Car 40 sits in the yard at FRTM on April 30, 2000. The addition of trolley poles would allow this 1960-vintage car to operate again for the enjoyment of the public. Click here for a larger view. (Photo by Eric Zabelny)

In December 1998, the Fox River Trolley Museum added two new pieces to their Chicago-area electric traction collection, 1960-vintage St. Louis Car Company-built 1-50 Series cars 40 and 43. Like many of its 1-50 Series brethren, cars 40 and 43 were equipped with trolley poles and served in both single- and multiple-car operation on the Evanston Line. Although related to the near-identical 6000-Series cars, the 1-50s were uniquely suited to the one-man operation that often came with the Evanston Shuttle, with two motor cabs in each car, a fare collection window and door controls in the motorman's cab, doorsets placed nearer to the car ends, and the aforementioned provision for the installation of trolley equipment. The car lost its poles after the Evanston Line was converted to third rail in 1973 and in 1985, cars 5-50 were sent to Morrison-Knudsen for a mid-life rehabilitation, where cars 40 and 43 lost the last remnants of its removed trolley apparatus. Cars 40 and 43 continued in Evanston service until its retirement from passenger service in 1993. It they became work cars, but had minimal alterations made. In 1998, the CTA bidded the cars out.

The Fox River Trolley Museum would like to make car 40 a working part of their collection as part of the ongoing restoration work at the museum and complete additional restoration work on car 43. The work on car 40 would include the reinstallation of trolley poles and the associated equipment (necessary at the museum due to the lack of a third rail, for safety reasons), as well as other restoration work to help restore this car to its classic appearance. The cost of this work is only $600, but this amount is significant to a nonprofit volunteer-run institution like the Fox River Trolley Museum. If you would like to help FRTM restore car 40 to working condition and a vintage appearance, as well as complete renovations such as a new, fresh, historic paint scheme and mechanical maintenance on car 43, donations will be accepted at:

All donations are tax deductible. For more information about the museum and its restoration efforts, check out the museum web site or call them at (847) 697-4676.