The Big Four

[WJM2223]

Is anyone familiar with freight traffic densities on the various Big 4 Maine line routes.  It has been my my understanding that many were lightly trafficed.  This, as I understand things,  was the case with the Cincini Indianapolis line.  Indianapolis to Kankakee was all passenger, as I understand it,, what with the trackage rights on the I.C. North of Kankakee.  I am not aware that the Big 4 hauled freight over the I.C.  And how heavy was the coal traffic on the  Ohio Central?  WAs it considered part of the Big 4?

Any comments?

Bill McDonald

[DwightBranch]

Here is a good place for your question, you must register to ask one but these guys love detailed questions such as yours.

[mudchicken]

One Cincy-Indy line was lightly travelled (mainly a Nickel Plate connection), the other (part of the St Louis line)was a whole different animal. Not enough written about the CCC&StL; Overkill on NYC (primarily east and all about the shiny toys)....historical myopia IMHO

At 2400 miles long (1687 in the core routes, the rest given to them to manage [consolidated] by NYC) , they were not small change. After 1906 control by NYC, they were kind of the red-headed step child of NYC because they were "just another railroad" in the Midwest. It was about the same size as Wabash

http://www.cincyrails.com/files/CCC+StL_IndianaDivisionNo7_January1_1936.pdf

http://www.cincyrails.com/files/CCC+StL_OhioDivisionNo1_June25-1933.pdf 

(Timetable of the lines involved that the OP talked about. Not sure about the Ohio Central "coal route", but I suspect we're talking ex-PRR Panhandle line)

[ValleyX]

The Ohio Central lines are the Toledo and Ohio Central, running between south of Charleston, WV, to Toledo, splitting at Thurston, OH, the Eastern Branch going via Bucyrus and the Western Branch going via Columbus.  A lot of coal traffic was run out of there from West Virginia and Southeastern Ohio but it dwindled over the years.  

[nanaimo73]

The Toledo and Ohio Central was not part of the Big Four, it was NYC proper, dating from 1910 when the road was purchased by the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern.

[Murphy Siding]

Well hi Dale!

[nanaimo73]

Howdy Norris, any sign of spring yet? :)

[Murphy Siding]

After 5 long months, the snow is all gone, and I went out hiking Saturday and got a sunburn on the top of my balding head. Does that qualify?