Frisco yes, KCS/L&A no.
Mark
Frisco to GM&N, L&N or Southern(AGS/NO&NE) would work.
This question has turned out to be more difficult than I had intended and it's time to move on The trains were the Frisco's Creole Flash that ran from both Kansas City and St. Louis to Memphis where they were combined into a single train. The other trains were the Southern's Clipper (southbound) and Patriot (northbound) running to and from New Orleans. The first one who names the place where the connection between the two roads was made will be our winner.
Kimbrough/Pine Hill, Alabama?
Boligee, AL on the Frisco line to Pensacola.
rcdrye Boligee, AL on the Frisco line to Pensacola.
BINGO - we have a winner! Next question is your Rob.
I still can't find a reference to the Creole Flash on line anywhere. An aerial view of Boligee AL shows an NW quadrant connecting track ROW, but the rails are gone.
This railroad noted for its Lima steam locomotives and considered a faithful Alco diesel customer, bought four Baldwin AS-16's in 1953. In 1959, it had them re-engined, two by EMD and two by Alco, ending up with GP9s and RS11s above the frame.
rcdrye I still can't find a reference to the Creole Flash on line anywhere. An aerial view of Boligee AL shows an NW quadrant connecting track ROW, but the rails are gone.
I found the Creole Flash while browsing through the Feb. 1941 OG. That issue has a full page Frisco ad featuring the Creole Flash and promoting the fast freight service to New Orleans.
rcdrye I still can't find a reference to the Creole Flash on line anywhere. An aerial view of Boligee AL shows an NW quadrant connecting track ROW, but the rails are gone. This railroad noted for its Lima steam locomotives and considered a faithful Alco diesel customer, bought four Baldwin AS-16's in 1953. In 1959, it had them re-engined, two by EMD and two by Alco, ending up with GP9s and RS11s above the frame.
This is too easy, the railroad is the New York, Chicago & St. Louis. The Baldwins in question lasted well after the merger into Norfolk and Western and were given new numbers for the proposed C&O/N&W merger which never went through.
CSSHEGEWISCHThis is too easy, the railroad is the New York, Chicago & St. Louis. The Baldwins in question lasted well after the merger into Norfolk and Western and were given new numbers for the proposed C&O/N&W merger which never went through
Good job, then. N&W collected a dozen repowered engines from the NKP and the Wabash. The unusual thing was splitting the repower job (Wabash did it all with Alco 251's)
I keep trying to move the thread themes around a bit. It doesn't bother me if it gets us to some other themes as well (like the Creole Flash...) I'm looking forward to your question.
Like so many downtown stations, Chicago Union Station Co. was a joint subsidiary of multiple railroads. Who were the owners of CUS and what was their share of ownership?
PRR 50, CB&Q 25, MILW 25. C&A(GM&O) was a tenant.
PRR got its shares from its own Lines West (former Pittsburgh Fort Wayne and Chicago) and Panhandle (Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Chicago & St.L). The Panhandle shared the North Joint Approach with MILW from Western Avenue to the Station, but only used it for freight after the early 1930s. Through passenger trains to Panhandle points were routed via the PRR and the Bernice Cutoff (South Chicago and Southern) in the '20s
We have a winner. I'm quite familiar with the Bernice Cutoff as it passed through Hegewisch and crossed CSS&SB, C&WI and NKP at Burnham.
Rcdrye, your question.
The railroad that started to build Chicago's Grand Central Station became part of a very tangled web of purchases, leases and bankruptcies only to have a similar railroad name appear for one of its tenants. I'm looking for the railroad names and the endpoints of the original line, along with the owner of same since 1926.
Wisconsin Central whose end points were Chicago, Superior, Ashland and St. Paul. Soo Line would be the owner.
Wisconsin Central bought the line that started Grand Central (WC did finish it...) The endpoints of the line were entirely within Cook County.
Chicago and Great Western (not to be confused with the Chicago Great Western). End points: Forest Park and Chicago (Grand Central Station).
KCSfan Chicago and Great Western (not to be confused with the Chicago Great Western). End points: Forest Park and Chicago (Grand Central Station). Mark
You get the cigar, and the next question. The B&OCT is still the owner, not having been completely folded into CSX's umbrella. http://www.boctrr.com
The financial tangle that this 9 mile stretch of track was involved in during the 1890s and early 1900s was amazing. The parallel line on Randolph St. added another swirl. Bits and pieces of this are from the CERA bulletins on the "L" And the Chicago and West Towns Railway (successor to the Suburban).
Here's a sequence line, starting with the C&GW...
C&GW formed, almost immediately bought by Wisconsin Central. WC connects at Forest Park.
Chicago, St Paul and Kansas City (CGW) arrives at Forest Park, gets trackage rights on C&GW(WC)
NP leases WC, forms Chicago and Northern Pacific, transfers C&GW from WC to C&NP.
Grand Central Station opens
C&NP acquires Chicago and Western Dummy Rwy (Randolph St), renames it Chicago Harlem and Batavia. Various connections made in Chicago and Forest Park. CH&B operates suburban service to GCS.
C&NP operated as Northern Pacific Terminal - apparently without corporate name change
CH&B leases line to Suburban RR (streetcars, Charles T. Yerkes). Suburban electrifies CH&B to Forest Park, operates over WC line through River Forest.
NP loses lease of C&NP and WC in 1893 panic. WC controls C&NP, spins off CH&B.
C&NP acquired by Chicago Terminal Transfer, which merges with Chicago and Calumet Terminal, another former NP property that connects to the B&O lines entering Chicago. B&O had been a tenant of Grand Central since 1892.
Suburban subleases CH&B Randolph St line to Lake St. Elevated Railway. LSE operates on and off.
WC continues to use CTT, but moves trains to IC's Central Station
B&O forms B&OCT and buys former CTT properties. B&OCT footprint covers the Chicago Switching District south of the CM&St. P's west line.
Soo leases WC.
Soo trains move back to Grand Central, where they stay until the early 1960s.
Soo, WC and CN continue to operate over B&OCT, though the line is now inactive east of the Belt Railway of Chicago.
Here's a quickie question that will be a snap for many of you. What is the longest tunnel in the Americas? Give the name, railroad, location, length and date completed.
Maybe not. The Mount Macdonald tunnel, at 9.1 miles, is usually considered the longest. But Southern Peru Copper Corporation seems to have a tunnel in the Peruvian Andes, also at 9.1 miles. I've seen sources point both ways. So, I'm not sure!
CP, Mount Macdonald tunnel, Rogers Pass, 1988.
SPCC, Tunnel 4, Peru, Not sure on the dates.
The Mount MacDonald Tunnel in the Selkirk Mountains of British Columbia is the answer I was looking for. I was not aware of the Peruvian tunnel and I take it from the SPCC name it is on a private company railroad not a common carrier. Looking forward to your question.
Of course, if you stick with our time limit of 50 years or more... Cascade Tunnel 7.78 miles.
rcdrye Of course, if you stick with our time limit of 50 years or more... Cascade Tunnel 7.78 miles.
Oops - I completely forgot about that when I asked this question.
SPCC is an isolated railroad that isn't a common carrier, but a fascinating railroad nonetheless.
RC, I don't have a question ready, so go ahead, you technically got it.
In addition to its own locomotives, this tunnel operator used locomotives that were built for quite another purpose than tunnel operation.
rcdrye In addition to its own locomotives, this tunnel operator used locomotives that were built for quite another purpose than tunnel operation.
After I wrote this I realized I had three excellent candidate operations that the above description fit. I'll take any of the three...
St. Clair Tunnel, Detroit.
RIDEWITHMEHENRY is the name for our almost monthly day of riding trains and transit in either the NYCity or Philadelphia areas including all commuter lines, Amtrak, subways, light rail and trolleys, bus and ferries when warranted. No fees, just let us know you want to join the ride and pay your fares. Ask to be on our email list or find us on FB as RIDEWITHMEHENRY (all caps) to get descriptions of each outing.
The Little Joes of the Milwaukee Road.
Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!
Get the Classic Trains twice-monthly newsletter