Chicago Aurora & Elgin 409




Facts and Figures


Current Number409
Railway RepresentedChicago Aurora & Elgin
BuilderPullman
Built In1923
Builder's order id4674
Currently in (State)Illinois
--(Locality)Union
Totally out of svc date1962
(Initial retirement date)1957
Car Typeinterurban
-subtypecoach
-designation
Statusoperated often
More infohttp://www.irm.org/player/cae409
Gauge4'8.5"
Constructionsteel
Roof typeRR
EndedDE
Length56'10"
Width8'8"
Height13'2"
Weight103300
#Seats56
#Wheels/Conf.8
Total HP560
TrucksCommonwealth
BrakesAMU (M23)
CompressorD3-F
ControlGE M (C165)
MotorsGE 254 (4)
Voltage (if not 600DC)

Car 409 in operation at IRM in 2012
Flickr
photo: https://www.flickr.com/photos/46633980@N04/9953614454/

Car 409 in operation at IRM in 2020
Flickr
photo: https://www.flickr.com/photos/jterry618/50347211867/

Car History by Frank Hicks


Chicago Aurora & Elgin 409
Car 409 is the only survivor from the CA&E's first order for steel cars. One of 20 identical coaches built by Pullman in 1923, car 409 and its sisters operated daily on the CA&E until passenger service was abandoned on July 3, 1957. Only months before abandonment car 409 was modernized with welded side sheets and aluminum windows. Following abandonment, car 409 was stored for five years before being sold to Gerald Brookins for his Trolleyville museum line in Olmsted Falls, Ohio. It operated there until the property was sold in the early 2000's, and was moved to downtown Cleveland in May 2006 for storage on the rapid transit system. The Lake Shore Electric Railway, a project to create a trolley museum in Cleveland using the former Trolleyville collection, was terminated in 2010 and car 409 was sold to IRM in October of that year. Moved to Illinois the following January, car 409 was repainted and returned to operation by mid-2010.


Ownership History


OwnerCar NumFromToPreservation?Loan?
Chicago Aurora & Elgin (Illinois, Wheaton)4091923 1962 NO NO
Trolleyville, U.S.A. (Ohio, North Olmsted)4091962 2006 YES NO
Lake Shore Electric Railway (Ohio, Cleveland)4092006 2009 YES NO
Illinois Railway Museum (Illinois, Union)4092009 present YES NO


Additional Media

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Car 409 in operation at IRM in 2015
YouTube
video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80UFknsj51M