Chicago North Shore & Milwaukee 801-802




Facts and Figures


Current Number801-802
Railway RepresentedChicago North Shore & Milwaukee
BuilderSt. Louis Car Company
Built In1941
Builder's order id1706
Currently in (State)Illinois
--(Locality)Union
Totally out of svc date1982
(Initial retirement date)1977
Car Typeinterurban
-subtype"Electroliner" trainset
-designation
Statusundergoing restoration
More infohttp://www.irm.org/player/cnsm801-802
Gauge4'8.5"
Constructionsteel
Roof typeAR
EndedDE
Length155'4"
Width9'2"
Height12'7"
Weight214000
#Seats136
#Wheels/Conf.20
Total HP
TrucksCommonwealth
BrakesHSC D22 (ME38A)
CompressorWABCO DH25 (3)
ControlWH HB (XMA1)
MotorsWH 1443B (8)
Voltage (if not 600DC)
NotesArticulated four-car trainset; later Philadelphia Suburban Transportation "Liberty Liner" "Valley Forge"

"Electroliner" 801-802 in operation at IRM in 2021
Facebook
photo: https://www.facebook.com/IllinoisRailwayMuseum/photos/a.445577782167744/4507672712624877/?type=3

"Electroliner" 801-802 in operation at IRM in 2023
Flickr
photo: https://www.flickr.com/photos/19908866@N03/53015948631/

Car History by Frank Hicks


Chicago North Shore & Milwaukee 801-802
One of the most famous interurban designs of the steel car era was the North Shore's "Electroliner." Two of these four-car streamlined articulated trainsets were built on the eve of World War II; though inseparable, each trainset bore two numbers. The "Electroliners" had to be able to ease through the close-clearance stations on the Chicago elevated; travel through the streets of Milwaukee; and race along the Skokie Valley Route at speeds of over 75mph. They were tremendously successful, though there were never more than two. When the North Shore quit, both trainsets were sold to PSTC (Red Arrow), which rebuilt them as "Liberty Liners" - 801-802 became Red Arrow "Valley Forge" and operated on the Norristown Line until the late 1970's. The "Liberty Liners" weren't truly suited to the Red Arrow, but their plush accommodations made them flagships of a sort. IRM bought 801-802 from SEPTA in 1982, and during the next nine years the trainset was heavily rebuilt and restored to its North Shore configuration. Work on restoring the interior is still ongoing.


Ownership History


OwnerCar NumFromToPreservation?Loan?
Chicago North Shore & Milwaukee (Illinois, Highwood)801-8021941 1963 NO NO
Philadelphia Suburban Transportation (Pennsylvania, Philadelphia)801-8021963 1970 NO NO
Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (Pennsylvania, Philadelphia)801-8021970 1982 NO NO
Illinois Railway Museum (Illinois, Union)801-8021982 present YES NO


Additional Media

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"Electroliner" 801-802 in operation at IRM in 2021
YouTube
video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWfo_cGjv8U