Chicago Surface Lines 4001
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Dave's Electric Railroads |
Built in:1934 by Pullman-Standard (ord#6429)
Out-of-service/Retired:1970 (1948)
Type of car:streetcar (pre-PCC prototype)
Current Owner:Illinois Railway Museum(Union, Illinois)
Car History by Frank Hicks
Chicago Surface Lines 4001
This unique car was built as a prototype pre-PCC streetcar. CSL issued an order in 1933 to Brill and Pullman-Standard to build a modern prototype streetcar. While in the end CSL elected not to put either car into production, both cars operated in Chicago for over a decade. Car 4001 was the more revolutionary of the two owing to its all-aluminum construction. Other modern features included all-aluminum trucks, forced-air ventillation, dynamic braking and an early form of rotary accelerator control. Unfortunately, it was highly unreliable and its unique design made it difficult to find replacement parts. Retired in 1948, in 1953 it was stripped of trucks and interior appointments and made into a yard office. In 1970 it was acquired by the Electric Railway Historical Society, which stored it at the Illinois Railway Museum until ERHS dissolved in 1973 and the car was ceded to IRM. Little restoration work has been done on the car, and the carbody is currently on display.
Ownership History:Chicago Surface Lines #4001 1934-1947 / Chicago Transit Authority #4001 1947-1970 / 1st preserved by Electric Railway Historical Society 1970-1973 / Illinois Railway Museum(Union, Illinois) 1973-present
Facts and Figures
| Status:stored inoperable | Gauge:4'8.5" |
| Construction:aluminum | Roof type:AR | Ended:SE |
| Length:47'6" | Width:8'6" | Weight:29600# |
| #Seats:58 | #Wheels/Conf.:8 (B-B) | Total HP:240 |
| Trucks:[Special] | Brakes:Air-Electric | Compressor:[R-10] |
| Motors:[WH 1430D (4)] | Voltage (if not 600DC): |
Notes
Body only, on trucks; used as yard shop 1948-1970
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