Metra Bilevel Assignment And Maintenance Changes

8582 which was on BNSF was on the MILW district about 2 weeks ago.

8549 observed today on BNSF. Don’t know when this cab car came over.

Also, 8573 is on the UP Lines and 8553 is on the MILW/NCS Lines

Not sure if this is quite on topic, but 7664 is at Western Ave. in a modified version of the new Metra locomotive livery. In my opinion it is not very flattering.

Kinda looks like one of the Amtrak bilevels. If you look at the orange stripes it looks like the one on the right above the doors is off a little bit.

8504 is on the rock

7664 has been moved. It was at Western Ave. Wednesday evening, but it was not there this morning. There are quite a few other St. Louis Smooth sided cars in multiple VRE liverys hanging around at Western.

7664 is back, coupled to a few VRE-liveried bilevels.

They keep moving 7664 around. It was by the east end of the shops. I wonder if they are getting it ready for use. I hope they don't put those horrible new seats in it. They also should reconsider the paint job. The stripes look ridiculous and off center in the middle of the car, but actually aren't when seen directly on. How about just platinum mist with the Metra logo over the entrance doors?

Looks like 8518 is on the BNSF/SWS

ChicagoRailfanner1989 wrote:Looks like 8518 is on the BNSF/SWS

Confirmed today on BNSF.

Saw cab car 8608 on the MD this morning. Looks like it was rehabbed. I think from the outside one of the features of rehabbed cab cars is black rubber placed around the rear door area. At night the windows have a clear vs green tint.

This might also explain some of the lower numbered 8500 series cab cars that are roaming on BNSF. However, they are not being used on the rear of trains.

I don't know why they don't just paint the steel cars solid silver since they are never going to put together a matching train of them.

MetraBNSF wrote:I think from the outside one of the features of rehabbed cab cars is black rubber placed around the rear door area.

Does this mean a tubular style diaphragm? On the cab end of the car? That would be quite a change. It would help if a Metra train has to be coupled to Amtrak Superliner equipment for some reason.

Milwaukee_F40C wrote:

MetraBNSF wrote:I think from the outside one of the features of rehabbed cab cars is black rubber placed around the rear door area.

Does this mean a tubular style diaphragm? On the cab end of the car? That would be quite a change. It would help if a Metra train has to be coupled to Amtrak Superliner equipment for some reason.

The rehabbed 8400 series cab cars do have those.