The idea of using a TPW-Eel River route is intriguing because it would have bypassed Chicago congestion. Argentine would have blocked cars for Marion and possibly Croxton. I doubt the concept got very far in strategic planning because it was evident that such a merger proposal would never get through the ICC. The various Chicago bypass routes have historically been under-utilized because Chicago is such a major traffic center that it sucks traffic in like a black hole. ATSF did acquire TP&W for a relatively brief period in I think the 1980's, establishing in the process Hoosier Lift at Remington IN, southeast of Chicago. The idea was to siphon trucks away from congested Chicago and then blend with Chicago traffic at KC or Clovis NM. A good idea, but volume didn't develop, so the terminal was closed and the TP&W was later sold. Paul B A recent discussion with someone at another group that worked in Santa Fe management just before Conrail revealed something rather interesting. He said that the Santa Fe actually studied using the TP&W and then the Eel River from Logansport to Newton, Indiana and to acquire and operate on the Erie Lackawanna to the East Coast! (Newton was where the Eel River crossed the Erie.) The Eel River could have made history and become part of a coast to coast railroad! Reportedly, Santa Fe nixed the idea mainly as to not interfere with the Conrail plan. Mike Spinelli The Erie Lackawanna Mailing List http://EL-List.railfan.net/ To Unsubscribe: http://Lists.Railfan.net/erielackunsub.html ------------------------------
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