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From: cb@hlwpc.UUCP (Carl Blesch)
Newsgroups: net.railroad
Subject: Re: CNW Left Handed Running
Message-ID: <673@hlwpc.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 7-Feb-86 09:24:28 EST
Article-I.D.: hlwpc.673
Posted: Fri Feb  7 09:24:28 1986
Date-Received: Sun, 9-Feb-86 06:26:05 EST
References: <2056@brl-tgr.ARPA>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Short Hills, NJ
Lines: 19

> 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.

Yes, but the North Western did left-handed running everywhere they had
double track -- not just in Chicago suburban commuter territory.
For example, the line from Chicago to Milwaukee to Minneapolis was
once double-trackked all the way, and left-handed running was the norm.
For over-the-road passenger trains and for freight trains, it doesn't
matter which side of the tracks the station is on.  So I'd discount the
above explanation for left-handed running.

Carl Blesch