Thursday, December 15, 2016

1940s Chicago Experimental “Queen Mary” Articulated Trolley Bus History.

Chicago’s experimental “Queen Mary” articulated trolley bus was built by Twin Coach in Kent, Ohio, in 1946. She was initially built with two gasoline engines. The trolley bus was leased to the Chicago Surface Lines in 1946. 
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The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) was created in 1945 but didn't take control until October of 1947 when the CTA took over all Rapid Transit (trains) and Surface Lines in Chicago. 
The “Queen Mary” was converted to electricity in 1948, bought by the CTA in 1954, and renumbered to 9763. She spent her entire service life on the #76 Diversey or the #77 Belmont route in Chicago.
She was retired in 1963 and is preserved at the Illinois Railway Museum in Union, Illinois.

Compiled by Dr. Neil Gale, Ph.D. 

4 comments:

  1. So it makes me wonder if another one was.built & used elsewhere.

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    Replies
    1. New CTA’s articulated buses, also known as the 4000 series, were manufactured by New Flyer and went into service in 2008.

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    2. Omaha had several Supertwins .... https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Omaha_1947_Twin_Coach_bus_1312_at_Seashore_Trolley_Museum.jpg

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