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Classic Railroad Quiz (at least 50 years old).

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Posted by KCSfan on Wednesday, April 29, 2015 4:08 PM

Bingo! You've nailed it , Rob. GM&O trains terminated at Trendley Avenue Station in East St. Louis, IL. The note in the OG's read as follows"

"Connecting bus service is provided by Gulf Mobile & Ohio RR between between St. Louis and East St. Louis Greyhound Terminals and Trendley Avenue Station."

"Thru passengers are transferred by bus from Trendley Avenue Station to St. Louis Union Station and also by Yellow Cab Co. from St. Louis Union Station to St. Louis Greyhouind Terminal or Trendley Avenue Station, without charge to revenue passengers."

Mark

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Posted by rcdrye on Wednesday, April 29, 2015 3:25 PM

That would make it the Gulf Mobile and Ohio, whose ex-Mobile and Ohio line to "St. Louis" ended across the river at East St. Louis, Illinois.  GM&O trains didn't reach St. Louis proper until the merger with the Chicago and Alton in 1947.

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Posted by KCSfan on Wednesday, April 29, 2015 2:45 PM

OK. Here's a hint that may trigger your thoughts. At the time this railroad didn't even run into the state in which the city that's the subject of this question is located.

Mark

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Posted by wanswheel on Wednesday, April 29, 2015 2:20 PM

rcdrye

it was a throwaway question, so let's go with Mark's.

Not at all. I never heard of the Spiders. They had a great pitcher.

http://ech.cwru.edu/ech-cgi/article.pl?id=RFDH

http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTIyN1g5OTA=/z/DfUAAOSwv0tVDMDP/$_57.JPG

KCSfan

If asked the various endpoints of this railroads's lines circa 1940, it's fairly certain most of us would mention a certain city. The equipment section of this road's representation in the Official Guides show coaches and sleepers running to and from this city. In fact, trains of that road did not run into this city but that is evident only if you read a note in the OG's of the time.

Name the city, the railroad and the particulars of its operation in this locale.

Mark

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Posted by rcdrye on Wednesday, April 29, 2015 1:29 PM

Let's leave your question active - I already answered the old one.  Besides, I've already invested brain power trying to answer your question!

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Posted by KCSfan on Wednesday, April 29, 2015 11:35 AM

As I re-read it I see that I mis-interpreted your reply to my mention of the Cubs. Sorry for the mistake and I withdraw the new question I had asked.

Mark

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Posted by rcdrye on Wednesday, April 29, 2015 9:40 AM

Just for the record the Cubs were NOT the team.  The Cubs didn't even beome the Cubs until 1903. The 1899 Cleveland Spiders, owned by Frank Robison, who also owned the Cleveland City Railway, had the 20-134 record (.129).  The Spiders played in League Park, also owned by Robison, which was on Lexington Avenue on the outer part of the Payne Avenue Line.  The other cable line was on Superior.  On the other hand, it was a throwaway question, so let's go with Mark's.

The Cub's record the year of the last Chicago cable operation (1906) was 116-36 (.763), good enough for the NL Pennant.

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Posted by KCSfan on Wednesday, April 29, 2015 8:41 AM

If asked the various endpoints of this railroads's lines circa 1940, it's fairly certain most of us would mention a certain city. The equipment section of this road's representation in the Official Guides show coaches and sleepers running to and from this city. In fact, trains of that road did not run into this city but that is evident only if you read a note in the OG's of the time.

Name the city, the railroad and the particulars of its operation in this locale.

Mark

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Posted by rcdrye on Wednesday, April 29, 2015 7:34 AM

The Cubs played on the West Side in the Cable Car era, not moving to the North Side until some years later.  (Metropolitan West Side Elevated was used to reach the Cubs park)  This was a different city, and the Baseball franchise and and Cable railway were owned by the same person.  The team ran up a 20-134 record in 1899, once blowing a 10 run lead in the 9th (sportswriters really wanted to know how they got 10 runs in the first place.)  The cable line was one of two in the city, both running east of the downtown area, both converted to electric in 1900 and 1901.  No record of whether the disastrous season forced the conversion.

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Posted by FlyingCrow on Wednesday, April 29, 2015 7:23 AM

Ah, the poor old Cubbies.   Granted they've had a rough time of it since they banned "the goat" , but they aren't the worst team ever.   Not according to Cooperstown.

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Posted by KCSfan on Tuesday, April 28, 2015 2:26 PM

rcdrye

You have it nicely bracketed.  I will give away that its a National League team, and the other (A.L.) team in the city is still active.

Chicago Cubs

Mark

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Posted by rcdrye on Tuesday, April 28, 2015 1:10 PM

You have it nicely bracketed.  I will give away that its a National League team, and the other (A.L.) team in the city is still active.

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Posted by FlyingCrow on Tuesday, April 28, 2015 12:08 PM

Well, the worst major league team is a little subjective, but I'd say Brooklyn.     But way way back in the 19th century.  Second up, Kansas City.

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Posted by rcdrye on Tuesday, April 28, 2015 11:02 AM

I'm up on the other forum anyway.  You guys are good enough it's hard to get two stumpers at the same time.

Here's a good one, though:  One of this city's cable car lines was extended out a radial street, at least partly to serve the baseball park where the team with the all-time worst major league record played.

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Posted by wanswheel on Tuesday, April 28, 2015 10:20 AM

C'mon, I was kidding. The next question is unmistakably not Dave's burden.

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Posted by rcdrye on Tuesday, April 28, 2015 10:12 AM

Actually , I'd be happy for Dave to ask the next question since he did all the legwork. N.B. I posted the answer around 2PM his time.

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Posted by wanswheel on Tuesday, April 28, 2015 9:30 AM
Rob, yes, Dave does sleep in a convenient time zone.
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Posted by rcdrye on Tuesday, April 28, 2015 6:51 AM

H&M's Hudson Terminal.

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Posted by wanswheel on Monday, April 27, 2015 10:30 PM

Very, very close. Remember, classic railroad quiz refers to 50 or more years ago.

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Posted by daveklepper on Monday, April 27, 2015 9:20 PM

The Pre-2001 PATH World Trade Center Station in the basemrnt of the World Trade Towers.

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Posted by wanswheel on Monday, April 27, 2015 8:13 PM

Penn? My fault. This station had exactly 5 tracks.

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Posted by rcdrye on Monday, April 27, 2015 6:40 PM

Penn Station?

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Posted by wanswheel on Monday, April 27, 2015 4:15 PM

Dave is darn close, geographically. Passenger station.

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Posted by rcdrye on Monday, April 27, 2015 4:06 PM

Chicago Union Station?  The description sounds like the Chicago Post Office.

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Posted by daveklepper on Monday, April 27, 2015 2:11 PM

The New York Central's St. John's Place Freight Terminal?

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Posted by wanswheel on Monday, April 27, 2015 1:30 PM
This busy station had 5 tracks piercing an 8-foot-thick-walled concrete box, two blocks long and one block wide.
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Posted by FlyingCrow on Monday, April 27, 2015 9:36 AM

Flying Crow passes the baton to WANS for the question.   Break it up a bit.   That was a booger, Mark.   It took the last hint for the brain to kick in.  

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Posted by KCSfan on Friday, April 24, 2015 3:59 PM

Bingo, we have a winner. The line ran from Devon, WV, through a corner of Kentucky and terminated at Grundy VA. It was originally a logging railroad but wound up serving the numerous coal mines that were opened in the area. Between 1928 and 1931 the N&W invested heavily in the line, converting it to standard gauge and reducing its curvatures and grades. The BS&C name was dropped and the line became the Buchanan Branch of the N&W. 2-6-6-2's then replaced the narrow gauge Shays and Climaxes. Passenger service ended in 1957 when the N&W dropped the Devon - Grundy mixed train. The line of course is now the NS and is still a big hauler of coal. 

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Posted by FlyingCrow on Friday, April 24, 2015 1:27 PM

Stick out tongue  That did it..... I didn't realize it was 3'-6".  Thought it was only 3'.   The BIG SANDY & CUMBERLAND.   Owned by the N&W.    

AB Dean Jacksonville,FL
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Posted by KCSfan on Friday, April 24, 2015 3:55 AM

Maybe another hint will generate some guesses.

Because of its traffic potential, in the early 1920's the stock of this railroad was was purchased by a major Class I which retained its old name and continued narrow guage operation. The road's "crack" passenger train was unofficially known as the Tri-State Limited. This train averaged 11 mph in one direction and 8.4 mph in the other.

Mark  

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