Chicago Lake Shore & South Bend 73

Facts and Figures

Current Number	73
Railway Represented	Chicago Lake Shore & South Bend
Builder	Niles Car & Manufacturing
Built In	1908
Builder's order id
Currently in (State)	Illinois
--(Locality)	Murphysboro
Totally out of svc date	1940
(Initial retirement date)	1938
Car Type	interurban
-subtype	combine
-designation
Status	undergoing restoration
More info
Gauge	4'8.5"
Construction	wood
Roof type	RR
Ended	DE
Length	58'4"
Width	10'0"
Height	13'8"
Weight	111350
#Seats	46
#Wheels/Conf.	8
Total HP	500
Trucks	[Baldwin 90-35]
Brakes
Compressor
Control	[WH AB (189)]
Motors	[WH 148D (4)]
Voltage (if not 600DC)	6600vAC
Notes	Converted to work motor in 1927; used as yard office 1938-1940; body only

Car 73 under restoration in Murphysboro, Illinois, in 2020
Preserved Traction Blog
photo: https://pnaerc.blogspot.com/2020/10/lake-shore-73-progress.html

Car History by Frank Hicks

Chicago Lake Shore & South Bend 73 The only survivor from the CLS&SB, the predecessor to the famous South Shore line, is this heavyweight wooden interurban car. Built by Niles, 73 was constructed for service on the 11,000-volt AC CLS&SB. It was designed for heavy service, and cars of this type were known to pull heavyweight steam-railroad coaches as trailers. Car 73 had a very unusual history. It was involved in a terrible wreck at Shadyside in 1909 in which 12 people were killed and 25 were injured, but was rebuilt in 1910 and continued in service. Rebuilt electrically around 1924 for service on the new 1500-volt DC line of the South Shore, 73 was retired from passenger service in 1927. After retirement it was rebuilt into work motor 1126, and was used in various capacities by the South Shore until it was retired for good in 1941. Sold for use as a house, the carbody remained largely intact. By the 1980's there were several preservation entities interested in acquiring the body of 73, but the homeowner refused to sell. Finally the car was sold in 1984 to Bob Harris of RAIL Foundation, who put the car in storage pending restoration work.

Ownership History

Owner	Car Num	From	To	Preservation?	Loan?
Chicago Lake Shore & South Bend (Indiana, Michigan City)	73	1908	1925	NO	NO
Chicago South Shore & South Bend (Indiana, Michigan City)	1126	1925	1940	NO	NO
Private owner	73	1994	2022	YES	NO
South Shore Line Museum Project (Indiana, Michigan City)	73	2022	present	YES	NO