Chicago Surface Lines X4
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Dave's Electric Railroads |
Built in:1946 by Chicago Surface Lines
Out-of-service/Retired:1963
Type of car:crane (self-propelled derrick)
Current Owner:Illinois Railway Museum(Union, Illinois)
Car History by Frank Hicks
Chicago Surface Lines X4
The only piece of actual work equipment surviving from the Chicago streetcar system is derrick car X4. Built as a Chicago Railways dump motor in 1910, it was heavily rebuilt by CSL in 1946 as a single-ended cab-on-flat derrick. It was used by CTA on the surface system until the last streetcar line was abandoned in 1958, at which time CTA transferred X4 to the rapid transit system. The derrick's design did not lend itself to use on the elevated system, and within five years it was retired by CTA and sold to the Electric Railway Historical Society in Downers Grove, Illinois. ERHS soon moved the X4 to IRM for storage, and when the Society folded in 1973 the derrick was donated to IRM. It is more-or-less operational, but its narrow-tread wheels preclude it from use on IRM's trackage. It is on display.
Ownership History:Chicago Railways #2 1910-1914 / Chicago Surface Lines #N2 1914-1946 / Chicago Surface Lines #X4 1946-1947 / Chicago Transit Authority #X4 1947-1958 / Chicago Transit Authority #S344 1958-1963 / 1st preserved by Electric Railway Historical Society 1963-1973 / Illinois Railway Museum(Union, Illinois) 1973-present
Facts and Figures
| Status:displayed inoperable | Gauge:4'8.5" |
| Construction:wood | Roof type:AR | Ended:SE |
| Length:40'0" | Width:8'4" | Weight:51000# |
| #Seats:n/a | #Wheels/Conf.:8 (B-B) | Total HP:160 |
| Trucks:Arch Bar | Brakes:Straight Air | Compressor:CP-27 |
| Motors:GE 80A (4) | Voltage (if not 600DC): |
Notes
Rebuilt from CSL dump motor #N2
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