An artistic “negative” view of 7165 and companion at the yard at 77th and Vincennes. But who can be negative when it comes to Chicago PCCs? © Laurence Mack
With the 57th anniversary coming up this Sunday of when the last Chicago PCC ran in 1958, guest contributor Larry Mack, a good friend, shares a dozen of his great photos with us. All are © Laurence Mack and are used with his kind permission.
Laerry says these pictures were taken with a Yashicamat twin-lens reflex camera on Kodak Tri-X black and white 120 roll film. This would yield a 2 1/4″ by 2 1/4″ square negative. By comparison, a 35mm film image measures 1″ by 1 1/2″. Tri-X (ISO 200 when introduced, later 400) was first introduced in 1954 and was a refinement of the Super-XX (ISO 100) film which preceded it. It quickly became the film of choice for photojournalists.
While you’re at it, checkout more of Larry’s photo artistry here:
And don’t forget our latest publication Chicago’s PCC Streetcars: The Rest of the Story, available in our online store.
-Ye Olde Editor
PCC 4374 heading north on Clark during the last week of operation on that part of the northern part of the route. © Laurence Mack
PCC 4406 waits for the stoplight at Clark and Devon on the last day of operation. 4406 still wears its original colors. © Laurence Mack
Still in its original colors but a tad worse for wear (as was this photo, I fear) car 7137 passes the B’nai Brith resale shop on North Clark in this August, 1957 shot. I doubt that even the resale shop would want to deal with this car! © Laurence Mack
Car 7139 crossing Wacker Drive after crossing over the Clark Street bridge over the Chicago River. © Laurence Mack
7165 and companion at the yard at 77th and Vincennes. © Laurence Mack
7181 crosses the old Dearborn Bridge competing with an older Buick which appeared almost as wide as the PCC cars. They simply do not make cars or streetcars like that anymore. © Laurence Mack
A southbound 22, car 7182 waits at Lake and Clark. Notice the then “new” Buick Special (3 portholes, Buick lovers) taking part of the photo. © Laurence Mack
Car 7189 passes the then illustrious Astor Hotel on Clark which had more of an hourly reputation than nightly! © Laurence Mack
Taken from the Van Buren L stop at Dearborn. Northbound PCC 7203 is at the car stop letting passengers board. Photo was taken in December, 1957 on the last Chicago trolley line. At that time the cars ran only on weekdays. Notice the increasing menace of the Gutterliners (as Ira Swett called them) in the background. © Laurence Mack
Car 4395 stopping at the Englewood L station on Wentworth. Great view of the PCC as well as some of those automobiles both parked and on the street! © Laurence Mack
Southbound 22 car at Vincennes passing near the main shops at 77th. Not the best shot due to the grain but still a shot of the final streetcar line in Chicago. © Laurence Mack
Taken from the 19th floor (I think) showing a southbound PCC car on the Clark Street Bridge. One of my favorites. At that time WFMT had their studios on the same floor. Probably taken in early 1958. © Laurence Mack
nice shots. Always sad to see the last days
So much lost…
Always great photos and information. How many PCC’s were still in original livery at the end of service?
I don’t know offhand how many of the 26 or so remaining cars were in the original CSL paint scheme of Mercury Green, Croydon Cream, and Swamp Holly Orange. First we would have to make a list of the active cars at the end of service on the Wentworth line, then go back and look at pictures of those cars.
But I do know that 4391, the car at IRM, was not one of them. It had been repainted in the CTA colors with the dark green, and was painted back to the “as delivered” colors later.