Nostalgia & History > North Shore 458 and 459 at North Chicago, IL

Chicago North Shore & Milwaukee 458 and 459 (ex-Oregon Electric Motors) at North Chicago, IL April 15, 1962.
 "The North Shore had two huge articulated B-B+B-B units homebuilt by the Oregon Electric in 1940 and 1941 and acquired by the North Shore in 1947. The 458 (Oregon Electric 50) had a big boxcab carbody with tiny steeple cab noses at each end, while the 459 (OE 51) had a center cab and long hoods at either end. In spite of their drastically different appearances, both units were essentially the same mechanically." (from "North Shore Line: 25 Years Gone" by Jim Boyd in Railfan & Railroad Classics - January 1988)

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Wonderful!
Bob

The Illinois Terminal had homemade B-B+B-B super steeple cabs too.

Very NICE!!

Larry

I recall seeing photos of these or the IT versions when I was much younger, probably late fifties or early Sixties and always thought they were the ultimate trolley locomotives. Hard to beat aGG-1 for interesting electrics but these really caught my eye.
Go 

If my memory serves correct the OE built the 51 with the centered cab becsuse of all of enroute switching. I've always thought of it as an early electric road switcher. In any case they looked great on the North Shore. A lot more colorful than the OE black dress.