The right-of-way was reused as part of today's I-490. The Subway had three tracks, one for freight, the two passenger tracks were operated left-handed to allow use of a center platform. Most of the interurban lines used it for less than three years.
I believe you are refering to the Rochester Subway. The Erie Canal ran through Rochester, NY, but was rerouted early in the 19th Century, leaving the route through the city abandoned. A bit less than 100 years ago the "Rochester Rapid Transit and Industrial Railroad" converted it into a subway for use by the interurban trolley lines that had entered Rochester on the street, and also to provide interchange railroad freight service to on-line customers with sidings. Freight interchange was the last use of any part of the subway lline, I believe cars of paper for a newspaper or newspaper chain. The interurbans quit before WWII, but local service for the length of the subway line, one end serving a GM plant, continued, and also one local Rochester streetcar line that lasted during WWII was rerouted into the subway. The subway never saw passenger trrain operation nor any equipment representing normal rapid transit equipment, only streetcar and single interurban car equipment. The local subway pasenger service carried on into the mid-50's, then part of the line was abandoned, and freight service on the remaining part continued a few more years until the newspaper plant relocated.
I'm tired and unprepared....didn't think I'd get the right answer. For an easterner, New Yorker from NJ, Detroit is the whole population between Windsor, ON and Kalamazoo, MI! Anyway, here goes...
The right of way was an underground water transportation operation, then abandoned, then became a rail operation. Its name was misleading for it wasn't what it said it was, at least not in the traditional sense. Name both entities who used this right of way.
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Henry has the first one I came up with, even though the St. Clair tunnel is between Port Huron and Sarnia, and not in Detroit. CN and GTW's St. Clair Tunnel Co. bought 3000 volt AC box motors from the CSS&SB that were built for the CLS&SB, made surplus in the 1926 DC re-electrification of the South Shore.
The other two I came up with are the Michigan Central's Detroit-Windsor operation that featured ex-NYC R series freight motors and some tri-powered swithcers built for operation on New York's West Side Line, and CN's ex-Montreal Harbours Board units built by England's Dick, Kerr that CN acquired in 1942 for its Mt. Royal Tunnel electrification.
I'll concede that Milwaukee had tunnels - but its electrification wasn't just for that reason. I'm saved from any further concession by Henry getting the answer in first!
The Little Joes of the Milwaukee Road.
Mark
St. Clair Tunnel, Detroit.
rcdrye In addition to its own locomotives, this tunnel operator used locomotives that were built for quite another purpose than tunnel operation.
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...
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.
rcdrye Of course, if you stick with our time limit of 50 years or more... Cascade Tunnel 7.78 miles.
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.
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.
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.
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.
KCSfan Chicago and Great Western (not to be confused with the Chicago Great Western). End points: Forest Park and Chicago (Grand Central Station). Mark
Chicago and Great Western (not to be confused with the Chicago Great Western). End points: Forest Park and Chicago (Grand Central Station).
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.
Wisconsin Central bought the line that started Grand Central (WC did finish it...) The endpoints of the line were entirely within Cook County.
Wisconsin Central whose end points were Chicago, Superior, Ashland and St. Paul. Soo Line would be the owner.
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.
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.
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
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?
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.
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.
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.
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 Boligee, AL on the Frisco line to Pensacola.
Boligee, AL on the Frisco line to Pensacola.
BINGO - we have a winner! Next question is your Rob.
Kimbrough/Pine Hill, Alabama?
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