E units

[KBCpresident]

I understand, (I was too young and in the wrong place to have seen them personally,) that Metra was running a fleet of Burlington Northern E units into the early to mid nineties. First, did the Units belong to Burlington Northern, Metra, or Both Second, what were the units' history. Third, if they did belong to Metra, why weren't they epainted. Fourth, were they used all over thesystem or just on the"racetrack" If I think of anymore questions I'll write them down.

[daveklepper]

The Burlington E-7's, and E-8's were originally built for intercity passenger service as well as suburban service as part of the system's move toward complete dieselization.  IN 1952, when I regularly used the suburban service, these locomotives were in a pool and assigned to through or suburban service without any restrictions.   The E-5's, and of course shovel-nose earlier power were restricted to specific trains and were never  used in suburban service.  These were all train-heating boiler equpped locomotives.  Hotel power for the gallery cars was from old suburban coaches converted into generator cars.   I believe this was the situation at the start of Amtrak.   I do not know if any or how many of the Burlington E-units went to Amtrak, but after 1 May 1971, Amtrak owned or leased locomotives handled the remaining long distance trains on the Burlington, and the Burlington E's that remained with them were assigned (except for emergencies) only to suburban trains, not venturing beyond Union Station - Aurora except for fan trips and executive specials.   I believe Metra finally did buy the locomotives, converting them to provide head-end power and thus doing away with the generator cars.   Some may have been repainted, but there were some who remained in Burlington Northern green until the end of their service.

 

This is all from memory and subject to correction.

[artpeterson]

I suspect the Es that remained in Chicago-Aurora commute service after Amtrak took over the long-distance services from the RRs (BN in this particular case) were owned by/leased to the West Suburban Mass Transit District, which also providing funding for some of the orders of gallery cars used on the BN line.  The Transit District arranged for the rebuild of the Es by M-K, which prolonged their life, as the original commenter pointed out.  All the ex-BN Es remained in green and white until retirement; the only Es that received RTA or later Metra colors were ex-C&NW ones.  Hope this helps!  Art 

[samfp1943]

While speaking about the METRA E units, don't forget the "Crandell Cab" mdifications on the CNW B Units.

Linked here is a FORUM Thread referencing them:

http://cs.trains.com/trccs/forums/p/145361/1613532.aspx

and a Wikipedia piece as well: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EMD_E8

 

Hope this helps.

[jrbernier]

   IIRC, with the start-up of Amtrak, BN withheld the ex-CB&Q E9 fleet for use on their Chicago area commuter trains.  They needed 'power cars' as the engines did not have HEP.   Eventually the commuter operation was paid for by Metra on some type of 'services' contract.  The entire fleet of E9's and 4 or 5 E8's that Amtrak did not pick up were re-manufactured by M-K.  IIRC, BN 'owned them, but Metra paid for the rebuild.  I do believe the bi-level commuter cars were sold to Metra at some point.  They stayed on the ex-CB&Q 'Race Track' while in commuter service.  They gained HEP packages in the area that the S/G's used to be and worked the Aurora line commuter trains through the 90's.  Eventually Metra purchased variations for the F40PH and they replaced the E's.  The E's were sold off/scrapped or wound up in museums.  I think IC/CN has at least 2 that are used for their business train.

Jim

[oltmannd]

jrbernier

  The entire fleet of E9's and 4 or 5 E8's that Amtrak did not pick up were re-manufactured by M-K.

An aside: MK and Metra had a contest to celebrate the E8/9s coming back rebuilt. They randomly drew a name of a regular commuter out of a hat and and named one of the locomotives after him. MK then took a out a big ad in the trade press: "Edwin S. Putz, your locomotive is ready!" no kidding! ...of all the luck.

[schlimm]

 Nobody could make up anything that bad!!