November TRAINS "Lame lines to main lines" article

[Anonymous]

The article mentions four former secondary lines that are now primary main lines:

1. (the obvious one) - The former CB&Q line through Guernsey WY (now BNSF's main PRB artery)
2. The New York, West Shore & Buffalo (nee- Conrail, now CSX)
3. The original Wisconsin Central, nee Soo line to Superior (now CN)
4. Ex IC's Vicksburg Route Division (now KCS)

I can add a few more secondary lines that at one time seemed destined for rust collection but now are vital (if not actually primary) routes:

1. BNSF's Stampede Pass line
2. DM&E's ex CNW through South Dakota

Are there any other such resuscitations out there you'd like to share?

[Murphy Siding]

Sure,there's always some lucky fella that gets his Trains Magazine about 3 1/2 weeks before the rest of us, and has to come on here and rub it in![}:)][:)]

[Anonymous]

I got the insider deal![swg]

[Murphy Siding]

Did you get the DECEMBER issue yet?[|(][:)]

[Modelcar]

In the past decade or probably a bit more...the NS line, Ft. Wayne and south through here {Muncie}, was a downgraded line and boosted up to main line status....with quite a bit of through traffic north and south...Including Triple Crown.

[dehusman]

The Hiawatha branch, nee NEKM.
The MKT mainline south of Austin, once abandoned, now #2 Main on the UP.

Dave H.

[MP173]

Modelcar:

I too was thinking the NS Chicago - Ft Wayne line. It seemed to be destined for a major downgrading with the Conrail split, but it sure seems to have bounced back.

I am wondering how long it will be before they consider the ex Pennsy line to Chicago as a second main. Did it once and then traded the line off. If they continue to add trains, it could happen within 5 - 7 years.

ed

[Anonymous]

Dave you could point to the non PRR routes between NYC and Wash DC and also NYC and Harrisburg PA that emerged to great importance under Conrail when Amtrak for intents and purposes banished all mainline freights from the Northeast Corridor in the early '80s.

1. The combined nee Reading "East Penn" line between Harrisburg and Allentown with the nee Lehigh Valley main between Allentown and Newark NJ. Now operated to continued good health under Norfolk Southern.

2. The nee CNJ-Reading-B&O "Royal Blue Route" between North Jersey-Phila.-Balitmore-Wash DC. Now this route is now under the total control of B&O successor CSX. The CNJ portion of the route has been taken over by the Lehigh Valley main between Manville NJ and Newark NJ and still has not lived up to its potential as a North-South I95 railfreight alternative.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dehusman

The Hiawatha branch, nee NEKM.
The MKT mainline south of Austin, once abandoned, now #2 Main on the UP.

Dave H.

When you say "abandoned", do you mean it had it's track removed and the ROW reverted to adjacent property owners, or was the line embargoed, with the rails still in place and ROW ownership retained? If the former, that would indeed be a rarity in these days.

As the #2 main, which #1 main does it parallel (e.g. from where to where), and how far apart are these lines?

[nanaimo73]

Dave,
The MKT and the Missouri Pacific both had routes from Austin down to San Antonio. From Austin to San Marcos (31 miles) the MKT had trackage rights on the MP. From San Marcos to San Antonio (52 miles) the two lines were parallel but not always together. I believe only 8 miles north of New Braunfels was abandoned where the two lines were adjacent.

Southern Pacific had a line from Houston down to Brownsville which has been abandoned. The Kansas City Southern bought the right of way from Rosenberg to Victoria (88 miles) and they plan to put the rails back in. KCS has rights over UP from Beaumont to the former Texas Mexican at Robstown and transit times are horrible. This project is somewhat doubtful as KCS managed to lose money in Q2 and the Meridian Speedway needs upgrading.

[samfp1943]

How about the NS line down through the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia that roughly parallels I-81. At one time there was only the occassional train, now I believe it has been upgraded and getting a lot more use.

[Anonymous]

sampf, you are right about the NS northern Shenandoah line. And if memory serves, it belonged to Penn Central in the late sixties -- would it have been PRR before??

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Murphy Siding

Did you get the DECEMBER issue yet?[|(][:)]

Nah, I usually have to wait until Halloween([oX)][C):-)][4:-)][alien][:o)] et al)....... before I get my *[angel]Christmas[angel]* issue.