al-in-chgo wrote:
Poppa_Zit wrote:
al-in-chgo wrote:
Just a point of information: the BNSF line thru Rochelle is not a main line. That would be the Transcon from Chicago thru Plano, Princeton and Galesburg, which runs about thirty miles south of Rochelle (nearest station stop--Mendota). You certainly can consider the UP's track a "main line" as it was the old C&NW "Overland Route." Since UP is an agglomerated megasystem, there may be other routes equally deserving of the main-line designation, though.
So what constitutes a main line? TRAINS magazine defines it as "The principal running track of a railroad, as contrasted with sidings, spurs, and yard tracks." I'd say that fits. The C&I once was the main line to the northwest hookup with the Great Northern and Northern Pacific. The Empire Builder used to stop in Rochelle on its way to Savanna and the Mississippi River Route.
The C&I has a Traffic Density of "4" which means it handles 20.0 to 39.9 MGT (gross tons per mile per year). For comparison, the EJE is ranked Density "0" -- 0 to 0.9 MGT. The CN northwest line is Density 3 (10.0 to 19.9 MGT) and the CP line is Density 1 (1.0 to 4.9 MGT).
The UP at Rochelle is Density 7 (Over 100 MGT) but that might change because of all the EB traffic that never gets east of Global III.
There are two ways (sorry, Mr. Clinton) in this case to define "the." One singles it out, like "the Mayor of Chicago," that implies there is none other. One is more figuarative, like "Does the intercity passenger train have a future?" But why bother to say "main line" in either situation, which could mislead? Why not just "line"? To do otherwise begs comparison with the ex-CNW line. Besides, even pre-1970, CB&Q's main line routing went thru Mendota and Princeton to Galesburg (and on to Burlington); while today's BNSF "Southern Transcon" routing is basically that exx-CB&Q route to Galesburg and from there, ATSF down to the Mississippi and Fort Madison. Nothing in CB&Q, BN or BNSF heritage encourages us to call Chgo - Savannah THE "main line."
And "The Empire Builder used to stop in Rochelle on its way to Savanna and the Mississippi River Route." How long has that been? I have it on fairly good authority that the last regularly scheduled passenger train service to Rochelle ceased with the "Omaha Zephyr" in 1963. Railroad people can use all the heritage names they want; in fact I think it's rather nice they use the older slang for that line thru Rochelle. To to imply it is THE main line or ANY main line in the BNSF world is misleading.
Watch me on this please; I used to teach English and in cases of advanced casuistry am still empowered to write citations! - al
I'm not going to argue semantics, Al. But as a professional writer I do enjoy speaking with my former English teachers -- and editors -- on occasion. Pity they focused so much time and effort on THE minute, insignificant details rather than looking at THE big picture, one where they could have made a really good living.
If the old CB&Q line through Princeton/Medota to Galesburg is THE main line as you claim, what would you call, then, the BNSF (Ex ATSF) Transcon through Joliet, Coal City, Streator and Chillicothe to G-Burg? Just A main line? With all of the mergers if you think a railroad can still have only one "main line" you're living in the past. And in this case of definition, and for lack of you providing a salient definition beyond what sounds correct to you, I'll listen to THE Higher Authority -- TRAINS Magazine.
P.S. -- I thought Clinton was a fool.
