Passenger Trains > South Shore train with partial Metra equipment

This caught me by surprise, so I only grabbed a going away view. This scheduled South Shore sunday train with passengers onboard had a mixed equipment set. I can't recall ever seeing that before. Here is an attempt to visually show the consist:

< is cab facing forward
> is cab facing backwards.

<SS <Metra >SS >SS >Metra

I've been wondering if South Shore would have the equipment for the new Hammond extension. Will they be leasing Metra Electric equipment? Note again that this was a revenue train with passengers in it. 

 

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The two Metra numbers in this train are 1252 and 1295, from the middle and end of Metra's order. 

From what I see, this is what the ex-Metra car numbers are, and they should have the NICTD logo:

"Cars 1201-1226 are similar to cars 301-314 except they were built for the Metra Electric District. Cars 301-314 were an add on to Metra's order for 1201-1226. The cars have been reconditions and carry the NICTD logo. NICTD started a 15 year lease in 2023."

I railfan the CN Chicago Sub constantly next to Metra Electric, while generally ignoring the electric. That's to say... thousands of trains have zipped by and I haven't paid close attention. That said, I can't ever recall seeing a mixed consist. 

It's also interesting that it is not a "South Shore pair" + "Metra Pair", but a true random mix. 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/01/26 14:51 by inCHI.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2021/01/25/south-shore-to-lease-double-decker-trains-from-metra/

See this Chicago Tribune article from 2021.  They are leasing 26 Metra cars for 15 years.

Yep ... it is all "Metra" equipment in that train. Leased to the South Shore. They just have not changed the logo on the cars still labeled Metra.

Note the lack of an end vestibule on the cars. NICTDs 300 series cars have vestibule opposite of the cab end of each car with steps for low boarding. The center doors have no steps on NICTD 300 series. The NICTD logoed cars in these photos have no vestibule and steps available at the center doors.

The lease was under the umbrella of providing cars for the Monon Corridor but the cars can run on either line.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/01/26 15:43 by justalurker66.

My understanding is that several of the cars are still in the reconditioning queue and regular Metra cars have been provided as fill-ins until that work is complete.
Last weekend at Ogden Dunes, we saw METX 1295, 1283, 1326 and 1344 all with Metra markings mixed with reconditioned cars including 1202, 1204, 1223, 1309, 1306 all with South Shore logos.

Posted from iPhone

While we are at it: What is the satus of the Monon Corridor? I thought I heard it was supposed to be up and running before the end of this month. Sorry if I have been out of the loop.

Victor Baird



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/02/26 11:33 by wabash2800.

justalurker66 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Note the lack of an end vestibule on the cars.
> NICTDs 300 series cars have vestibule opposite of
> the cab end of each car with steps for low
> boarding. The center doors have no steps on NICTD
> 300 series. The NICTD logoed cars in these photos
> have no vestibule and steps available at the
> center doors.
>
> The lease was under the umbrella of providing cars
> for the Monon Corridor but the cars can run on
> either line.

I've ridden both Metra Electric trains and South Shore bilevels, but never realized the difference! Thanks for pointing it out. 

wabash2800 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> While we are at it: What is the satus of the Monon Corridor? I thought I heard it was supposed to up
> and running before the end of this month. Sorry if I have been out of the loop.

Last word was sometime between the 16th and the 30th of what is now this month.

Thanks, That is exciting.

Victor Baird


justalurker66 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> wabash2800 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > While we are at it: What is the satus of the
> Monon Corridor? I thought I heard it was supposed
> to up
> > and running before the end of this month. Sorry
> if I have been out of the loop.
>
> Last word was sometime between the 16th and the
> 30th of what is now this month.