eolesen wrote: ↑Thu Aug 20, 2020 5:18 am
The roster is probably wrong on the end date.
NS operated what's called the Southwest Service line until the 1993 when Metra took over, and I'd guess those two locomotives were the ones used for that operation.
EO: Back in Fall 1979 RTA began to provide new equipment for the
Norfolk & Western Orland Park commuter service - which was originally a
single peak hour weekday train each way. At that time a second train was
added using then-new F40PH units and new Budd gallery cars replacing
the tuscan red N&W passenger cars used. RTA designated the service as
the "Orland Park Line" which was operated by the N&W under contract.
Answering the OP question the two F40PH units 115 and 116 were the
two original units that were regularly assigned to the N&W Orland Park
Line service. RTA owned them; N&W ran them.
F40PH 115-"Village of Oak Lawn" (highest ridership station on the route)
F40PH 116-"Village of Orland Park"
Over the course of the 80s and 90s service would be increased and the OP
Line would evolve into a full-fledged commuter route to be known as the
"Southwest Service" serving an area of SW Chicago and SW suburbs
that previously lacked adequate rail or rail transit service options.
I had a personal and sentimental connection to this route as relatives of
mine once lived near what is now known as Wrightwood Station. I used
this service on occasions during visits to the area 1973-1988 and became
very interested in the line and operation. This route - which only had one
train each way before Fall 1979 - grew into the SWS current route and was
a rail transit success story example for RTA and Metra...MACTRAXX
EXPRESS TRAIN TO NEW YORK PENN STATION-NO JAMAICA ON THIS TRAIN-PLEASE STAND CLEAR OF THE CLOSING TRAIN DOORS