Chicago North Shore & Milwaukee 411



Facts and Figures


Current Number411
Railway RepresentedChicago North Shore & Milwaukee
BuilderCincinnati Car Company
Built In1923
Builder's order id2640
Currently in (State)Michigan
--(Locality)Wells
Totally out of svc date1963
(Initial retirement date)
Car Typeinterurban
-subtypecoach, converted observation
-designation
Statusstored inoperable
More info
Gauge4'8.5"
Constructionsteel
Roof typeAR
EndedDE
Length55'3"
Width8'8"
Height12'7"
Weight78600
#Seats58
#Wheels/Conf.8
Total HP280
TrucksBaldwin 84-30AA
BrakesAMU (M23)
CompressorDH-25
ControlWH HLF-28A3
Motors[WH 557R5 (2)]
Voltage (if not 600DC)

Car 411 being pushed by a diesel in 2018
YouTube
photo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gdaBKJvIug&t=568s
 
Car History by Frank Hicks


Chicago North Shore & Milwaukee 411
One of only three 400-series parlor/dining cars from the North Shore preserved, car 411 was built as an open-ended observation car. Retired during the Depression because of declining revenues, in World War II the car was rebuilt as a coach to help handle the massive crowds going to and from Glenview Naval Station. Car 411 was retired in 1963 when the North Shore quit and was acquired by the Trolley Museum of New York, a loosely-knit collection of equipment that bounced around to various locations (including Trolley Valhalla in New Jersey and the Coney Island Shops of the New York subway system) in the Tri-State area. The car was evidently stored on the South Brooklyn Railway for a time, but in 1973 TMNY deaccessed and sold the car. The buyer was John Lauber, who purchased 411 on behalf of The Wisconsin Electric Railway Historical Society in East Troy, Wisconsin. The car was moved to TWERHS and was stored there, but Lauber was never reimbursed for the car and therefore technically retained ownership. When TWERHS dissolved in 1988, Lauber sold the car to John Larkin, owner of the Escanaba & Lake Superior Railroad. For the last 15 years 411 has been stored at the E&LS facility in Escanaba, Michigan.

Ownership History


OwnerCar NumFromToPreservation?Loan?
Chicago North Shore & Milwaukee (Illinois, Highwood)4111923 1963 NO NO
Trolley Museum of New York (New York, Kingston)4111963 1973 YES NO
The Wisconsin Electric Railway Historical Society (Wisconsin, East Troy)4111973 1989 YES NO
Escanaba & Lake Superior (Michigan, Wells)4111989 present YES NO

Additional Media