Metra Bilevel Assignment And Maintenance Changes

What I wanted to say didn't really fit into any other thread, so I thought I'd start a new one.

8243 and 8264 are on BNSF. 8243 has been converted into a coach, as the pilot/cow catcher was removed.

I had seen 8264 sitting at 14th St for a while. 8275 is on a BNSF train, but trailing. I think 8229 was also on a BNSF train, in front of 812 which was the rear car.

The cow catcher on 8458 was painted red. It is on the final HC train of the afternoon.

I hate how 8400's look with red cow catchers. It works on 8200's and 790-800's but not 8400's. Is there an actual reason for painting them red, or does BNSF just like wasting the paint on them?

UP must have liked the 8500 look better than the 8400 ladder look on its cab cars. All 8400's I saw today on UP did not have ladders. I wonder if BNSF will do the same with it's 8400's.

Which 8500's are on U.P.?

Are any cabs other than 8400's and 8500's leading anywhere on the system?

UP has 8578-8579, 8581-8588. 8580 and 8589 are still on MILW. 790-800's are still leading on some BNSF trains, thats all that is left of pre-metra cab cars leading a train.

Since the bike program has gone into effect, it seems that all RI trains have an ADA car as 2nd and 3rd car. This is the first time I have seen 47th street change train sets on a major basis, usually sets stay the same for weeks/months.

There is a line up of older cab cars at Western Avenue yard, and a few 7700's scattered around-- retired cars?

8454 which was said to be on HC back in April has been reported back on UP. Another 8400 that was on BNSF has also been reported to be on MILW. I wonder if Metra's decision not to give UP the rest of the 8500's is causing all the 8400 moves off BNSF.

7436 is on the Rock

8583 moved to BNSF just before the fourth of July; 8586 moved last week. Both are in service with unpainted plows.

On another note, an engineer told me that while in 8464 (The cab car reported on MILW) he noticed BNSF stickers in the bathroom, stating such things as when the bathroom had to be cleaned...Wow, have they gone downhill since I last checked.

8578 is now at 14th Street awaiting to be used on BNSF. 8447 has also been replaced by 8472 on SWS. I'm 99% sure 8472 has a replaced real K3, as it did not sound like a normal "BNSF K3" when I rode 3 cars behind it this morning.

8448, which was the rear of a Naperville express was replaced by 8579 today. I rode in that car this afternoon.

Hmm, maybe I didn't see 78..It could have been 8579. Either way I know it was 8570 something.