Sloan,

I just used my Moderator privileges to change the state to Illinois. When I saw the News Tribune link I was sure they were in Illinois, because the paper is published in my mother's home town, Peru, 10 miles south of Mendota.

If they take care of those two cars the way they have cared for CB&Q 2-8-2 #4978, those cars have found a very good home.

Thanks for posting.

Kevin

Not about where Mendota is.........

What little of the article we can read indicates the following, and I quote:

". . . in a 1971 Illinois Central commuter railroad car that arrived Tuesday in Mendota. The electric passenger car is one of two donated by Chicago’s Metropolitan Rail system to the Union Depot Railroad Museum in Mendota. Chicago Metra officials are modernizing the fleet, and all the old cars are being donated to museums across the country. "

Okay, PLEASE tell me this reporter took extreme liberties with the information provided, or that she was provided with erroneous information.

These are the IC Electroliners, right? Electric bilevels? Now, Mendota is located along the CB&Q between Aurora and Galesburg. Now, why would they accept an electric bilevel pair there, other than "we don't look gift horses in the mouth"? Wouldn't an ex-BN bilevel be more in keeping with their theme? Certainly, I could see a set at the Illinois Ry. Museum, and maybe at one or more of the stations on the IC to the south of Chicago, but....... something just doesn't sound right here.

And ALL the other IC bilevels are being donated? Metra had trouble giving away ex-C&NW bilevels basically for free, and as loco-hauled stock they were far more usable by anybody--commuter agencies, museums, excursion lines, etc.

Should I live in fear that I'm going to be called up again to escort some of THESE cars to Miami or Boston or Rockhill or someplace? (Well, they always seem to call me in the middle of winter, so.......)

Feel free to just say NO.

dave

But if Sandy says "No", he'll have one less thing to fuss about..................:)

But the clients I deal/dealt with pay me.

Rather nicely, I must say, considering the "hurry-up-and-wait" often involved.

And it IS a fun way to see the country on someone else's dime, I must say.

But I *did* say "no" to a certain Chicago-to-Tacoma escort of bilevels..........

A couple of points.

First, they aren't IC Electroliners. That name is specific only to the Chicago North Shore & Milwaukee trainsets, 801-2, 803-4.

But yes, these are the same IC bi-levels electrics you're thinking of, no matter what name they're given.

As to why Mendoto would want them, it's a very confusing question at best. As noted, their care of the CB&Q engine, as well as a caboose and a passenger car (baggage car ?) the last time I was in the area was first rate, but where the heck do these fit into that picture ?

Personally, I don't think your suggestion of an ex CB&Q commuter bilevel is any more appropriate than these cars, they didn't run here either !
(Although it may be possible, someone correct this if known, that a few of the cars may have traversed the area enroute to Galesburg for use in yard tours for Galesburg's noted Railroad Days events)

As regards other cars to other places. my understanding is that this initial batch is in rough to poor shape at best. From what I've heard IRM is waiting for a better set to be made available in the future, IRM being probably the only real legitimate "proper" place for such equipment.
Surely Bob Kutella can chime in with a more "official" IRM standpoint

Mendota was on the I.C.'s Amboy District ..... so it is an Illinois Central town. Yes, the bilevels seem a bit out of place there, but glad they are being preserved. I used to work for IC and can remember when the bilevels replaced the old (non-air-conditioned) 1920's cars. I spent a lot of time on the bilevels commuting.

Back in 1999 the western Railway Museum was given a Sacramento Northern box car that had been off rails and even trucks in Mantea, California for some years. The owner was a retired railroader.

Last year it was in the Shop and got a set of historically correct trucks. couplers and air brake parts. It will soon be painted and put on display.

While a simple box car from Mt Vernon Car is not as
flashy as a steam locomotive; this does put a car back on its home rails which the museum is preserving and restoring.

Ted

Skip -

I heard by way of a friend at another museum, that the folks in Mendota accepted the cars because it gave them a couple of pieces of equipment from the Illinois Central which, as you say, ran through Mendota. They would have rather had an IC boxcar, but none was offered to them. They now have equipment from all three railroads that ran through Mendota; CB&Q, Milwaukee Road and now the IC.

BTW, the IC called these cars "Highliners" when they were first put into service. Don't know if METRA still uses that term or not. And I spent a lot of time commuting on them too, and also on the old 1920's cars.

Les

What John said about IRM waiting for better ones is basically correct. Most of these cars were slated to be replaced as the new Nippon cars come on line. Of course with Illinois budget problems, the funds have not been released to buy the next set of Nippon cars, and with increasing ridership, those new ones will not be adequate for the demand. So at least some of the HIGHLINERS are likely to remain in service for the foreseeable future.

Did not Boone and Scenic Valley also take delivery of some of the HIGHLINERS? Seems they were looking around for an adapter coupler to allow them to be pulled in train.

Bob Kutella