Car 553

Car 553 is a privately owned railroad passenger car. It operates exclusively on Metra's Union Pacific / North Line in Northeastern Illinois, and is the last private commuter car remaining in the United States.

Car 553 in Lake Bluff, Illinois on August 20, 2012.
Car 553 leaving Ravinia station in Highland Park, Illinois on June 29, 2018, in its original C&NW paint scheme.

History

Private commuter car service began on the Chicago and North Western Railway in 1929 to serve wealthy commuters in the affluent North Shore suburbs of Chicago, such as Lake Forest, Highland Park, and Winnetka. The first private car was C&NW 6700, named "The Deerpath". Eventually, the tradition of naming the car "The Deerpath" ended, and the current club car is merely known as "Car 553".

Car 553 and its sister, Car 555, were built as Chicago and North Western lounge cars #7901 and #7902 in 1949 by the American Car and Foundry Company. In 1961, these cars were removed from long distance passenger service, renumbered 553 and 555, and rebuilt to operate in commuter service out of Chicago. On November 30, 1975, cars 553 and 555 were acquired by Commuter Associates Inc. and continued to see service on the C&NW, operated by the commuter rail branch of the Regional Transportation Authority (which was reorganized into Metra in 1984). In the 1990s, the first female members purchased seats on the car. Car 553 still wore the color scheme of the pre-Metra Regional Transportation Authority's passenger equipment until late 2017 when it was restored to its original C&NW yellow and green colors and lettering.

Metra service

As of 2012, Car 553 operates twice daily on the Union Pacific / North Line between Chicago and Kenosha, Wisconsin. The car is operated as part of an agreement between club members and the Union Pacific Railroad (which operates Metra trains on the UP / North Line). While in the past, membership was exclusive to wealthy "North Shore" families, it has since become open to anyone who pays an annual fee of $900, in addition to the fees for Metra's monthly pass. The car arrives in Chicago around 8:00 am, and departs for Kenosha shortly after 5:30 pm.

References
    • "Club Website". Car 553. 1 October 2018. Retrieved 1 October 2018.
    • Sweet, David (4 October 2018). "Getting on board a unique member car". The Winnetka Current. Retrieved 8 October 2018.
    • Goldsmith, Adrienne (19 September 2010). "The Cure For A Crowded Commute: Car 553". Gazebo News. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
    • Strack, Donald (8 November 2011). "Non-Union Pacific Cars (painted UP yellow and gray)". UtahRails.net. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
    • Wronski, Richard (20 July 2009). "Public Transit's Private Club". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
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