Michael:
The diesel maintenance facilities in Chicago ("Zephyr Pit") and at the Aurora shops were the home bases for all E units on the east end of the system. So all E units that traversed west to Denver, Lincoln, Kansas City and the Twin Cities on long distance consists eventually returned to Chicago. The E units were rotated between long distance service and the commuter run between Chicago and Aurora to equalize wear conditions particularly for the diesel engines since the repeated starting and stopping of commuter service was actually harder on engine, braking and wheel components than running at sustained speeds over longer distances. A schedule of this E unit rotation was adhered to for all units with records kept and submitted for the required "Federal" inspection reports filed with the FRA, Federal Railway Administration.
So the likelihood of insufficient E units for commuter service would never be an issue.
Probably the only times a geep or other freight unit was seen on the commuter line was delivering new wheels, passenger trucks or locomotive traction motors to the Aurora and Chicago maintenance shops on flat cars that were normal maintenance replacement items required to be installed in the E units and/or passenger cars.
Hope this is of some value to you.
Dennis Popish
Sent from my iPad
July 8, 2017
Michael - Have never seen a photo of such. Best Regards - Louis
Were passenger geeps
ever used on commuter trains, even as just a stop gap measure?
Thank you kindly,
Michael Matalis
Downers Grove IL
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