Just a few questions regarding Erie manifest freight service in the late 1940's. Greatly appreciate the help that anyone might provide.
1) Train #98, Chicago-Jersey City 3-day guarnateed delivery, seems to be the fastest and most important freight the Erie ran in that era. Did this train have a westbound counterpart? If so, what was its number?
2) Can anyone tell me about eastbound #90, and the number of its westbound counterpart, if any?
3) Would manifest engine crews manning 3300 berks out of Croxton run only the one division to Port Jervis, or go to the next division point (Susquehanna PA?)?
4) Was it normal for the S-Class berks to run without change between Jersey City and Marion Oh?
5) What was the name of the division between Jersey City and Port Jervis?
Thanks for taking the time to look these over. Anyone who can answer has my undying gratitude (doesn't that just make your day?).
I can answer two for sure, but the others...hope others are watching. They Erie Division from Port Jervis to Susquehanna was the Delaware Division, the Susquehanna Div. went west from Susquehanna to Hornell, so it was the New York Div. east of Port Jervis. Yes, most crews rand Croxton to Port Jervis to Susquehanna to Hornell, As for engine changes, it depended. I believe Hornell would have been a point of change if needed if not Salamanca. As I understood Erie train numbering, 97 would have been the westbound counterpart to 98 as 99 was to 100. and 89 to 90. And wasn't 98 the reefer/parisable train? so the empties would go back on a 97.or anything going west.
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