Replacing the 6100s with 7400s plus 8400 cabs on SWS isn't necessarily a bad thing, at least we're still talking about modern equipment. However, the 700/800 Burlington era cars currently there are definitely NOT modern, yet there was a time not so long ago that Metra wouldn't have dreamed of placing older equipment on any of its new, or expanded routes. Part of the reason why some F40PHM-2's are still roaming on the Milw/NCS lines is because Metra wanted to showcase its newest power (at the time) and coaches when the NCS service began 10 years ago, and as a result, many of those trains ran with 7400 coaches and 8400 cabs in the beginning. Now for some reason, SWS doesn't rate newer equipment at all times, even though it received the largest service upgrade. A change in operating philosophy, perhaps?
--Dorian--