North Shore Line Electroliner

The Electroliners were two articulated bidirectional interurban trains built for the North Shore Line in 1941 by the St. Louis Car Co. Despite being inseparable, each train had two numbers, one for each cab. The Electroliners were considered the fastest way to travel between Chicago and Milwaukee.  They served the North Shore Line until it shut down in 1963. The Electroliners were sold to the Philadelphia Suburban Transportation Company (later SEPTA) and moved to Pennsylvania in November 1963. They were used on the Red Arrow Lines as Liberty Liners. #801/802 was named Valley Forge and #803/804 was named Independence Hall. After their retirement, both found their way to museums in 1982. The Illinois Railway Museum received #801/802, shown here, on May 4, 1982 while the #803/804 went to the Rockhill Trolley Museum in Pennsylvania. IRM began restoration of #801/802 in 1998. Though the restoration is still in progress, it has been returned to its original North Shore Line colors. The #803/804 in Pennsylvania has yet to be restored.

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