Group,
I asked my friend who commutes to Chicago to explain the 700 series Gallery car
utilization on other lines. He notes the 700 series cars are used on at least
two other lines besides the Chicago - Aurora route. Of particular interest is
what they did with the cab cars from the Q. This is his response:
When Metra began adding additional trains on the Southwest (Chicago to Orland
Park, some trains to Manhattan, IL) Service line (ex-Wabash / N&W now NS
trackage) several years ago all of the consists were supplemented (now many 8
to 9 cars) with the 700 series coaches. Almost every train consist has at least
2 or 3 of these, sometimes more within the consist and have had these for at
least 2 years. I ride in one almost every day, to Chicago and back to my stop
at Palos Heights. Some are the 800 series. These run every 1/2 hour in rush
periods, hourly otherwise.
I think I mentioned to you the 700 or 800 series cab cars are used mid-train
and have had the engineers/fireman's side and front windows blanked out with
stainless steel panels as Metra built a fleet of the new cars (Nippon, built at
Pullman) and bought actually too many cab cars for use now. Many of the new
ones are buried within the consists, presumably bought "cheap" earlier to be
used as head end cars on future expanded service.
Metra also expanded the 3-in and 3-out Heritage Corridor trains to 6 and 7 cars
(from 3 or 4) about the same time, with several of the 700 cars again used to
supplement each of these consists.
The consists on both lines are pretty much constant except for the occasional
required repairs. Since the 700 cars have been pretty much reconstructed,
particularly all new interiors, they are pretty much "locked-in" to the same
consists. Again, has been this way for a few years now.
Some of the consists for both the Southwest Service and Heritage Corridor are
stored mid-day with the BNSF consists at the 14th Street coach yard until
needed again for the PM rush hour. So maintenance can be accomplished there by
either BNSF or Metra employees. In the evening the cars are stored in the
respective yards at Joliet for the Heritage Corridor and at Orland Park 179th
Street yard for the SWS, so for sure BNSF is not maintaining them at that end.
ZR
From: dlgrobe@ameritech.net
Reply-to: CBQ@yahoogroups.com
To: CBQ@yahoogroups.com
Sent: 11/14/2010 9:47:04 P.M. Central Standard Time
Subj: Re: [CBQ] Metra's Burlingtons
Well maybe they occasionally come off this line but seeing the BNSF maintains
them they are most likely to be see on the BNSF line. From what I've read Metra
wasn't that thrilled that the boards were added by the BNSF.
Dan
--- On Sun, 11/14/10, rgortowski@aol.com <rgortowski@aol.com> wrote:
From: rgortowski@aol.com <rgortowski@aol.com>
Subject: Re: [CBQ] Metra's Burlingtons
To: CBQ@yahoogroups.com
Date: Sunday, November 14, 2010, 6:47 PM
Dan,
That is not correct. I know they show up on other lines. My friend just
rode one on the old GM&O line.
Rich G.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Well maybe they occasionally come off this line but seeing the BNSF maintains
them they are most likely to be see on the BNSF line. From what I've read Metra
wasn't that thrilled that the boards were added by the BNSF.
Dan
--- On Sun, 11/14/10, rgortowski@aol.com <rgortowski@aol.com> wrote:
From: rgortowski@aol.com <rgortowski@aol.com>
Subject: Re: [CBQ] Metra's Burlingtons
To: CBQ@yahoogroups.com
Date: Sunday, November 14, 2010, 6:47 PM
Dan,
That is not correct. I know they show up on other lines. My friend just
rode one on the old GM&O line.
Rich G.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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