CNSM ("North Shore Line") 154

rock island lines · **Joined:** Mon Feb 17, 2014 4:20 pm **Posts:** 487

I saw the following slide on Ebay tonight of CNSM 154. The description reads, "North Shore 154, 7/72, North Dayton".

I didn't recognize the location nor the car, so I Googled it.

Turns out the car deteriorated badly in Worthington, Ohio. Recent photos show it without a roof.

It was listed on Ozark Mtn Railcar not long ago and sold. I wonder where it ended up?

The "for sale" listing: CNSM 154 on Ozark

The slide: CNSM 154 on Ebay

softwerkslex · **Posted:** Sat Mar 03, 2018 9:29 am

That is Ohio Railway Museum, "ORM", which can be found discussed occasionally in this forum. It is not in or near Dayton. It is north of Columbus.

ORM has had numerous difficulties, and their collection has deteriorated consequently. Their location is also confined by surrounding development, but it would seem to be extremely convenient to volunteers.

wesp · **Posted:** Sat Mar 03, 2018 9:36 am

According to the Preserved North American Electric Railway Cars database, CNS&M 154 was purchased by Grass Lake Historical Society in Michigan. The car will be scrapped for parts for restoration of Michigan Electric 29.

Wesley

dinwitty · **Joined:** Wed Oct 22, 2008 8:18 pm **Posts:** 2226

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=28691

that was asked 7 years ago.

I hoped an update might be here, but nope

http://www.bera.org/cgi-bin/pnaerc-quer ... agelen=200

oops edit, okay see above

lmckay175 · **Posted:** Sun Mar 04, 2018 9:41 pm

It is safe to say that this car is, unfortunately, no more.

It has apparently been scrapped by the historical society that purchased the car. Some of the parts were acquired by IRM. I saw the truck frames from 154 being stored at IRM yesterday.

rock island lines · **Joined:** Mon Feb 17, 2014 4:20 pm **Posts:** 487

wesp wrote:

According to the Preserved North American Electric Railway Cars database, ...

Thanks for the link. So three CNS&M 1915 Brill cars survived into the preservation era. But only one (#160 at IRM) was conserved.

Frank Hicks · **Posted:** Mon Mar 05, 2018 1:55 am

lmckay175 wrote:

It is safe to say that this car is, unfortunately, no more.

Has the car's body been cut up? As of a year or so ago, the body had been largely stripped but was still somewhat intact. I'd guessed it would be scrapped sooner or later.

rock island lines wrote:

So three CNS&M 1915 Brill cars survived into the preservation era. But only one (#160 at IRM) was conserved.

That's essentially correct. Car 162 at Warehouse Point is still extant but is in poor condition and I believe it has been deaccessed and offered for sale.

NS 3322 · **Posted:** Wed Aug 28, 2019 10:40 am

Believe it or not the car still exists! I found the car on private property in rural Jackson County, near Grass Lake. It appears to be stripped and gutted of everything useful.
I am unsure if it is still for sale.

Here is a photo I took from the road on August 3rd, 2019:

Many parts from this car went to Michigan Electric #29, seen here at the Lost Railway Museum.

Saddletank1 · **Posted:** Fri Aug 30, 2019 4:31 am

I felt the need to say something here on the behalf of ORM.

#154 is one of many pieces of the collection that was sold to downsize and to give a better home in the past 15 years or so, or in her case, go towards another restoration. There came a point where the museum realized that it had way too many pieces for the group to take care of (and this was before the big administration change, too) so several were donated to other museums like the two Pennsy cars that are now enjoying life at Dennison Depot, or sold off like the Detroit Street Railway Peter Witt streetcar (that I believe went to Seashore Trolley Museum, please correct me if I'm wrong) or the Pittsburgh PCC that went to a private owner in Texas.

#154's departure helped fund several full carbody tarps to help stabilize the rest of our collection and as sad as it was to see her go, she was way beyond our care and went to a good cause for the folks at Grass Lake.

We have another piece that we'd love to find another home for if anyone wants a Chicago L 4400 Series car, but it seems so many of those were saved that folks only want parts and nobody is willing to take the whole car.