Chessie System History The Coming of the Chessie System. SEAtkinson, April 15, 2025May 3, 2025 When the association between the Chesapeake and Ohio (C&O) and the Baltimore and Ohio (B&O) grew into successful, integrated system, there was a need to name it something. The story of this success is about the C&O and B&O maintaining their separate corporate identities and growing together, successful without a legal merger. People then branded it with the most enduring symbol of railroad history – Chessie the Sleeping Kitten. Continue Reading