Railroad Passenger and Baggage Cars

Pullman-Standard 1960 Chicago & North Western 151
Pullman-Standard 1960
Chicago & North Western 151
Description:Bi-level Commuter Cab-Coach

Equipment Information

C&NW 151 is a bi-level coach/cab car designed for commuter service out of Chicago. It is a “cab car” because there is a cab on the upper level for the engineer from which he can run the train. Car 151 was the very first bi-level cab car ever put into service, with the C&NW inaugurating “push-pull” commuter operation where the locomotive could provide motive power from either the front of the train or – with a cab car like 151 leading – from the back. Cab cars like 151 are now used by almost every commuter railroad in the United States.

FUN FACT: Car 151 was featured in a 2013 episode of the TV show “Chicago Fire” in which the script called for a railroad derailment. Car 151 was (gently) lifted off the tracks by a crane, a faux accident scene was constructed around it along the IRM streetcar line, and voila – instant train wreck!

Chicago & North Western 151 Details

Builder: Pullman/Pullman-Standard
Year Built: 1960
Seats: 155
Length: 85ft
Width: 10ft 6in
Height: 15ft 10in
Weight: 127900 lbs
Brakes: 26C
Trucks: CXV1
Description: ex NIRC 8700 / First CNW Cab Car
Arrived: 1998
Condition: Complete / cosmetically restored / operational

C&NW 151 Ownership History

1960-1974 – Chicago & North Western #151
1974-1983 – Regional Transit Authority #8700
1983-1998 – Metra #8700

Read more about the history of this car in Rail & Wire #179

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