[milwaukee-electric] Re: Milwaukee slums during the 1940s and afterward

[Gary Schnabl]

On 11/7/2010 3:38 PM, Don L. Leistikow wrote:
> Gary S and list:   If not for the National Avenue Cornfield Meet in
> September of 1950, there may have been a chance for Speedrail to
> survive.
>
> Two things come to mind.... ridership was strong in rush-hour service.
> Aside from the abnormal capacity of the 'Duplex' trains, some trips left
> the 'Building' with standing room only, loads.  Waukesha Limited duplex
> trains left first, followed by a WJ duplex and then, on its heels, an HC
> local with seated capacity, following.
>
> On the other hand, service throughout the day and evening, was too
> frequent for the handful of passengers, mostly shoppers, to break even.
> There was just not enough patronage to substaintialte the frequent
> service.  Hourly headways would have been sufficient.
>
> After the accident, ridership on the HC line, was literally cut in half.
> Ridership on the Waukesha line, remained strong, most likely due to the
> fact that it was all double tracked.  A great feeling of safety, in that
> thought.
>
> As for the line remaining in place with a Freeway alongside..... really
> questionable. The Planners wanted the prow between downtown and 28th
> street, for their construction purposes.  Certainly, it was cheaper to
> build on that prow, than to condemn other real-estate in the Valley.
>
> Politics demanded the RTL be retired.
>
> Don L.
How come there never was any effective block signals or other mechanisms 
for not allowing two cars on the HC line simultaneously--without being 
overridden manually? Railroads had installed adequate interlocking 
switches and signals several decades before 1950...

Besides, in 1950, two-way radios were not that rare or expensive. I was 
a radio amateur since my grade-school days (1957), using mostly 
inexpensive WW2 or Korean-war equipment for receivers and 
transmitters--modified the shortwave gear that the B-17 bombers used 
(for higher power and better operation)..

How did the operation keep in touch with the utility cars on active 
tracks? I would tend to agree that the ill-fated 1950 accident was 
bordering on negligent, criminal activity. Too bad... Otherwise, the RTL 
would have been able to purchase insurance and maybe be solvent for 
another decade or so.
-- 

Gary Schnabl
Southwest Detroit, two miles NORTH! of Canada--Windsor, that is...