Northwestern Elevated 24




Facts and Figures


Current Number24
Railway RepresentedNorthwestern Elevated
BuilderPullman
Built In1898
Builder's order id919
Currently in (State)Illinois
--(Locality)Union
Totally out of svc date1958
(Initial retirement date)
Car Typerapid transit car
-subtypeopen platform car
-designation
Statusoperated occasionally
More infohttp://www.irm.org/player/nwerr24
Gauge4'8.5"
Constructionwood
Roof typeRR
EndedDE
Length46'1"
Width8'8"
Height12'7"
Weight65000
#Seats42
#Wheels/Conf.8
Total HP320
TrucksHedley/Sterns MCB
BrakesAMR (M23)
CompressorD3-EG
ControlGE M (C36)
MotorsGE 55 (2)
Voltage (if not 600DC)
NotesUsed as work motor 1954-1958

Car 24 in operation at IRM in 2022
Flickr
photo: https://www.flickr.com/photos/jterry618/52136240320/

Car 24 on display at IRM in 2022
Flickr
photo: https://www.flickr.com/photos/genericrailfan/52199035043/

Car History by Frank Hicks


Chicago Rapid Transit 1024
The oldest surviving car from Chicago's Northwestern Elevated line, and one of only two open-platform Chicago "L" cars in existence, is this car. It was part of a series of 38 cars which formed the original fleet of the NWE, which was the last of the Chicago rapid transit system's four companies to be built. Many of Chicago's older wood "L" cars, like 1024, ran for over half a century. In the mid-1950's, with 6000-series cars being delivered by the hundreds, 1024 was put into work service. It only ran in this capacity for four years, and in 1958 was acquired by IRM. It ran itself under power to IRM's original site at North Chicago along the North Shore Line, but along the way one of its motors shorted out; soon afterwards both of its motors were removed and have not been reinstalled since. During the 1970's 1024 was regularly operated at IRM as a control trailer but it was grounded during the 1980's due to the need to rebuild its platforms. IRM's second-oldest electric car, it is currently on public display.


Ownership History


OwnerCar NumFromToPreservation?Loan?
Northwestern Elevated (Illinois, Chicago)241898 1913 NO NO
Chicago Elevated Railway (Illinois, Chicago)10241913 1924 NO NO
Chicago Rapid Transit (Illinois, Chicago)10241924 1947 NO NO
Chicago Transit Authority (Illinois, Chicago)10241947 1954 NO NO
Chicago Transit Authority (Illinois, Chicago)S1111954 1958 NO NO
Illinois Railway Museum (Illinois, Union)10241958 2016 YES NO
Illinois Railway Museum (Illinois, Union)242016 present YES NO


Additional Media

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Car 24 in operation at IRM in 2023
VideoPress
video: https://videopress.com/v/uW7cB2GZ