I dug up the Hastings article, in the June 1953 Railroad magazine. He said,"Today, Spokane is the most important railroad center in the northwest quadrant of our country." I stand by his assessment, and mine, of Spokane as a rail center, or hub, which ever you like. You're judging by originating/terminating trains; I'm judging by total trains funneled through a single point to and from the largest number of separate routes. Apples and oranges, it would seem.