Sounds like Hammond was a busy yard. Here's a little more insight on how the Chicago interchange worked from Green Frog's EL DVD. In 1972 we see a long WB arrive in Huntington IN yard behind a brace of E units. It sets off a portion of it's train and then proceeds west. A waiting pair of Centuries plus caboose then bracket the setoff and follow the first train to Chicago. The original trains were preblocked in Marion but combined as far as Hntgtn to save a crew. Either both were interchange (possibly CRIP/MILW), or interchange/51st St. Paul B The Erie was all interchange in Illinois and only serviced it;s own freighthouse. There were two CW&I transfer frieghts per day to Hammond as of the 1950 local freight schedule and 4 Erie freight transfers to Chicago by the Erie from Hammond. As well as direct run throughs ( not picking up at Hammond) run throughs were pre blocked 2nd sections to 51st and Clearing. The reason for CWi to service it's own online industries ( wat few there were) was that all the railroads had equal ownership of the CWI . If you were the Monon you'de be saying "Why is the Erie Servicing getting to service those Customers? " And the trackage rights charges were porportioned as such that the heaviest user paid the largest share of annual shortfall/maintenance ect... The Erie though directly transfered to Clearing and Corwith on it's own. The Erie Lackawanna Mailing List Sponsored by the ELH&TS http://www.elhts.org ------------------------------
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