Just ran across this old photo. A number of the "Al Capone" commuter cars still exist. All Rock Island F units were scrapped, but there are a bunch of ex-Milwaukee Road FP-7s around, some in need of a better life. Hmmm...

http://www.yesteryeardepot.com/RI405D.JPG
ryarger@rypn.org

Bob:

Novice question:

Why do you call them "Al Capone" cars? The vintage?

Thanks in advance.

Scott


shawsinoly@aol.com

I suspect so. I see them called that on the Rock Island Technical Society's website. Given their vintage and Chicago usage, that's probably where the term comes from. The cars survived just about to the end of the Rock Island in 1980. Don't know if Al CApone ever rode in one; I think he preferred Cadillacs.

> Bob:

> Novice question:

> Why do you call them "Al Capone"
> cars? The vintage?

> Thanks in advance.

> Scott


http://www.yesteryeardepot.com/RI405D.JPG
ryarger@rypn.org

I also heard them called "Jesse James" cars as well. This is because they were so old there were supposed to be bullet and arrow holes in them from operating in the wild west.

Tongue-in-cheek urban legend for sure.

East Troy Electric Railroad
jftrolley@aol.com

Wasn't Capone-henchman Frank Nitti killed on Illinois Central property in Chicago? Does anyone know the details?

tr2manz@hotmail.com

> Wasn't Capone-henchman Frank Nitti killed on
> Illinois Central property in Chicago? Does
> anyone know the details?

Oh well, I got curious and answered my own question...(it was suicide).



Nitti's Life and Death
tr2manz@hotmail.com