dennis@CSNET-SH.ARPA (Dennis Rockwell) (01/20/86)
From: The_Train_Maven%RPI-MTS.Mailnet@mit-multics.ARPA
Date: Sun, 19 Jan 86 23:10:30 EST
To: railroad@rochester.ARPA
With regard to the discussion of electrification, please also
to be aware that the Pennsy couldn't have afforded to complete
the electrifiacation of what we now call the NEC without cheap
money from the Feds as one of the New Deal anti-depression meas-
ures.
Which led to one WWII-era general claiming that the Pennsy electrification
won the war. An exaggeration, I'm pretty sure, but the wartime traffic was
very high and clearly helped to feed the East Coast ports.
Does the Army Corps of Engineers still know how to build and/or repair
tracks? I suspect not. They now have the Interstate highway system to lean
on. Could they repair an Interstate? Maybe.
Dennis