Chicago South Shore & South Bend 504




Facts and Figures


Current Number504
Railway RepresentedChicago South Shore & South Bend
BuilderSt. Louis Car Company
Built In1925
Builder's order id1389
Currently in (State)Illinois
--(Locality)Union
Totally out of svc date1975
(Initial retirement date)
Car Typefreight trailer
-subtypeconverted interurban car
-designation
Statusstored inoperable
More infohttp://www.irm.org/player/csssb504
Gauge4'8.5"
Constructionsteel
Roof typeAR
EndedDE
Length61'6"
Width9'6"
Height13'3"
Weight71180
#Seatsn/a
#Wheels/Conf.8
Total HP0
TrucksBaldwin
BrakesATM
Compressor
Control
Motors
Voltage (if not 600DC)1500vDC
NotesOriginally Indiana Service Corporation baggage-coach #377, then Indiana Railroad coach-RPO #377

Car 504 in operation at IRM in 2023
Flickr
photo: https://www.flickr.com/photos/76677346@N04/53036104591/

Car 504 in operation at IRM in 2023
The Trolley Dodger
photo: https://thetrolleydodger.com/2023/07/02/70-for-70-at-irm-part-one/

Car History by Frank Hicks


Chicago South Shore & South Bend 504
This interurban freight trailer has a more unusual history than most. It was built for ISC as an interurban combine, and ran on that system's lines in Indiana for five years until ISC became part of the great Indiana Railroad system. IR rebuilt the three cars of the 375-377 series into railway post office cars and put them to use in this unusual capacity. The three RPO's survived on IR until the end of interurban service in 1941, at which time all three were sold to the only other interurban line then operating in Indiana: the South Shore. The South Shore converted 376 into a line car while 375 and 377 became express package trailers. These cars were designed to run in passenger trains and had control lines so that they could be run mid-train; they were often used to transport newspapers. Car 504 was retired in 1975 and acquired by IRM, which has repainted it and put it on display.


Ownership History


OwnerCar NumFromToPreservation?Loan?
Indiana Service Corporation (Indiana, Fort Wayne)3771925 1930 NO NO
Indiana Railroad (Indiana, Indianapolis)3771930 1941 NO NO
Chicago South Shore & South Bend (Indiana, Michigan City)5041941 1975 NO NO
Illinois Railway Museum (Illinois, Union)5041975 present YES NO