During WW2 the L&PS found itself short of passenger equipment. Four motor cars where purchased from The Milwaukee Electric Railway and Light Company (TMER&L). Because of the cost involved in converting the cars to 1500 volt operation, it was decided to convert two of the cars to trailers. The motorized cars, formerly TMER&L 1135, ex 'Menominee', & 1136, ex 'Mendota'**, became L&PS 16 & 18 while former TMER&L 1129, & 1134, ex 'Waubeesee', became trailer cars 21 & 23. The four cars were normally operated as two sets, a motor car and a trailer. Occasionally all four cars would be coupled together, however, due to compatibility problems they could not be MU'd with other L&PS cars.

These photos were taken by my father at the L&PS London car shops on July 26, 1953.

All four of the ex-TMER&L cars were retired about 1955 owing to their deteriorated condition. Cars 16 and 21 have been preserved at the Illinois Railway Museum, Union, IL as TMER&L 1135 and 1129. I am not sure of the exact disposition of L&PS 23, but 18 was scrapped in 1955.