[Attachment(s) from Clipperw B included below]Michael,
I lived in Downers Grove about one block from the track from 1946 to 1972. I don’t ever recall seeing a GP unit in commuter service. I also have never seen a photo of a GP unit in commuter service. However, Geeps were occasionally used in mainline service through the commuter territory such as the attached photo of GP7 no. 243 on the Galesburg local passing through DG.
As the commuter service transitions from steam to diesel starting around 1950, the S1 and S2 pacific were supplemented with a few of the Hudsons. There are photos of both pacific and Hudsons pulling double deck gallery cars as well as older equipment. The first diesels used were E5s and E7s, but their performance in commuter service was limited due to their 2000 hp and the very high 52:25 117 mph gear ratio. The E8s and later E9s performed much better with additional hp and their lower 55:22 98 mph gear ratio.After the arrival of the E8s and E9s, the E5s and E7s were seldom seen on commuter trains.
Bill Barber
Gravois Mills, MO
Sat Jul 8, 2017 6:18 am (PDT) . Posted by:
Were passenger geeps ever used on commuter trains, even as just a stop gap measure?
Thank you kindly,
Michael Matalis
Downers Grove IL