Most of the nation's freight railroads shut down in response to a limited strike against just one of them.
The union is pursuing a strategy of limited, short strikes and has said that this one will end in four weeks.
However, the scenario of a coordinated airborne invasion coupled with a limited nuclear strike was the real threat that this line protected against.
A limited strike was authorized 3 days later in retaliation.
It could, for example, provide significant protection from limited strikes from the Soviet Union or other countries.
The Soviets then launched a limited first strike using satellites to deploy their warheads.
Private carriers were chosen for this "limited strike" because they are not covered under New York state law.
The current plan is vastly revised, with a focus on developing a land-based system to protect the country against a limited or accidental strike.
The railroads say that even such a limited strike would have a damaging ripple effect for factories and commuters.
It even seems to accept the idea of limited American military strikes in China's own neighborhood.