NS F40s 115 and 116

[Pensyfan19]

According to NSDash9's all-time roster, Norfolk Southern leased two F40s, numbers 115 and 116 from RTA for commuter service in Chicago from 1982 to 2000. Does anyone have more information about this and why these two locomotives were leased by NS?

[eolesen]

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.

[Pensyfan19]

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.

Alright. So those two locomotives were the only ones used for Southwest service? I am familiar with Norfolk and Western and later NS operating the Southwest service but I think they would need more than two locomotives to run that line, no?

[eolesen]

Back then, two was probably enough. There were only 1 or 2 trains a day on the NS prior to Metra taking over, and the crews were based in Decatur & had to deadhead on Friday/Sunday.

Even today, it looks like they make do with only 4 trainsets.

[MACTRAXX]

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