There was an interurban electric railway we called the North Shore line. It ran between chicago and Milwaukee and boasted over 90 MPH speeds.
I wonder what happened to those beautiful cars when the line was shut down? The stremelined "Electroliners" were supposedly put on display somewhere but I haven't heard if or where they might be. The regular cars both all passenger and combines may have been scrapped.
I wonder......
73
Bruce in the Peg
The Electroliners went to work in Phily PA, don't remember what route. Both were renamed "Liberty Liners" and live a full life. One was sold to the North Shore museum and restored to NS colors. The other I believe stayed in PA, preserved as a "Liberty Liner." They were not scrapped!
I'm pulling from memory on this, so the experts please jump right in.
The Electroliners went to the Philadelphia and Western, now the Norristown High Speed Line.
They are both preserved. One is beautifully restored at the Illinois Railway Museum.
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=289793&nseq=3
The other is at the Rockhill Trolley Museum and is looking a bit rough, but is covered.
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=461159
I don't think they were called Liberty Liners...I always thought the Liberty Liners were the cars on the LIberty Bell route from Allentown to Norristown. I did, however, did get to ride them. Once.
RIDEWITHMEHENRY is the name for our almost monthly day of riding trains and transit in either the NYCity or Philadelphia areas including all commuter lines, Amtrak, subways, light rail and trolleys, bus and ferries when warranted. No fees, just let us know you want to join the ride and pay your fares. Ask to be on our email list or find us on FB as RIDEWITHMEHENRY (all caps) to get descriptions of each outing.
The 1000-series ex Cincinnati and Lake Erie "Red Devil" cars plus the one ex-Indiana Railroad "high speed" were simply called Liberty Bell cars on Lehigh Valley Traction. And of course between Norristown and 69th Street Upper Darby, they did run on the same tracks that the ex-Electroliners used when the North Shore shut down and Jay Meader bought them to be, yes, Liberty Liners for rush hour only service between Norristown and 69th Street. I am glad I rode the Liberty Bell, the Electroliiners, and the "Bullet" cars, even if I never did get to ride the Liberty Liners.
Ilinois Railway Museum has a pretty good collection of CNS&M steel cars - enough to string together a running five car train. Seashore Trolly Museum in Maine has three steel cars, one of which is operable, but needs roof repairs.
I never got to ride the North Shore, not being from that part of the country, but it looks like that 'road was a class act all the way.
AND I would have loved to have tried an "Electro-Burger"!
Great story about it in the Summer 2013 issue of "Classic Trains."
No question that the North Shore and the LVT Liberty Bell were my favorite interurbans. Branford (Shore Line Trolley Musuem) has one North Shore standard steel, No. 709, operable, was in good condition, but was seldom used because of the power bill. It is probably the heaviest passenger car on the property, heavier than the IND-R9 or the IRT deck-roof, which also operate (sometimes as a two-car train, couplers and air compatible, each one powerful enough to hall the other as a trailer, but not mu.) The 69-foot BMT standard steel is probabliy havier but doesn;t operate at present. I think CNS&M 709 is still awaiting post-Sandy motor repair, but it may have been done already. All cars that could be moved to high ground were, but priority was given to those regularly used..
Riding the Electroliner
Glen Brewer
RailroadGloryDays.com
Railroad Glory Days on Facebook
Thanks for the picture, Glen. I also enjoyed all the others on your website, magnificent work.
sure brings back wonderful memories thanks
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