Chicago North Shore & Milwaukee 757

Fallen Flag Railroad Photos

Built in:1930 by Standard Steel (ord#P3460)
Out-of-service/Retired:1963
Type of car:interurban (standard coach)
Current Owner:Illinois Railway Museum(Union, Illinois)

Car History by Frank Hicks

Chicago North Shore & Milwaukee 757 While this car is not tremendously significant in and of itself, it has had a very interesting post-preservation life. Built as part of the North Shore's last order for standard interurban cars, 757 underwent two rebuildings - one to make it into a Skokie Valley Route car and one to make it into a "Silverliner". It ended its days in the faux stainless-steel paint scheme, and in 1963 was sold to a North Shore fan named Richard Kratsch. Kratsch stored 757 and an identical car, 763, at the Cold Spring Shop complex of what was then Milwaukee & Suburban Transit (formerly the Milwaukee Electric). The two heavy interurbans were even operated at the shop on occasion. In the late 1960's they were donated to a newly-formed group called The Wisconsin Electric Railway Historical Society, which - after several years of searching for a site - settled in East Troy on the still-electrified Municipality of East Troy Railroad. Car 757 was the first car to operate for TWERHS, and was a regular service car there until around 1988. At that time TWERHS was evicted from the METRR, and the museum that the Society had formed dissolved. Most of the equipment, including 757, was sold to IRM and was moved to Union during 1988. Car 757 was then placed in operation at IRM, and has been used in regular operation since that time.

Ownership History:Chicago North Shore & Milwaukee #757 1930-1963 / 1st preserved by The Wisconsin Electric Railway Historical Society ?-1988 / Illinois Railway Museum(Union, Illinois) 1988-present

Facts and Figures

Status:operated occasionally		Gauge:4'8.5"
Construction:steel	Roof type:AR	Ended:DE
Length:55'3"	Width:8'8"	Weight:103800#
#Seats:52	#Wheels/Conf.:8 (B-B)	Total HP:560
Trucks:Baldwin 84-30AA	Brakes:AMU (M23)	Compressor:DH-25
Motors:WH 557R5 (4)	Voltage (if not 600DC):

PHOTO PHOTO