We are all familiar with mainline trains such as the 20th Century, Super Chief and others operating in multiple sections when demand was high. But, did any railroads other than Chicago Aurora & Elgin operate commuter trains in multiple sections?
I’ve seen Metra/BN do it for special occasions, for example 2 10 car trains right behind each other for Taste of Chicago and the Air Show, making all the same stops. For the outbound early rush on holidays, they add extra trains but I’m not sure those would be considered second sections??
Extras on the South Shore were run as second sections of preceeding scheduled trains so as to preserve their rights for meets. In all my years in suburban service I never saw the practice of sections. They just had a lot of scheduled trains close together and packed 'em in.
Mitch