By Chris Guss for trn.trains.com
Metra C&NW heritage unit debuts
Chicago commuter railroad Metra has unveiled its latest heritage locomotive. Metra F59PHI No. 90 was released Monday from the company’s paint booth in a Chicago & North Western-inspired scheme. The design incorporates elements of C&NW’s paint scheme worn on early passenger diesel locomotives such as EMD’s E6, Alco’s DL-109, and Fairbanks-Morse “Erie Built” units. METX No. 90 is the first of Metra’s 21 F59PHI’s to be selected for a heritage paint scheme.
Previous heritage units include F40PHM-2 No. 211, honoring the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy, released in October 2019; MP36 No. 405, released in early 2019 in Milwaukee Road-inspired paint; and Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific-inspired MP36 No. 425, which debuted in January 2018. Locomotive No. 425 was repainted to honor Metra’s outgoing CEO, Don Orseno, who began his career on the Rock Island Railroad in 1974.
METX No. 90 was moved from Metra’s KYD shop to Joliet Monday night for forwarding to downtown Chicago today. After transfer to Metra’s Union Pacific operations, the locomotive will receive minor mechanical work and inspection before being released for revenue service.
