Chicago North Shore and Milwaukee #162
Type: Steel Interurban Car
Built - 1915, J.G. Brill Car Co. Seats - 58 Length – 56’ 0” Width – 8’ 8” Height – 12’ 5” Weight – 90,280 lbs. |
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During the early 20th century, travel by electric interurban and streetcar systems in the United States was quick and popular. Many interurban systems could exceed speeds of 50 miles an hour, and so the interurban railroads were a fast, clean, and quiet form of transportation. The Chicago North Shore and Milwaukee Railroad was dubbed a “super interurban,” with the famed "Electroliners" introduced in 1941 being capable of exceeding 105 miles an hour.
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The “North Shore Line’s” predecessor was the Chicago and Milwaukee Electric Railroad Company, which completed the speedy interurban line between Chicago and Evanston, Illinois, where riders could transfer to Chicago “L” rapid transit trains for the final trip into the city.
In 1915, the company ordered 15 new all-steel interurban cars to replace the slower wooden cars. These new cars were numbered 150-164, and Car 162 went into service on October 17, 1915. These cars were capable of exceeding speeds of 80 miles an hour on the line and could operate alone or in trains of up to seven cars. However, the “Shore Line Route” had lots of speed restrictions and many stops placed closely together. In 1916, the company became the North Shore Line when it was taken over by Samuel Insull. In 1919, the North Shore Line was granted trackage rights on the “L,” which it operated on between Evanston and the Loop and Roosevelt Road. Insull also built new stations and modernized the railroad by improving speeds and service. |
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In a bizarre accident on June 4, 1918, Car 162 collided with a small Chicago & North Western steam-powered switch engine in North Chicago where the tracks of the two railroads crossed. Car 162 stopped nearly in time, barely touching the left drive rod of the C&NW locomotive. However, power was still applied to the locomotive and the drive rod continued to move, locking onto the front end of Car 162 and causing the locomotive and its tender to gently tip over. While there were only minor injuries to the C&NW crew, and only minor damage to Car 162, the steam locomotive was heavily damaged.
In 1926, with the completion of the much faster Skokie Valley Route and the ordering of more interurban cars, 162 and the other older cars were pushed away from express trains, and onto local service between lightly used stations and on the branch line to Mundelein, Illinois. Because of this, unlike later steel cars ordered by the North Shore Line, the 162 was never modernized, and it retained it's original interior seats, fixtures and lighting for it's entire operating life.
After the North Shore Line was shut down by the Susquehanna Holding Company on January 21, 1963, Car 162 was purchased by the American Museum of Electricity in New York, near Schenectady. However, the museum’s plans to build a large campus were never achieved, and the entire enterprise collapsed in 1970, before any construction began. Its collections were dispersed and the Connecticut Trolley Museum in East Windsor, CT acquired Car 162. The East Troy Railroad Museum acquired the car from the Connecticut Trolley Museum in 2022. Today, the car is one of only four former “Chicago and Milwaukee Electric” cars in existence and the oldest surviving North Shore Line passenger car.
In 1926, with the completion of the much faster Skokie Valley Route and the ordering of more interurban cars, 162 and the other older cars were pushed away from express trains, and onto local service between lightly used stations and on the branch line to Mundelein, Illinois. Because of this, unlike later steel cars ordered by the North Shore Line, the 162 was never modernized, and it retained it's original interior seats, fixtures and lighting for it's entire operating life.
After the North Shore Line was shut down by the Susquehanna Holding Company on January 21, 1963, Car 162 was purchased by the American Museum of Electricity in New York, near Schenectady. However, the museum’s plans to build a large campus were never achieved, and the entire enterprise collapsed in 1970, before any construction began. Its collections were dispersed and the Connecticut Trolley Museum in East Windsor, CT acquired Car 162. The East Troy Railroad Museum acquired the car from the Connecticut Trolley Museum in 2022. Today, the car is one of only four former “Chicago and Milwaukee Electric” cars in existence and the oldest surviving North Shore Line passenger car.
Car 162 Ownership History:
Chicago and Milwaukee Electric Railway #162 - 1915-1917
Chicago North Shore and Milwaukee #162 - 1917-1963
American Museum of Electricity - 1963-1971
Connecticut Trolley Museum - 1971-2022
East Troy Electric Railroad - 2022-Present
Chicago and Milwaukee Electric Railway #162 - 1915-1917
Chicago North Shore and Milwaukee #162 - 1917-1963
American Museum of Electricity - 1963-1971
Connecticut Trolley Museum - 1971-2022
East Troy Electric Railroad - 2022-Present
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