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"Mains" Trains

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464484
  • Member since
    January 2002
  • 51 posts
"Mains" Trains
Posted by 464484 on Monday, May 30, 2005 11:35 AM
During WW II, all troop movemnts were in passenger trains called "Mains" trains.
Why were they called that? Anyone know this Memorial Day?
Thanks.[8D]
Dennis Coal Smoke Is Good For You!
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passengerfan
  • Member since
    March 2004
  • From: Central Valley California
  • 2,841 posts
Posted by passengerfan on Monday, May 30, 2005 2:42 PM
Seems to me I remember reading that they were called "mains" because they were to hold the mainlines except for all but first class trains. They were superior to secondary passenger trains and all freight trains.
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AltonFan
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: US
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Posted by AltonFan on Monday, May 30, 2005 3:55 PM
MAIN is an acronym that stands for Military Authorization Identification Number. A train movement would be described as "MAIN 68638". Often these trains ran as second sections of scheduled passenger trains.

Dan

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464484
  • Member since
    January 2002
  • 51 posts
Posted by 464484 on Wednesday, June 1, 2005 11:38 PM
AltonFan
Thank you so much! That question has bugged me for years.
Sadly my Dad passed 23 years ago so I couldn't ask him.
He was an Army Lt. Col, Battle of the Bulge veteran.
Military Authorization Identification Number certainly fulfills the Army's love of acronyms.
Again thanks.
Dennis Coal Smoke Is Good For You!
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