Metra F40C 611/614 Status

And this afternoon it was 611 doing the same thing 614 did yesterday: 2117, 2140, and 2235. That's one of the six-car sets; I've seen one of the six-cars out on Saturday so it might be out then and almost definitely Sunday when the entire schedule is normally handled by the two six-car sets. Come Monday, it should be on 2208 and 2224 Monday morning as the normal rotation seems to get preserved across the weekend (if not them, then 2204 and 2220 although just to surprise us, Metra put a seven-car set on 2204 and 2220 yesterday (presumably a maintenance problem - the six-car we should have had was sitting on Track 1 when we arrived CUS-N and from what I've seen, Track 1 is where Metra puts an arrival they want to hold at CUS-N until after the rush hour)).

lstone19 wrote: Metra put a seven-car set on 2204 and 2220 yesterday (presumably a maintenance problem

There was indeed a maintenance problem. A 400 blew its water pump on the way into the city. They mostly coasted in from Elmwood Park. When they got to CUS, they took another trainset that had just arrived and deadheaded to Roselle to become 2220.

Both 611 and 614 overnighted in Elgin this morning. 611 was on 2235 yesterday and 2208 and 2224 this morning. Meanwhile, 614 was pushing 2218 this morning so would have worked 2241 yesterday.

611 was pulling 2227 last night (03/05/2012).

Looks like 611 was on 2225 last night(03/06/2012). Saw it deadheading from Franklin Park to CUS.

... and then 2241 turning to 2218 this morning (which then normally turns to 2209 and 2232). 2218 / 2241 is the four-car Bartlett originator / terminator - 2218 usually breezes Roselle as I'm walking up to wait for 2220.

Looks like 611 crossed over to the North Line. It was sitting with its train on track 7 when 2227 pulled out last night (03/07/2012). I believe that is train 2129.

614 is the protector today on CUS track 3 (03/19/2012). "Protection you can rely on".

F40CFan wrote:614 is the protector today on CUS track 3 (03/19/2012). "Protection you can rely on".

Heh. Let's slap a "State Farm" paint scheme on it...

Saw 611 at Western tonight. Looks like it was heading into the shop.

Looks like 611 went into the shop last Thursday evening (03/22/2012). Friday morning and this morning it was leading 123 on the break-in train on CUS track 13.

F40CFan wrote:614 it's the protector today on CUS track 3 (03/19/2012). "Protection you can rely on".

After is protection duty I saw it WB at Galewood that Monday at 4:25. It must have turned at Franklin Pk because it was back at Galewood EB at 4:49.

That all fits with me seeing it pushing 2218 Tuesday morning. What you saw WB at Galewood at 4:25 was 2225 which then deadheads back to CUS to become 2241 (5:27p departure). And that becomes 2218 the next morning and then 2209 and 2232 and then back to Western Avenue yard.

Visiting from the UK and going to be around Chicago this weekend and the weekend after, hopefully going to be able to ride and photograph the F40C's.

Doesn't seem to be any reports of them working lately, hopefully they are still out and about? If anybody happens to know if they are likely to be out during those two weekends please could you post any info on here if possible.

Cheers
Pete,
Wales, UK

They're out and about. Saw 614 yesterday although no idea on what train.

Unfortunately, no way to predict where they might be. It's not as if they have dedicated runs. If on Friday they get put on a train that will be used during the weekend, they'll be out there. OTOH, if they're put on a train that spends the weekend sitting at Elgin or Fox Lake, then they won't.

For the MD-W, if one goes out on a seven-car set on Friday, then there's a real good chance it will be running Saturday. If it's on a six-car (4:55 or 5:05 departure), then it's almost definite for Sunday (I've also seen one of the six-cars out on Saturday). If it's on the four, eight, nine, or ten car sets, then very unlikely to be out on the weekend unless Metra really needs the extra capacity.