blue Ridge Club will put the famous Chessie
pattern back on a car for which it was intended.
Formerly known as The Homer Laughlin China Company, the Fiesta Tableware Company are the makers
of the famous Fiestaware line of dishware. The bottom of each piece created for the C&O Historical
Society is stamped “FTC.” In addition, each piece is marked “C&OHS Reproduction 2022” to distinguish
this custom run for the Chesapeake & Ohio Historical Society. C&OHS President Totten stated that if
sales on these introductory pieces are successful, the C&O Historical Society will approach FTC about
developing additional pieces that collectors and enthusiasts can use in conjunction with this plate and mug.
The original manufacturer of the C&O Railway’s “Chessie” pattern, Syracuse China of Lyncourt, New
York, closed in 2009 after 138 years of production.
C&OHS President Mark Totten concludes, “This is a highly-productive collaboration that now brings
together both history and functionality. The C&O Historical Society is proud of this historic partnership with the Fiesta Tableware Company. We are excited to start reintroducing the public to the forgotten
history of the American railway dining car.”
For more information or to pre-order now for a November 2022 delivery, the Chesapeake & Ohio
Historical Society’s Business Office may be contacted by telephone at 540-862-2210, Monday-Friday, 9
AM – 5 PM, or by email at cohs@cohs.org. The Chessie dinner plate is $29.99 and the Chessie Mug is
$24.99. If you are a C&OHS member, your member discount would apply to any quantity ordered.
The C&OHS archive database is available online at archives.cohs.org. Updates and additional information
can be found on Facebook under @cohs.org or on Instagram @ChessiesRoad.
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