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Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Jan 2001
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In reading a history of East Lansing, I learned a new term. A wye is a triangular-shaped track used to turn around a train or streetcar. There was a streetcar wye at the intersection of Ann Street, Albert Avenue and MAC Avenue.
Bonus points for whoever knows who MAC was.
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210 |
would that be Macadam? the road guy?
formerly known as etaoin...
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Don't know about MAC, but wye is what Mr. Fudd ordered with pastwami and cheese.
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613 |
Here's a good illustration, she said after heavy sighs over maps of the Wye River: http://www.saintjohn.nbcc.nb.ca/~Heritage/streetcars/Images/Wye.jpgI had wondered whether they named it after the letter, but questioned it since the top would have to have been closed. Uh...was Mac whom they named Mackinac Island after?
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Joined: Mar 2001
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Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,379 |
"letter 'y'"
Actually, I think you got it, Jackie: from your map, I'd say the three diverging tracks were the tail track and the two branches. The main line, which "closes the 'y'" is not part of the wye. My guess.
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Sounds right, insel. lol at pastwami, btww!
Since MAC is capitalised, my guess is it must be an initialism... Michigan and...?
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jul 2000
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Oh heck, that's easy for someone who knows about Michigan Agricultural College, Moo Ewe. Isn't there a smokestack still there with MAC painted on it?
TEd
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Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Jan 2001
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We have WInner!
"MAC" does indeed stand for "Michigan Agricultural College," the original name of MSU. After that, it became Michigan State College, and then Michigan State University. There are still power plant stacks bearing the designations "MAC" and "MSC" on them.
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Joined: Sep 2001
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Sep 2001
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In reply to:
Bonus points for whoever knows who MAC was.
Ah, Sparteye, you little devil, you! You fed us a red herring with the use of who rather than what in your challenge!
Not that what would have helped me at all...
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2002
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> who rather than what
thank you, WW, I feel better now.
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