Back in 2013 on a visit to the US, I found what appeared to be some sort of preservation operation in Michigan City, IN, with what I have since found out to be an ex CTA/Toledo Edison electric loco sitting in a yard at the west end of the South Shore street running section.



From a trawl of the internet, it appears to have been part of a scheme to operate an electric rail line with heritage equipment, but any information seems to dry up around the time of my visit there.
Does anyone know if this scheme is still progressing in the background or is it dormant?

Apart from the loco, there were several piles of lattice style catenary masts lying in the yard, plus there could have been other items in some buildings on site.

The yard in question is off to the left of this photo, where the concrete barriers can be seen........

The locomotive is owned by the RAIL Foundation, which is the ongoing concern of several folks to revive a historic South Shore interurban operation. They are dedicated to the cause, but have had several attempts which have not yet materialized with an operating site. Bob Harris is the leader of this group, if I am not mistaken. A search on his name turns up a few discussions of equipment and efforts throughout the area.

Here is a partial roster:
http://www.bera.org/cgi-bin/pnaerc-query.pl?sel_allown=RAIL+Foundation&match_target=&Tech=Yes&pagelen=200
Apparently two cars are his at Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum:
http://www.bera.org/cgi-bin/pnaerc-query.pl?sel_allown=Hoosier+Valley+Railroad+Museum&match_target=&Tech=Yes&pagelen=200

Many thanks for that. I saw the pair at the HVRM the previous year (2012) but assumed, at the time, they were owned by Hoosier Valley themselves for potential use as hauled passenger cars.

This may have been discussed before. Has there been any attempt to restore South Shore equipment for excursion operation on the South Shore itself?

I would love that idea for some retro excursions on the South Shore. Harris tried to revive the coal supply for the Notre Dame railroad using the railroad with the south shore cars and that locomotive, it was all over the news. However Notre Dame switched to gas supply and is no longer supplied with coal, the Notre Dame and Western is gone, the engine they had is now at the Hoosier Valley with the agreement they would restore it to operating condition.
The park service cars have been donated to East Troy, but Harris still owns his cars and is still trying to get the park service to get their park train going using his cars. So we'll see how it goes.

Yes, Bob Harris owns the two cars located at HVRM, numbers 4 and 31. Bob keeps the roofs tarped and the cars are dry inside. There are two problems with them; no seats and no windows (black painted plywood in the openings). From what I have heard, Bob always intended these as "parts cars" for his other equipment, but don't know if that is true of not.

Les

Did Bob Harris own the 2 trailer /coach cars that were recently scrapped at French Lick?

AlcoC420 -

I am pretty certain the Bob did NOT own those two trailers. Quite a few years ago, he told HVRM that the cars were probably available, but I went down and looked at them and they were both in horrible shape. I can't recall for sure, but I seem to recall that those were two cars owned by the NPS and "loaned" to the IRM folks there at French Lick. If Bob had owned the cars, he wouldn't have let them get so bad.

Les

Every time I hear this I get mad about how the C&O did major disservice when they allowed the cars to wear and tear and not maintain them when they were expecting to abandon the passenger service.

Was CLS&SB Car#73 that was being beautifully restored/ rebuilt new in 2006-9 ever finished?

http://photos.cityrails.net/s/?p=139169

ted_roy -

I heard not too long ago, that work had been suspended but then recently was resumed. I am not sure just where things stand at present. Perhaps someone has some current information.

Les

Is any of that car, no. 73, original?

73 looks REALLY good compared to the photo I have.