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Metra ex-C&NW Coaches

Posted by Anonymous

on Sat, May 22 2004 4:36 PM

Sorry to bother you gys again, but anyway, here's my question: I remember going to the Waukegan Harbor back in the early 90s and every metra train on the UP North Line was made up of those "silver mist" ex-C&NW coaches painted white, red, and brown. Now I see only very few of those coaches today when I visit. Most are now silver Amerarail coaches, but I do see a few of those coaches mixed up in trains, but they are dissapering very quickly. What happened to those full trains of those coaches?

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Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH

on Tue, May 25 2004 12:57 PM

The former C&NW coaches were probably the only non-stainless steel coaches on Metra. The oldest ones dated to 1955 so they are slowly being replaced by new bi-levels. The North Central line (ex-Wisconsin Central) will probably be the last line with the old bi-levels.

The daily commute is part of everyday life but I get two rides a day out of it. Paul

Posted by AltonFan

on Wed, May 26 2004 2:38 PM

The old C&NW bilevels are being replaced in part to conform to the Americans with Disabilities Act, and in part because they could not find a way to install ditch lights on the cab cars.

Let's hope a few find their way into railway museums, dressed in their original green and yellow colors...

Dan

Posted by cbq9911a

on Wed, May 26 2004 4:20 PM

Three of the old C&NW bilevels have been preserved at the Illinois Railway Museum, cars 1, 6 (St. Louis, 1955) and 151 (Pullman), the first C&NW cab car.

All 3 cars have been restored to the original yellow and green colors; IRM has the correct locomotive to pull them. The cars are run regularly.