Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!allegra!mit-eddie!think!harvard!seismo!brl-tgr!tgr!Chuck.Weinstock@a.sei.cmu.edu
From: Chuck.Weinstock@a.sei.cmu.edu
Newsgroups: net.railroad
Subject: CNW Left Handed Running
Message-ID: <2056@brl-tgr.ARPA>
Date: Thu, 30-Jan-86 00:26:38 EST
Article-I.D.: brl-tgr.2056
Posted: Thu Jan 30 00:26:38 1986
Date-Received: Sun, 9-Feb-86 04:38:58 EST
Sender: news@brl-tgr.ARPA
Lines: 9

I'm told that the real reason that the C&NW runs left handed has absolutely
nothing to do with English investors.  It seems that when the line was
single track in the suburban Chicago area, many (most?) of the stations were
built on the right (heading away from Chicago.)  When they double tracked
the commuter lines they decided to run lefthanded to give the commuters
shelter while awaiting the train on cold winter mornings.  Passengers are
likely to arrive at the station some minutes ahead of the expected train
arrival in the morning, but leave it essentially immediately after arrival
in the afternoon, so this makes sense.