North Chicago Street Railroad horse car 8 on January 2, 1926. The occasion was the opening of the new Cicero Avenue streetcar extension. This car, built in 1859 by the John Stephenson Car Company, is preserved at the Illinois Railway Museum.
This is the third installment in our ongoing series Chicago Streetcars in Black-and-White. (You will find the second installment here.)
We offer you another generous selection of classic photos by some of the greatest railfan photographers of all time. As always, clicking on each picture will bring up a larger version in your browser.
If you have interesting information to share about these locales, we look forward to hearing from you. When referring to individual photos, please use either the car number or image number.
-David Sadowski
PS- For a view of the Stratoliner Lounge’s interior, click here.
CTA 1052, with a CSL logo still on the side of the car, on Damen Avenue on June 5, 1948.
CSL 1775 at Archer and Rockwell on October 25, 1942. (Joe L. Diaz Photo)
CSL 5645.
CSL 2571.
CSL 5782 on route 5 at Cottage Grove and 38th.
CSL 5070 “at Van Buren in front of Kedzie carhouse.” -Andre Kristopans (Joe L. Diaz Photo)
CSL 1026 passes 3290 at Lincoln and Wells, with the Hotel Lincoln in the background.
CSL 1408 at Ashland and Fulton in May 1946. Andre Kristopans adds, “note two things here – operator of car (not motorman, as this is a one-man car) has thrown the manual switch to continue east on Fulton, and note the trolley wire is a gauntlet between the two Fultons with a crossing frog, not a switch.” (Robert W, Gibson Photo)
CSL 3002 on Cicero at Lake Street, circa 1940. (M. D. McCarter Collection)
CSL 200 is westbound on 75th and Exchange, crossing the Illinois Central electric. At left is the Stratoliner Lounge, located at 2634 E. 75th Street. (Joe L. Diaz Photo)
CSL 2770 eastbound on 79th Street at Exchange Avenue. (Joe L. Diaz Photo)
CSL 3263 “westbound on 51st at California.” -Andre Kristopans (Joe L. Diaz Photo)
CSL 2906 at 26th and Cottage Grove. (Joe L. Diaz Photo)
Bob Lalich says, “The photo of NB 2619 was taken at 122nd St at the north end of the passing siding. I have seen a number of photos of two cars meeting at this spot, so I believe it was a regularly scheduled meeting point. This passing siding was literally in the middle of a marsh. The PRR-Calumet River RR can be seen in the background. The crossbuck protects the crossing of 122nd St and the Cal River RR. Republic Steel is also seen in the background.” (Joe L. Diaz Photo)
CSL 1875. (Joe L. Diaz Photo) Mike Franklin adds, “Car 1875 is westbound on Harrison and appears to be turning northbound on Halsted. Camera is looking NE from Blue Island Ave.”
CSL 679 “westbound on 75th at Constance – B&O crossing (technically Baltimore & Ohio & Chicago RR old main line up to the IC at 69th and Dorchester).” -Andre Kristopans (Joe L. Diaz Photo)
CSL 1949 is eastbound on Grand, and 2909 is westbound on Division. (Joe L. Diaz Photo)
CSL 759 “is on Division west of California by Humboldt Park (west terminal of Division).” -Andre Kristopans (Joe L. Diaz)
CSL 5404 “at 77th by ‘east house’ (now east half of barn that street between halves was roofed over).” -Andre Kristopans (Joe L. Diaz Photo)
CSL 5583 on Vincennes near 104th.
CSL 5817 at 95th and Commercial on route 5. (Joe L. Diaz Photo)
CSL 6117 southbound on California at Division. (Joe L. Diaz Photo)
CSL 1740 at West Shops. (CSL Photo)
CSL 1740 at West Shops. (CSL Photo)
CSL 952 on a charter.
CSL 1784 at West Shops. (CSL Photo)
CSL 949 on route 3. Andre Kristopans says we are “southbound at Indiana/43rd. Building to right is still there, though much altered (deteriorated).” (Robert W. Gibson Photo)
CSL 1740 at West Shops. (CSL Photo)
CSL 1746 at West Shops in October 1943. (CSL Photo)
CSL 6062 at 77th. (Joe l. Diaz Photo)
CSL 5821, southbound on Cottage Grove near 105th. (Robert V. Mehlenbeck Photo)
CSL 6200 by Hammond Station (car house), 1939. According to Andre Kristopans, this street is called Gostlin. (M.D. McCarter Collection)
I just discovered this site. Thanks for sharing these excellent Chicago area street scene photos! A minor clarification, the photo of CSL 2619 on the Brandon-Brainard line was taken at 122nd St. at the north end of the passing siding. PRR’s Calumet River line, which was crossed by the Brandon-Brainard line near 130th St, is in the background.
Thanks… I see you have corrected yourself with a second opinion about the location of the picture with CSL 2619.
I have to determine a better way to comment on a specific photo, since you have multiple photos of the same car on the same line at different locations and I have caused some confusion with my comments. The captions for the photos of 2619 on the Brandon-Brainard line are still not correct.
Here are comments on a few photos that I saw this morning.
CSL 5705 is SB at 100th and Ewing, emerging from the PRR viaduct. The NYC and B&O viaducts can also be seen in the background.
Another Joe Diaz photo of CSL 2619 on the Brandon-Brainard line is identified going SB on Ewing but is actually NB at the corner of 132nd and Brandon in Hegewisch. Photo is looking north.
CSL 1407 is WB on 87th St having just passed Holland Road. The railroad viaduct in the background carries the tracks of the BRC and the freight tracks of the C&WI. Joe Diaz was standing on the viaduct of the C&WI passenger tracks when he took the photo.
Excellent photos!
Car 1408 at Ashland/Fulton – note two things here – operator of car (not motorman, as this is a one-man car) has thrown the manual switch to continue east on Fulton, and note the trolley wire is a gauntlet between the two Fultons with a crossing frog, not a switch.
Car 759 I would say Division west of California by Humboldt Park (west terminal of Division)
Car 949 SB at Indiana/43rd. Building to right is still there, though much altered (deteriorated)
Car 6200 – street name is Gostlin
Car 5404 at 77th by “east house” (now east half of barn that street between halves was roofed over)
Car 679 – WB on 75th at Constance – B&O crossing (technically Baltimore & Ohio & Chicago RR old main line up to the IC at 69th and Dorchester)
Car 2906 should be 26th and Cottage, not 28th
Car 3263 wb on 51st at California.
Car 5070 at Van Buren in front of Kedzie carhouse
As always, thanks for the great information.
Sorry for the confusing remarks Trolley Dodger but I think I have the hang of things now. The photo of NB 2619 on this blog was taken at 122nd St at the north end of the passing siding. I have seen a number of photos of two cars meeting at this spot, so I believe it was a regularly scheduled meeting point. This passing siding was literally in the middle of a marsh. The PRR-Calumet River RR can be seen in the background. The crossbuck protects the crossing of 122nd St and the Cal River RR. Republic Steel is also seen in the background. Thanks for sharing these excellent photos!
Great information, thanks!
Keep the great photos coming Trolley Dodger!
I will do my best, thanks!
[…] in 1859. We have published a couple pictures of this car being used by the Chicago Surface Lines in 1925 and 1936, celebrating streetcar line […]
[…] previously ran another version of this photograph in our post Chicago Streetcars in Black-and-White, Part 3 (March 29, 2015), although that version was cropped somewhat. There, the caption read as follows: […]
Outstanding. I am looking for the picture of CSL 1784 with the story of Lane Tech and the B-17 Flying Fortress Bomber named for the school, Lane Tech of Chicago aka Wacky Woody.
I am a Lane Tech Alumni 1963.
Thank You
I would check through newspaper archives. Perhaps Lane Tech has some additional information on this, thanks.
Thank You for that information.
T K
Re: “CSL 1875. (Joe L. Diaz Photo)” Car 1875 is westbound on Harrison and appears to be turning northbound on Halsted. Camera is looking NE from Blue Island Ave.