 |
RailroadForums.com |
Built in:1944 by Milwaukee Electric Railway & Transport
Out-of-service/Retired:1979
Type of car:locomotive (steeplecab)
Current Owner:East Troy Electric Railroad(East Troy, Wisconsin)
Car History by Frank Hicks
East Troy Electric Railroad L9
Wisconsin's great interurban system was TMER&L, also known as "the TM" and the Milwaukee Electric. The TM was well known for building its own rolling stock, including virtually its entire work car fleet, a series of locomotives and many of its passenger cars. The second-to-last in a series of half a dozen similar steeplecabs built by the TM's Cold Spring Shops was L9. Constructed during World War II, it was used on the Milwaukee Electric system until electric operations ended and WEPCO acquired what little rolling stock remained for use at its power plants. Locomotive L9 was used at the Lakeside power plant near Milwaukee, switching coal cars to and from the railroad interchange. In 1972 it was donated to TWERHS and moved to that museum's site at East Troy, however in 1974 WEPCO asked for it back. In its second career at Lakeside, L9 saw another five years of service until WEPCO donated it - again - to TWERHS and it was moved to East Troy - again - in 1979. When TWERHS went defunct in 1989 and its line inherited by ETER, the locomotive was acquired by the latter organization and pressed into freight service hauling coal cars and other freight cars to industries along the East Troy line. It was used in this capacity until freight service ended around 2002; it is still maintained in operating condition.
Ownership History:The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Transport Company #L9 1944-1963 / Wisconsin Electric Power Company #L9 1963-1974 / 1st preserved by The Wisconsin Electric Railway Historical Society 1972-1974 / Wisconsin Electric Power Company #L9 1974-1979 / later preserved by The Wisconsin Electric Railway Historical Society 1979-1985 / East Troy Electric Railroad #L9 1989-now / East Troy Electric Railroad(East Troy, Wisconsin) 1985-present
Facts and Figures
| Status:operated occasionally | Gauge:4'8.5" |
| Construction:steel | Roof type:AR | Ended:DE |
| Length:31'8" | Width:9'6" | Weight:105700# |
| #Seats:n/a | #Wheels/Conf.:8 (B-B) | Total HP: |
| Trucks:TMER&L M100AB | Brakes:AMM | Compressor: |
| Motors:GE 207B (4) | Voltage (if not 600DC): |
PHOTO
PHOTO