To add to Bill's text See Railway Age April 21, 1958 "CNW Plans 'Push-Pull'
Commuting" Bilevel cars would seat 172vs 235 on the Q. As Operator at Aurora
Tower the last half of 1973 most of the dinkys terminated at Aurora and we
either switched them or just turned the motor. Often I would have the switch
engine and motors both coming out the west end of the depot with the motors
going out on Hurds Island and back to the Roundhouse. The switch engine would
grab two trains and head for the hill yard. There was one train that had the
single level cars as that trains cars were off getting rewired for HEP. It was
the last in and the first out of Chicago every day. The motor would cut off
and
the switch engine would drag it to the Hill Yard. Add a couple freights and it
got busy. The Trainmaster who took care of the operators and train dispatchers
on Lines East figured if you could work 2nd trick at Aurora Tower you could
dispatch and I went to Cicero House 9 in Feb of 1974
Retired now to a nice little farm in the Hills of SC
Steve
________________________________
From: William <TrainGG1@aol.com>
To: CBQ@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sun, June 26, 2011 5:20:58 PM
Subject: [CBQ] Re: CBQ Commuter Operations
Regarding Scott Walker's inquiry regarding CB&Q suburban operations. It is true
that CB&Q got the first bi-level (or gallery) cars -- although if you read the
C&NW's promotional material from the mid-1950s you would think C&NW was the
first.
Like the C&NW, the bi-levels first operated behind steam (and not just in
fantrip serivce). However, the CB&Q (and successor BN) did not dive head-long
into HEP or push-pull. Well into 1973 (and MAYBE as late as 1975), a number of
one-time GN coaches (painted in the Sky Blue colors) were being used on a
number
of heavy rush-hour trains. Of course these were FANCY cars compared to the
bi-levels -- including the washroom lounges, where you could have a smoke
during
your commute.
Bill Shapotkin
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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