CMStPnP charlie hebdo The logos are there. However, relatively few people who still use Metra would remember the original operators, given that the RTA started in 1974. They had the Milwaukee logos on the side of the F40C's (I think they were bought new in 1975) for a while after the formation of RTA but eventually they removed them. They had them back then because I think the Milwaukee was still the contracting railroad.
charlie hebdo The logos are there. However, relatively few people who still use Metra would remember the original operators, given that the RTA started in 1974.
They had the Milwaukee logos on the side of the F40C's (I think they were bought new in 1975) for a while after the formation of RTA but eventually they removed them. They had them back then because I think the Milwaukee was still the contracting railroad.
Likely. There were 16, now only 2 left, in storage in the Western Avenue yard.
charlie hebdoThe logos are there. However, relatively few people who still use Metra would remember the original operators, given that the RTA started in 1974.
They added a Hiawatha logo on the front.
CMStPnPYeah, few people are going to connect that to the Milwaukee Road without the logos.
The logos are there. However, relatively few people who still use Metra would remember the original operators, given that the RTA started in 1974.
I think that the wide maroon stripe lasted on the F-units and the electrics into the 1960's.
Give Metra some credit, though. Both of their Heritage units work on the lines whose colors they wear.
BaltACDStill not feeling The Hiawatha with an A or F steamer in the lead.
Yeah, few people are going to connect that to the Milwaukee Road without the logos. Also, both logos belong to CP now. I wonder if METRA is paying fees to use them or not. Milwaukee last painted it's Office Car fleet orange and black with white lettering on the black letterboard............before that it was UP colors. Last time they used Orange and Maroon was pre-1955 I think.
charlie hebdoAnother photo of the repainted (in MILW-inspired livery)Metra unit today:
Still not feeling The Hiawatha with an A or F steamer in the lead.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
Another photo of the repainted (in MILW-inspired livery)Metra unit today:
charlie hebdofor CMStPnP: Maybe this will get you to ride Metra!
I worked on an IBM Project in Schamburg, IL for a full year for a very large Market Analysis firm and worked on their IT system they sell as a subscription to P&G, Hienz, Walmart, etc. which this company peforms business analytics on the subscribers Sales & Marketing and Financial data.
Rode the Milwaukee Road West Line during that time period on the weekends. Stayed at the Hyatt Place the whole time. I didn't get rich because I was with IBM but there was this independent consultant there driving a brand new Jaguar convertible that Nielsen had paid for close to 5 years......me and the company manager attempted to guess what he earned in 5 years but his billing rate was secret of course, my rough guess is he pocketed close or over a million bucks. He was very smart though and worth every cent. I think that was 6 years ago.
It was an outsourced IT shop and we were fixing issues the outsourced companies supplying labor should have had the knowledge to fix. I can go further but I went far enough already.
for CMStPnP: Maybe this will get you to ride Metra!
charlie hebdoAnd even if WISDOT and Metra cooperate a lot, Metra is not going to do all that construction. The towns owning the Metra stations are not going to tear them down for another track.
Oh calm down, I merely stated it was possible given the room available in response to past old grumps on this forum that stated on an earlier thread there was no room whatsoever and it was impossible that a third line would ever be built.
It's great you feel so knowledgeable as to speak for what METRA will do on their behalf, though I have to say METRA has always done in the past what was in it's self interest and the line was stated even on this forum to have limited capacity for expansion. At some point Wisconsin is going to request three more passenger trains in each direction and we'll see how METRA responds officially but I am pretty confident the answer is not going to be "we own the stations, so get lost".....it's kind of irrelevant to the larger conversation of adding capacity.
I am not the one requesting a third track, if you remember it was the City of Glenview, IL that made such a request. Your saying METRA is going to ignore that no matter what the other inputs are from other cities on the line?
Something tells me they will listen to METRA / Amtrak riders and member cities and so far the METRA cities are also willing to cooperate given a third line is built or another alternative found that they approve of. :)
CMStPnP charlie hebdo Metra owns the former Milwaukee routes. Too bad for you. What do I care, I don't live there? At any rate, Wisconsin DOT has a fully cooperative relationship with METRA.
charlie hebdo Metra owns the former Milwaukee routes. Too bad for you.
What do I care, I don't live there? At any rate, Wisconsin DOT has a fully cooperative relationship with METRA.
Between CSSHEGEWISCH's post and mine, you've been shown once again to not know much of anything on something you spout off about at length. And even if WISDOT and Metra cooperate a lot, Metra is not going to do all that construction. The towns owning the Metra stations are not going to tear them down for another track.
charlie hebdoMetra owns the former Milwaukee routes. Too bad for you.
Metra doesn't own a lot of the suburban station buildings. Many are owned and maintained by the local municipality.
CMStPnPIt's kind of too bad METRA built it's relatively new stations so close to the tracks but.....oh well, what can you do? If more capacity is needed, get them bulldozers and work some magic.
Metra owns the former Milwaukee routes. Too bad for you.
So I put this under General Discussion as it is more that then a Passenger discussion.....I think.
I recently rode the Hiawatha Service again and to me (not an engineer). It does appear there is room on the West side of the Milwaukee to Chicago mainline for a third track between the West Line and about Glenview, Il stop. With two or three exceptions where Metra installed these sidewalk stations lined with parking spaces that might have to be redesigned or relocated somehow. That would not be a huge expense just for those stations relatively speaking, additional girder bridges I am not sure how much those cost but looks like relatively short spans. Would have to add an additional girder span on overpasses and definitely in some areas build the embankment up to accomodate the third track. From Glenview North to just short of the split off of the former Northwest line. The Metra encroachment is more significant with the station buildings and parking. Glenview would probably have to level it's station structure on the west side of the RoW. Few stations North as well that are a little too close to the West side of the tracks to fit in a third track. So Glenview and North it would be a expensive but could still be done. I did not look from the West Line to Union Station though as I just forgot about this issue. You'll need a few girder bridges South of Glenview, not sure how much those cost but the spans look relatively short to me.
Only reason I bring it up here was that issue with the city of Glenview, IL was insisting on adding a third track to accomodate CP Frieghts and additional Hiawatha train frequencies vs just a passing siding. So that the freights did not have to stop near Glenview but could continue on down to the West Line. Looks like it could be done with some expense between Glenview and the West Line but Glenview North even though the grading and bridging might be cheaper (though in one spot there seems to be a flooded swamp up against the West side of the RoW), I think the METRA structure teardown and relocation would push the cost up a lot.
It's kind of too bad METRA built it's relatively new stations so close to the tracks but.....oh well, what can you do? If more capacity is needed, get them bulldozers and work some magic.
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