Tim Peters reports that car 24 operated under its own power for the first time in more than fifty years today. Here are some pictures taken about noon.
This car was built in 1898, and is now our oldest piece of operating equipment. Tim has been working on its restoration for the last four years with hardly a break, for an average of four or five days a week. Congratulations!
11 comments:
Will it run this year, for example on showcase weekend?
Lucas McKay
We certainly hope so, at least that's the plan. Of course, we can't make any money-back guarantees.
You should remember that antiquated equipment like this typically has a breaking-in period, during which latent weaknesses and faults are found and corrected. In my experience this breaking-in period can last anywhere from 20 to 40 years.
Congratulations to Tim Peters, and the Electric Car Department for yet another high quality restoration.
Congratulations to all of otyu who make this happen!
Dealing with those big Elevated Car motors is always a challenge!
And the rest of the car looks great also. Especially those new marker lights!
Ted Miles, IRM Member
Was the 2433 spotted next to 24 intentionally for the photo op? IRM's oldest and newest 'L' cars, 78 years between them.
Will 24 be able to MU with other cars like 1797, 1268, the 4000s?
Anonymous Anonymous said...
WOW! I am very excited to see this. I really wish I did not live so far away and was too broke to help out on this project. I will be very excited to see the only running Chicago L Gate car run.
Sorry, forgot to type my name
Will O'Malley
MPM: The 2400s were sitting on the pit lead because their space in the barn is needed for something else for a couple of days. If I'd have known 24 was going to run, I'd have spotted them further east to give some more room!
R. W. Schauer
To answer the question about MU operation: the 24 will MU with the other wood cars, but not the 4000's due to the low/high voltage problem.
I looked for car 24 in the IRM equipment roster and did not find it. Can I assume that it is a South Side car?
George Foelschow, IRM member on the left coast.
It will be listed as 1024. Each of the four original rapid transit companies had their own numbering system, with no more than three digits. When the Northwestern Elevated was incorporated into Chicago Rapid Transit, all of its cars had 1000 added to the number. So after 1913, the 24 became the 1024. Tim has been restoring it to the day the merger took place, so it would still be numbered 24 rather than 1024. Hope this helps.
24 was renumbered as 1024, but it was when the companies were combined as the "Chicago Elevated Railway Collateral Trust", which was sort of a holding company. They unified service and permitted universal transfers. The underlying companies still existed. The Chicago Rapid Transit Company was formed on January 9, 1924.
Bill Wulfert
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