Was it the “DRI” line, Davenport & Rock Island??
Hint: It was nearly 30 years before the DRI Line.
This is just a guess but was it by way of the Rock Island which built the first bridge across the Mississippi River at Davenport in 1856?
Mark
Maybe my question was a little too obscure. I’ll go ahead and answer it and ask a different question. The Milwaukee purchased the Davenport & Northwesternin the 1870’s and operated as a subsidiary until being completely absorbed later. The only part of this line remaining runs from downtown Davenport, where it is in use by IC&E to East Davenport, turning north to Eldridge where it ends. The first line was built from Davenport to DeWitt in 1870. In 1871 another line was built from Eldrige to the Northwest, ultimately ending at Jackson Jct. on the now Sheldon line.
The CM&StP did reach East Moline in 1866, however. The DRI Line from East Davenport to Clinton wasn’t completed until 1900. The Crescent Bridge connecting RI to Davenport wasn’t completed until 1899.
My alternate question was going to be: “How did the Milwaukee originally enter St. Paul?” But then I thought that might not be too different from the other question on the obscurity scale. (The answer to that one was: via Madison, Prairie du Chien, Marquette, Cresco, Austin…)
So I’ll ask another question.
Um… Fun question: Remember “Little House on the Prairie”? Charles Ingalls was portrayed as a farmer, when he was in reality a railroad builder.
What railroad employed him, and which line did he work?
Chicago, Milwaukee & Omaha (The Omaha Road)?
Nope! Hint: The line he surveyed/helped build has been the subject of recent topics here.
The CNW “Alco line” across southern Minnesota, now a part of the DM&E / Mayo controversy?? I’d have to dig out my “Chicago & NorthWestern in Minnesota” book at home to remember which CNW/CStPM&O predescesor built the line though…only one I can think of now is the Winona and St.Peter.
Ding! Yep, the very DM&E line. He began working for the C&NW when they started expanding westward from MN in 1879. He spent the majority of his time building/working the stretch between DeSmet, SD, where his family lived at this time, and the end of track at Pierre. You’re up!
Since Stix didn’t post a question I’ll take the liberty of asking one in his place.
What’s the longest railroad tunnel east of the Mississippi, what’s its length and when was it built?
I guess I actually asked 3 questions.
Mark
Other than subway tunnels (and stopping at the Atlantic Seaboard) it would be the Hoosac, 4.75 miles, constructed 1851-75 with a few pauses.
RWM
I guess I should contribute another? Let’s try this:
Every school boy in my day knew where the two halves of the first transcontinental railroad met. What’s not so well known is where and when the second sets of rails building from east to west, and west to east, came to a joint. Name the location, the date, and the railroad(s) involved.
Absolutely correct about the Hoosac. Another interesting bit of its history was that 196 men were killed in constructing it. If OSHA were around then it would never have been built.
Mark
I beleive it was Deming in what is now New Mexico, on March 8, 1881. Wasn’t it between the Southern Pacific Railroad and Santa Fe?
Just a guess, maybe the one I’m thinking about was the third. Am I right?
That’s correct (and it’s an answer not many know, so good on ya). It was never much of a through route; the SP had no intention of sharing traffic with the Santa Fe, and kept right on building past Deming to El Paso to meet itself coming west, and the Santa Fe soon gave up and acquired the A&P franchise to build its own line to the Pacific Coast.
Deming was then in New Mexico Territory; New Mexico achieved statehood in 1912. Arizona Territory was split off in 1863.
RWM
Yeah!
Hmmm…what will my question be?
What year was Union Pacific forced to divest SP because of monopoly concerns?
1996? I think, for a eastern boy [:D] Mike
Mike, that’s when the UP merged with Southern Pacific. I think we need a date from the first decade of the last century.
Close CShaveRR! Not exactly the 1st decade, but close to that.
Hmm 1912?
VERY close!
1913?? A lot of historical stuff happened that year that didn’t get into the high-school textbooks. - al