Chicago's South Shore Line

[Anonymous]

I rode this line for years out to South Bend, IN and I think maybe Michigan City, IN. does anyone know if the line still exists and has a model been made of it?

Also looking for any Starbucks cars or merchandise for towns.

[Buckeye Riveter]

Welcome to the CTT forum.

The South Shore is still in business, but is operated by the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District.

Web page http://www.nictd.com/

I used to live in South Bend in the early 80's and periodically rode the train to downtown Chicago.

[Algonquin]

K-line Produced O-gauge models of interurban cars for the Chicago South Shore and South Bend Railroad a few years back.

Regards,

Tim Pignatari

[Algonquin]

Appearently K-Line still makes the interurban cars and also a coil car. See the attached URL for K-lines current South Shore production:

http://www.k-linetrains.com/products/browse_new_sub.cfm?secID=B17A068D-6D44-11D4-ADA90060B0576B82&fldID=A55D2EBD-89A8-11D4-ADAE0060B0576B82&prdsubtype=Chicago%20South%20Shore

Regards,

Tim Pignatari

[Anonymous]

[:)] Hey everybody, [bow][bow][bow]

Thanks for the great info. Do you know if K-Line's Chicago South Shore can run with the Philadelphia Flyer engine? I've sent 'em an email but thought I'd check here as well.

I have to get it! If not, can you recommend an engine? I have the O-27 guage track that came witht he set.

Me thinks this could get expensive. ....hmmm LOL

By the way, did anyof you see the train display at the LA County Fair. It was awesome. That's where I saw the Starbucks car and building. ... another gotta have..

Toot Toot, Beth

[Anonymous]

I think the K-line cars will run on what is called O or 31inch diameter track. They should run on your fast track which is even a little larger.
My recommendation to you is to look at some toy train magazines and books. Since you are just starting it is easy to go wild and get everything you see.
Find a good local hobby shop. It is a good place to see what is out there and they are good sources of knowledge (usually).

Another thing to think of is do you want to run your Pennsy Flyer at the same time as the K-line cars? Without taking all the cars off the track and
replacing them you have a coulpe options. First a second separate track loop and transformer for the K-line cars. Or a second option you could
add a pair of switches and some track for a passing siding. This is in some ways more complicated but more fun and challenging to operate.
If you follow this second idea you will have to do some fancy wiring. To make it so one train can park while the other runs around your loop.
Following directions in the Greenburg books you could even make it so they traveled the loop in opposite directions and traded places automatically.
Like a nice polite pair of trains stepping out of each others way and waiting their turn.

Good luck
The Greenburg wiring books are good to get for this because they tell how to wire things like a second train. Most good hobby shops carry them.

[krapug1]

K-Line first came out with the Interburban Line in '91, and in addition to the Powered Coach and Trailing Coaches (2 designs of each) they also made a Diner.
They are pictured on pages 58, and 59 of the "K-Line Collectors Guide Vol 1."
The South Shore was the first Interburban to be produced and it was the only nameplate at the time to have the Diner.

The great Chicago Museum, The Art Institute has some reporductions of Shouth Shore Travel Posters for sale in the Museum Store.

Ken

PS The Design Changes made to the Interburbans were done as the first group off the line had roof paint too light and the cars lights shined through it.

[spankybird]

Tracks Ahead just showed a segment on the South Shore Line.