high speed rail NYC to Chicago - Trains Magazine

tnchpsk8:

The PRR had four tracks running side by side over most if not all of this route. When Conrail took over they removed one of the tracks. How difficult would it be to replace that track for high speed passenger service only. The right of way is already there,  owned by NS. Upgrading the roadbed  and installing ties and rail would be the expense. In most new rail route building the land aquistion is the most costly feature of the enterprise. 

I rode the PRR for many years as a young man.  Having grown up in Altoona, I took the train east and west on numerous occasions.  Here is what I remember, although someone more familiar with the PRR or a better memory may contradict me.

From Pennsylvania Station New York to Newark the line was two tracks.  From Newark to Paoli it was four tracks.  From Zoo Tower, where the north/south line intersected with the east/west line, I believe the north/south line was four tracks to Wilmington, but south of Wilmington it was a two or three track railroad until Baltimore.  I cannot remember the configuration from Baltimore to Washington's Union Station, although just north of the station it was two tracks if I remember correctly.

From Paoli to Harrisburg it was two and three tracks.  From Harrisburg to the Rockville Bridge, it was two or three tracks, as was the case across the bridge.  Once across the bridge, it was four tracks to Tyrone, except for the squeeze through the Spruce Creek tunnels.  From Tyrone to Johnston it was four tracks.  West of Johnston it was two and three tracks to Pittsburgh.  West of Pittsburgh, whether it was to St. Louis or Chicago, it was a two track railroad.  

West bound freights out of Jersey City ran via the Trenton Cut-off, if I remember correctly.  It was two tracks.  And the line from Baltimore to York and Harrisburg was also two tracks.   

Pennsy publicity photos almost always show the railroad as a four track broadway, from which its flagship train got the name, but in reality it was more of a two track railroad than a four track railroad.  

Now I am sure there is someone out there who will contradict me.  But hey, what are forums for if not for learning?