The society was organized in January 1969 with the first publication of a monthly newsletter, and in 1975 was incorporated as a non-profit eleemosynary organization within the meaning or subparagraph 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code

Primary Goal and Vision of the COHS:
Collect, conserve, restore, index, archive, and make available materials on the history of the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway to as wide an audience as possible. To interpret the American railway experience through the Chesapeake & Ohio's historical experience, using data, photographs, drawings, publications, small artifacts, and full-size railroad rolling stock.

Membership:
Open to all. Average 2,500 members in 50 states, 7 foreign countries. $39.00 per year regular. Higher levels available. Entitles members to monthly magazine and discounts on many products.

Leadership:
Volunteer Board of Directors elected from the membership.

Staff:
Director of Administration plus three full-time administrative and sales assistants.

Facilities:
6,000 square feet in archives/headquarters building (owned). State-of-the-art temperature controlled archives facility within. Display and gift shop space within. 5,000 square foot Freight Station. Used as dead storage. Future development site for museum/interpretive center (owned). 8 acres of land with two tracks (leased).

Periodical:
Monthly Chesapeake & Ohio Historical Magazine

Other Publications:
Annual Chessie Calander (on behalf of CSX Transportation).
Annual C&O train calendar.
Approximately 10 books on C&O subjects in print at any one time.
Pamphlets on delimited C&O subjects.

Other Products:
Afghans, wearables, gift and memorabilia items of all types.
Specially decorated models using C&O prototype.
Reproduction china, glassware, and other artifacts.

Collections:
200,000+ engineering drawings circa 1870's - 1960's.
60,000+ mechanical drawings circa 1920's - 1980's.
1,500 linear feet of general reference files.
7,000+ books and periodicals.
200,000+ photographic images circa 1870 to present including about 150,000 official photos taken by C&O, Chessie System, and CSXT.
50 linear feet of Corporate Minute Books and Records of 136 companies predecessor to C&O (published finding guide available).
16 freight and passenger cars and locomotive of C&O heritage.

This is believed to be one of the largest collections pertaining to the technological development of a single railroad institutionally held in the United States.

Grants and Donations:
Over $100,000 in cash grants from CSX and Chessie System between 1982 and 1991.
$105,000 project jointly funded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (an arm of the National Archives of the United States).
Large scale in-kind donations of materials by Chessie System and CSX Transportation, 1982 - present.

Interpretive Program:
Uses restored C&O rolling stock to interpret American railway operations using C&O as a paradigm. Cars restored and in service include:

• Gadsby's Tavern - C&O dining car built 1922, refurbished for use on The George Washington, C&O's new premier passenger train in 1932, and in railway use until 1967. COHS has completely restored the car to 1932 appearance outside and in the dining room. Kitchen is modern, allowing actual operation of the car, which has been used as a stationary interpretive site, and on excursion trains in many locations. Currently on lease to Potomac Eagle, South Branch Valley Railroad, Romney, WVA.
• C&O 458 - C&O combination car built in 1926, used for many years on Hot Springs Branch (Covington-Hot Springs, VA), in railway service until 1971. Restored to 1950 appearance including functional passenger compartment, and express/mail/baggage display in baggage compartment. Also has modern display cases in baggage compartment for thematic displays.
• C&O 1658 - C&O lightweight coach from railway's huge order of 1950. Restored externally to 1950 appearance; inside remains configured as Amtrak used the car in the 1970's.
• C&O 3176 - C&O Extended Vision Caboose built 1968. Restored to its as-built appearance inside and out with blue exterior pant of the era.
• C&O 90219 - C&O Steel Caboose of 1949, restored completely inside to original appearance. Outside to be repainted to original red paint scheme in 2001.
• Other cars in the collection remain to be restored (complete roster available).

Restored cars have been used at Clifton Forge, in Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia, and as far away as Chicago and St. Louis on excursions, in tourist line operations, and for local railroad displays and festivals, with marked success.

History:
Society was organized as a volunteer operation with an initial aim of publishing a newsletter for people interested in C&O history. Its success led to a formal organization which collects archival materials, photos, etc. Incorporated in 1975, the organization remained volunteer-based until 1987 when a building was purchased in Clifton Forge, Virginia, and a full-time archivist hired. The Society has grown steadily since then into its present configuration.