Getting lines to work on Google Earth - kml

Question

So I've been sifting through GE's documentation, and found how to do LineStyle and LineString to style and display a line, but in practice I cannot actually make it work. Here's my KML:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<kml xmlns="http://www.opengis.net/kml/2.2"><Document><Style id="thisStyle">
<LineStyle>
<color>500078F0</color>
<colorMode>Normal</colorMode>
<width>5</width>
</LineStyle>
</Style>
<Placemark>
<name>502-2012-11-19 05:27:03</name>
<description>Speed:0</description>
<Point>
<coordinates>-76.0513,42.0894,247</coordinates>
</Point>
</Placemark>
<Placemark>
<name>502-2012-11-19 05:26:46</name>
<description>Speed:0</description>
<Point>
<coordinates>-76.0517,42.0886,287</coordinates>
</Point>
</Placemark>
....
<Placemark>
<name>525-2012-11-19 04:38:25</name>
<description>Speed:0</description>
<Point>
<coordinates>-76.0512,42.0894,178</coordinates>
</Point>
</Placemark>
<styleUrl>#thisStyle</styleUrl>
<LineString>
<tessellate>1</tessellate>
<altitudeMode>clampToGround</altitudeMode>
<coordinates>
-76.0513,42.0894,247
-76.0517,42.0886,287
....
-76.0512,42.0894,178
</coordinates></LineString></Document></kml>
Note: The above places where "..." appears there are about 50 more coordinate sets, I removed them for the sake of brevity, but since all coordinates are produced by a script if one works I know they all will. Can anyone nudge me in the right direction as to why my placemarks all show up, but no lines?

Answer 1

A LineString element is only valid inside a Placemark (or a MultiGeometry inside a Placemark):
<Placemark>
<LineString>
<tessellate>1</tessellate>
<altitudeMode>clampToGround</altitudeMode>
<coordinates>
-76.0513,42.0894,247
-76.0517,42.0886,287
-76.0512,42.0894,178
</coordinates>
</LineString>
</Placemark>
Example on Google Maps with your KML
Example on Google Maps with a Placemark containing the Linestring

Answer 2

You must either inline Style in the Placemark or reference the style in the Placemark using styleUrl element.
The last Placemark in your example needs to be rewritten like this:
<Placemark>
<name>525-2012-11-19 04:38:25</name>
<description>Speed:0</description>
<styleUrl>#thisStyle</styleUrl>
<LineString>
<tessellate>1</tessellate>
<altitudeMode>clampToGround</altitudeMode>
<coordinates>
-76.0513,42.0894,247
-76.0517,42.0886,287
...
-76.0512,42.0894,178
</coordinates>
</LineString>
</Placemark>
If your KML doesn't view correctly then it usually helps to validate the KML. You can use the KML Validator.