While I don't know for sure when SP/UP started running over the
CB&Q/BN to Chicago, I do know that SP handed a lot of traffic to the Soo
Line at Kansas City in the late 80s, which was hauled to Chicago on the
ex-MILW Kansas City line. I saw a LOT of trains at Davis Jct. as a result. SP
tried to buy that line from Soo/CP in 1990 but the deal fell through, and I'd
guess that is when SP started running to Chicago over the BN's Mendota Sub.
The CB&Q line was shorter (by about 60 or so miles) than the Milwaukee
line, so that was no doubt an added bonus for SP.
FWIW, the ex-MILW KC
line was later sold to I&M Rail Link, which became Iowa, Chicago &
Eastern and is now owned by CP again (for now, until EHH decides to sell that
too...)
Paul Nadolski
Rockford, IL
--- In CBQ@yahoogroups.com, "James Vivian"
<jvivian765@...> wrote:
>
> Does anyone know how/where the
SP gained access from the west to run
> eastward on the Mendota Sub. and
when this arrangement came into being?
> I know this must have carried
over into the UP merger as I have have
> seen run-through stack trains
in the fairly recent past.
>