Just as the 6000's before them, the 1-50 Series cars were slated to serve on Michigan Island's Wicker Park Line and Rickover-Junktown Line. Having received an extensive rehab less than 10 years prior, they needed minimal work. Cars 8, 10, 17, 18, 27, 33, 37, 41, 47, and 49 were on the system for its first day of service. At the same time an additional eight units were taken out of Skokie Service and received minor repairs to prep them for Eastman service, though that was two years away. By July 1994, all PCC type cars had been removed from Chicago.
With the addition of the Eastman line in 1995 there was a need for more cars that could collect power via pantograph. Only eight could be spared (10, 22, 25, 28, 32, 37, 38, and 44) As a result, the Eastman Line operated a very limited schedule for the first few months until the arrival of the 3500 Series.
The advent of the 7500 Series cars caused the series numbers to dwindle. Though only 24 are still in service ( and some of those either being prepped for museum, scrap, or parts salvage) the 1-50's continue to provide reliable service to the citizens of Michigan Island. |
