Night trains

Jimr260 Wrote:
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> I have always wondered why the D&RGW NG ran so
> many trains at night - it seems (from Jimmie's
> dispatcher sheets) that this was a relatively
> common occurrence. With less than daily freights,
> it wasn't because of traffic issues. Railroading
> in general, in that era, was a dangerous
> occupation and the NG in particular would have
> been even more dangerous to the train crew. Any
> thoughts? Night running (with derailments not
> uncommon) seems particularly dangerous in this
> situation

My WAG? It was possibly set up that way in earlier, busier times either to avoid interference with (or from) passenger trains or perhaps to make better connections to other lines. Once it had been that way for a time it probably became a case of "But we've always done it this way." Humans are creatures of habit, in general.

hank