Hi,
i was wondering why some of Milwaukees fleet was repainted in UP colors, does anybody know?
Thanks,
Tne Milwaukee Road started handling Union Pacific’s Streamliners between Chicago and Omaha in 1955 or 1956 and the passenger locomotives were painted to match UP’s equipment.
Actually when the Milw repainted their psgr equipment to match UP’s all of their inter-city equipment got the yellow. The Chicago sbbn equipment remained orange until Metra took it over.
Weren’t the F40Cs painted in a different color? Or was RTA/Metra already influencing things when MILW got them?
Don’t forget the FM that worked in the Milwaukee Depot, which also got repainted in the yellow and gray livery. Number escapes me right now - 718 sticks in my mind, but not at all sure I trust that recollection!
As for the comment about the equipment in the Chicago suburban service, the Es and Fs hauling the combinations of single- and double-deck cars were in yellow and gray by the early 70s. The same also applied to those single-deck cars that were still in suburban service in the early 70s.
The MILW found out that yellow/gray hides dirt better, hence the change.
As for the F40Cs, I believe they were paid for by the transit authority on that line, as the MILW surely didn’t have money for something like that.
My memory is not real clear on this but I think some of the passenger cars weren’t sent to the paint shop. I frequently road the Valley Line branch New Lisbon to Wausau up until 1963, and I think the cars on that train were still pumpkin. No doubt the long distance fleet got the paint job first, which would make sense so that cars could move between the Hiawathas and the City Trains with out “appearance” problems.
Jay
No.
There were two transit authorities that provided funding for the F40Cs - the 613 and 614 wore Nortran logos; the other 13 were funded through the West Suburban Mass Transit District (if I remember correctly). All came in the basic Blue and White with stainless engine room panel scheme.
I believe the F40’s were paid for as stated above. I believe Metra also funded the purchase of new bi-level cars in the mid '60s. These cars were stainless steel, but carried a Milwaukee Road logo just like the F40s. If my memory serves, the eqipment on the Milwaukee - Chicago trains was all in yellow up to and even after Amtrak.
The transit disticts may have funded some gallery car purchases, as before 1973 there was no RTA to provide this sort of assistance in the Chicago area. My recollection is that the first group of Milwaukee-assigned gallery cars were on Milwaukee’s own “dime”. Metra didn’t come along until what 1987? RTA had the commuter rail and suburban bus operations directly under it prior to Metra (and Pace for the subn. buses).
No, the F40C units were always in Metra blue with the stainless steel side panels, BUT the older FP45 units they bought and numbered in the single digits had (at one time) been painted in U.P. colors for the “City” trains they ran with U.P. out to the west coast.
/QUOTE/ Metra didn’t come along until what 1987? RTA had the commuter rail and suburban bus operations directly under it prior to Metra (and Pace for the subn. buses).
You are correct. My mistake, I confused Metra for RTA. One must first establish an RTA (regional transit(transportation) authority, then an operating agency (Metra) can form.
Well, actually the original structure of the RTA had the operating agencies for suburban rail and bus (never CTA) directly integrated in its hierarchy. Later it was re-organized to establi***he three service boards (CTA, Metra and Pace) reporting to the RTA.
This site has a lot of pictures.
http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/milw/milw.html