Ex-Metra Gallery Cars

The forum said Passenger, and Technically Metra transports passengers along a commuter line. I couldn't find a better place for this, so My apoligies if this is in the wrong forum.

Last night I went to hang out with my Cousin Micheal in Ottawah, IL and I drove down a road that goes past a CSX Line. Well there was a line of CSX/Seaboard hoppers there but inbetween them were Metra Commuter Coaches, Blue, white, orange stripped. I went up further and sure enough they still had the Metra logo on them. Just sitting on a siding behind a tavern. I'm going to go back and photograph them for this thread this weekend because I have the feeling their heading for the scrapper's torch and won't be there much longer. But it was a shock to see them there.

 

I don't know of any reason why this is not the correct forum for passenger stuff, but then I've been wrong many times in the past. :tb-ooh:

I doubt if those cars are heading for the torch. Many cities in the US, Canada, Mexico, and South America are starting or expanding their own commuter systems. I assume those cars would still have value on the used equipment market. If they were not rail-worthy, I doubt if they would have been allowed to be hauled down to your area from Chicago.

 

Yeah. They are probably perfectly good cars. Metra may have sold them to a city who wants to start a commuter line.

 

Don't want to ressurect and old thread, but I have the photographs finally! But now they've had their metra logo's painted over /sadness.

 

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Those cars appear to be in pretty good shape.It could be that they are heading to another commuter operator or to a rebuilder.
When I was still working, METRA had rebuilt a small number of 1950 vintage bi-level coaches, they came back from the rebuilder looking brand new, with new seats,flooring,electrical,electronics et al. They were difficult to distinguish from brand new.
Those Budd coaches are real Cadillacs. They will last forever. The stainless steel still looks
like brand new.

Charlie

 

Charlie, I hate to disagree, but these particular cars are not Budd but Pullman Sandard, they are EX CNW and were repainted into the Metra Paint Scheme for cars that were not Budd. These probably were operated on the North Central Service and as the new cars are being brought online from that Japanese maker (can't remember or pronounce the name) they are being sold off as they are as old or even a year or two older than the CBQ Budd cars.

 

I realize they are not Budd cars. My comment about the Budd cars durability applied to
the ones we used on the Aurora line. What does strike me remains, that the cars are in remarkably good shape which caused me to comment that they may be destined other than a scrap yard. The fact that the METRA name was obliterated reinforces that opinion.
Cars headed to scrap dont need their identity obscured.


Charlie