Tag: Aerotrain

Aerotrain Restoration Completed!

Posted on by Renee Hughes
Chicago, Rock Island, and Pacific #3 “Aerotrain” Diesel engine and two passenger cars
The Aerotrain was a high-concept passenger train manufactured by the General Motors Electro-Motive Division. With its sleek and futuristic appearance, this mid-century modern train was built to appeal to commuters at a time when cars were increasingly replacing passenger train service. GM produced two demonstrator sets which they shopped around to several railroads. While they were tested by the New York Central, Pennsylvania, and Union Pacific Railroads, no additional trains were ordered. Testing revealed that the trains rode poorly at high speeds and the passenger cars, which were little more than widened bus bodies, felt uncomfortable and cramped. The Chicago, Rock Island, and Pacific Railroad purchased the demonstrator sets in 1958 for passenger service between Chicago and Joliet, Illinois where they lasted for less than a decade.

The #3 is exhibited at the Museum with two of its ten original passenger cars. As the Aerotrain has endured the outdoor elements for decades, a cosmetic restoration has been done. 
With funding provided by The Tom E. Dailey Foundation, Bluewater Michigan Chapter of the NRHS, and The National Railway Historical Society, TNMOT volunteers worked diligently to restore the Aerotrain.  
 
Did you know…the silver paint needed for this restoration project cost $300 per gallon? We are grateful to our donors who made this project possible. And, of course, we thank our dedicated volunteers.

Aerotrain #3 1955

Posted on by Renee Hughes

Here’s a video about the introduction of the Aerotrain that also mentions the first time the Aerotrain was restored by the Museum. In a fortuitous event, “The Wall Street Journal” featured the Aerotrain this past weekend in its July 25/26, 2020, issue, page C14, mentioning The National Museum of Transportation in St. Louis, Missouri. TNMOT is currently restoring the Aerotrain again. The design is incredibly unique and well worth preserving.

General Motors used lightweight construction concepts in the building of a futuristic locomotive and 10 cars, which resulted in the “Aerotrain.” It was an attempt to lure passengers back to rail travel vs. air or automobile travel. Unfortunately, at high speeds the coaches rode very poorly and were very noisy since they were little more than widened bus bodies. The Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific ultimately used the trains for a decade as commuters from Chicago to Joliet, IL.