#49
To celebrate the memory of the Chicago, Aurora & Elgin interurban, we are sharing many great color photos with you. This is the second of two parts. You can find our previous post here.
We’ve already received some great responses for the first batch, and we thank you for them. We’ll publish those once the contest has ended.
Tell us where these pictures were taken, if you can. In some cases it may not be possible to determine an exact location.
But besides that, give us some other interesting information about what you see. As usual, by clicking on each photo with your mouse, you can bring up a larger version in your browser.
Please refer to each image using the number provided in the caption. The contest deadline is midnight Chicago time on July 22nd.
You can send us your submissions as comments to this post, or by e-mail to:
thetrolleydodger@gmail.com
The contest winner will be the one who gives us the best overall submission. The prize will be a copy of our Railroad Record Club #35 and 36 compact disc, which includes vintage audio from both the Chicago, Aurora & Elgin and the CTA Garfield Park “L”. You will find this and much more in our Online Store.
Thanks.
-Ye Olde Editor
PS- I’ve known railfan historian and author Bill Shapotkin for many years and consider him a good friend. Today is his first day of retirement from his regular job. We wish him well in this new phase of life, and are sure he will keep very busy indeed. I hope you will join us in congratulating him.
Bill tells us that by some coincidence, one of the photos in our last post shows the house he grew up in. That’s what my Dad used to call “Kismet.”
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Fantastic photos and history lesson to true detail. Please keep them coming. I do not know if you will cover Chicago extensive trolley bus at some point. That I am interested in learning about too.
Thank you keep up the great work.
We will do our best, thanks. But this type of original research does cost money. Anyone who wants to help support what we do, ought to check out our Online Store, where you will find our various products and can also make a donation.
I began riding the CA&E in January of 1954 on my way out to Elmhurst to attend York High. I fell in love with the clean quiet trains of the CA&E and only wish I had started commuting in 1953 when I could have traveled west from Wells. Your photos bring back those wonderful days when mass transit had a leader, the CA&E.
rpcosyn: Have we ever met? I attended York from 1954–1957 when I graduated. My name is Edward J. Maurath.
Chances are we have not met. I grew up in Chicago’s western suburbs and in the late 1950s, I was just a toddler.
I hope that someday we will meet, however.
#49 CAE 20 (Niles, 1902) leads a wooden consist just west of Laramie Av followed by #304 (Niles, 306)
#49 CAE 20 (Niles, 1902) which is the oldest CAE car still in existence (preserved at the FRTM), leads a consist on the west side of Laramie Av. The following car is CAE 304 (Niles, 1906).
#50 CAE 205 (Niles, 1904) is westbound between Racine and Halsted on tracks that will soon be torn down for construction of the Congress Expressway. I believe the wooden posts show the beginning of construction of the ramp at the east end of the infamous “stop light express” where the Garfield PK trains (and no others) will run in a fenced off portion of Van Buren street for the next five years or so, causing what was a dream of a ride to become a nightmare. This is the same location as #41 in part one, only slightly earlier.
#51 CAE 456 (St. Louis, 1945) is Eastbound at a station between Laramie and Marshfield.
#52 CAE 452 (St. Louis, 1945) is on a bridge over another RR near Kilbourne Station.
#53 CAE 423 (Cincinnati, 1927) is crossing Franklin Av on its way to Wells St. station. Looking north.
#54 CAE 460 (St. Louis, 1945) leads an outbound train followed by 423, 422, and 418, all 1927 Cincinnati cars. Looking NE. At left can be seen construction of the east end ramp for the infamous “stop light express” to get CTA Garfield Pk traffic out of the way of the construction of the Congress Expressway (now know as the Eisenhower Expressway). Soon the CAE will terminate at Des Plaines Av, Forest Pk, confining it to ground level traffic only..
#55 CAE 408 (Pullman, 1923) approaches Western Av station. Looking East.
#56 CAE 457 (St. Louis, 1945) leads a three-car consist somewhere between Laramie and Marshfield.
#57 CAE 431 (Cincinnati, 1927) sits at the Batavia Terminal. Looking West.
#58 At Batavia Jct, formerly know as Eola Jct, a red and grey car heads for Aurora while the blue car at the station is ready to depart for Batavia. Looking SE.
#59 CAE 460 (St. Louis, 1945) on the Batavia branch somewhere in the middle of nowhere.
#60 A single car travels along the Fox River in the snow.
#61 CAE 406, probably on a fan trip, stops at Glenwood Park. Notice the nice new red paint job, meaning this picture is later than the picture in part 1 of 406 still painted blue.
#62 CAE 141, a car obtained second hand from the North Shore Line travels through the middle of nowhere, I would guess on the Batavia branch.
#63 This is a companion picture to picture 57. Same CAE 431 (Cincinnati 1927, now preserved at the IRM) and same automobile. The bridge over the Fox River is clearly visible.
#64 CAE 406 (Pullman, 1923), again painted red and grey, at Glenwood Park flag stop on its way to Batavia.
#65 CAE 428 (Cincinnati, 1927) on the Batavia branch. Notice how the grass is grown up in the track bed. This must be near the end when Batavia service was minimal and sometimes served by bus.
#66 CAE 141, an ex-North Shore Line car most likely in Kane county on the Batavia branch.
#67 CAE 427 (Cincinnati, 1927) pretty much in the middle of nowhere. Probably on the Batavia branch.
#68 CAE 2001 and CAE 2002 (General Electric, 1920 and 1922) in the north yard at Wheaton.
#69 CAE 406 (Pullman, 1923) painted red and grey, at the State Road flag stop.
#70 CAE 2001 and 2002 (General Electric, 1920 and 1922) pulling freight. I have no idea where.
#71 CAE 453 (St. Louis, 1945) at Batavia Jct, formerly known as Eola Jct. That was tough!
#72 CAE 454 (St. Louis, 1945) in the middle of nowhere.
#73 CAE 458 (St. Louis, 1945) at Warrenville.
#74 CAE 414 (Pullman, 1923) and two Cincinnati cars along the Fox River at the Aurora station. Observe the raised trolley poles.
#75 CAE 310 (Hicks, 1907) on the west side of Mannheim Road by a stone quarry. Most likely the same fan trip as several pictures in part one of this contest. Passenger cars did not normally use this track after 1926. Notice the raised trolley pole. the Cook county branch, a.k.a. the Mount Carmel branch had no third rails.
#76 CAE 406 (Pullman, 1923) again painted red at the State Road flag stop.
#77 CAE 428 (Cincinnati, 1927) crosses the B&OCTRR just east of Des Plaines Av. The branch going west along side the CAE tracks in the distance were for the Chicago and Great Western. Notice the old style crossing gate at left in the foreground. View is looking mostly west and slightly NW.
#78 CAE 419 (Pullman, 1923) heads west towards 1st Av. Maywood having come from Des Plaines station. Looking NW.
#79 CAE 428 (Pullman, 1923) at the same B&OCTRR crossing as in picture #77, but this time it is headed east. View is looking west.
#80 CAE 454 (St. Louis, 1945) has just crossed 1st Av, Maywood heading east. View is looking NW.
#81 CAE 428 (Cincinnati, 1927) is at the Pulaski Road station on its way to Chicago. View is looking NE.
#82 CAE 52 (Stephenson, 1903) is leading a three-car consist westward at the same location between Racine and Halsted as in picture #50. The track in the foreground is about to be torn down because of Congress Expressway construction. Notice the other trains in the picture. Soon only the Garfield Pk trains will be using the tracks in the distance.
#83 CAE train of two St. Louis cars with CAE 451 (still in existence at IRM) at the rear approaching Hannah station. View is looking NW. Hannah station was somewhat unusual for the CAE in that both platforms were on the same side of the cross street.
#84 CAE 460 (St. Louis, 1945) is at the end of a four-car consist sitting at the Elgin Terminal by the Fox River. View is looking SW.
#85 In the caverns between the tall buildings of downtown Chicago looking east at the Wells Street Terminal. At the time this picture was taken, and for quite a few years earlier, this terminal was used only by the CAE. CTA trains turned south after crossing the river to Van Buren street to enter the loop at this time.
#86 Station at 11th Av. in Maywood. The red railings show that this is a late picture, since they were painted green when the CTA trains of the Westchester branch stopped here for the last time December 8, 1951. Notice the newer automobiles crossing 11th Av.
#87 East end of the Wheaton yard. Notice the “new” dispatch tower.
#88 Now this is truly a “mystery” photo! The street crossing looks like something out of the 1920’s, but the Pullman car is painted in the last livery! Someone else will have to explain this one!
#89 CAE 433 (Cincinnati, 1927) is headed for Chicago having passed under the Indiana Harbor Belt RR. View is looking NW.
#90 CAE 460 (St. Louis, 1945) travels along the Fox River near Batavia, headed for Chicago. Notice that it is running with third rail power.
#91 CAE 460 (St. Louis, 1945) still is running under wire along the Fox River. It has just left the Batavia station, headed for Chicago. View is looking NW.
#92 CAE 460 (St Louis, 1945) is on track curving away from the fox river on the Batavia branch.
#93 CAE 457 (St. Louis, 1945) is traveling under wire along the Fox River.
#94 CAE 401 (Pullman, 1923) leads a two car consist at the new (1953–1957) station on the west side of Des Plaines Av. At this time the CAE trains turned around without crossing Des Plaines Av. The CTA trains discharged all passengers at this station. Those who want to go further west boarded a CAE train here and paid another fare. The green and cream train in the background has just come from their station (color-coded green) on the other side of the loop where the CAE trains discharged all their passengers. Those wishing to continue east had to pay another fare to the CTA. the loops did not cross at grade, there was a wooden structure to carry the CTA trains above the tracks of the CAE. All the tracks east of Des Plains Av, formerly owned by the CAE as far as Laramie Av, were sold to the CTA.
Edward J. Maurath
Here is John Nicholson’s entry:
Chicago Aurora and Elgin Photos – List No. 2
49.) Westbound near Hannah Ave. east of the B&OCT crossing.
50.) Westbound between Racine Ave. and Aberdeen St. Pilings for future ramp to ground level operations appear in background.
51.) Wells St. terminal
52.) Bridge over the PRR/C&NW on Garfield “L”
53.) Throat of Wells St. terminal—portion over Franklin St.
54.) Sacramento curve on the Garfield “L”
55.) CA&E trains passing at Western Ave. on Garfield “L”
56.) Westbound train at Kilbourne Ave. curve.
57.) Batavia terminal
58.) Westbound train leaving Batavia Jct.
59.) Crossing under CB&Q on Batavia branch.
60.) Eastbound under short stretch of trolley wire on Batavia branch.
61.) Glenwood Park on Batavia branch (by old powerhouse)
62.) Batavia bound car havig departed from Batavia Jct. (in distance).
63.) Batavia terminal
64.) Glenwood Park stop on Batavia branch
65.) Crossing under CB&Q on Batavia branch
66.) Westbound car is just departing Batavia Jct.
67.) 427 eastbound at Gary Siding on Aurora branch
68.) 2001-2002 working CB&Q interchange at Aurora
69.) Car under very short stretch of wire at State Rd. This was to help a car over the gap after it stopped at station westbound.
70.) Eastbound crossing Aurora Ave. near CB&Q interchange at Aurora
71.) Eastbound Aurora branch car at Batavia Jct. Note one of the clearance boards on platform has been flipped over.
72.) Westbound at bridge over Winfield Creek on Elgin branch (near Lincoln Ave.)
73.) Eastbound train at Warrenville. Station later served as Warrenville city hall.
74.) Aurora terminal
75.) On Cook County branch along Mannheim Rd.
76.) Westbound at State Rd on Batavia branch under short
77.) Westbound train crossing B&OCT east of Desplaines Ave. station.
78.) Westbound car has just departed from Desplaines Ave. terminal. This section of track was moved north and rebuilt due to expressway construction. CA&E trains never operated on rebuilt track.
79.) Eastbound train has left Desplaines Ave. station and crossing B&OCT
80.) Westbound nearing 1st Ave, in Maywood. Note Montana Charlie’s gas station in background.
81.) Westbound Wheaton local at Pulaski Rd. on Garfield “L”
82.) Westbound near Racine Ave. (same location as photo #50). Note ramp to surface trackage now in place.
83.) Westbound train at Austin Ave. near B&OCT interchange.
84.) Aurora terminal
85.) Wells St. terminal facing east
86.) View west of 11th Ave. in Maywood
87.) Freight at Wheaton yard by new dispatcher’s tower
88.) Westbound train on Aurora branch at Childs St., Wheaton
89.) Eastbound train at Bellwood.
90.) Eastbound train departing Glenwood Park and heading towards CB&Q underpass.
91.) Eastbound train departing Batavia terminal at Wilson St.
92.) Eastbound car crossing under CB&Q on Batavia branch. Old powerhouse can be seen on right through trees
93.) Westbound on Batavia branch under short section of overhead wire.
94.) Train on outbound platform at Desplaines Ave. Note “baldy” heading to Chicago in background.
[…] will post the answers for Part 2 tomorrow […]
[…] Today we have the answers to Part 2 of our recent Chicago, Aurora & Elgin interurban Mystery Photos Contest. […]
Picture # 84 is definitely Aurora. I Googled American Well Works, they started there in 1869. I also say this as the train is facing north on the east side of the river. if this was Elgin, it would be facing south.
I will update the caption, thanks!