A two-car train of PCCs near North Station in Boston August 31, 1976. The nearby Boston Garden has since been torn down and rebuilt.
One of my brothers called me recently from a garage sale, and asked if I had any interest in a shoebox full of train pictures. The cost was just $10. I figured it would have to be worth at least that much, so I said sure.
I went through the box when I got it, and discovered most of the pictures were faded color snapshots from the 1970s, probably taken with a Kodak Instamatic camera on size 126 film. Worse yet, nearly all the pictures have a textured surface.
However, it sure seems the photographer got around. He visited train museums all over the country. He went on steam train excursions. He took pictures of streetcars.
Eventually, I figured out who he was– Marvin C. Kruse.
Although, in looking up information on Mr. Kruse, I somehow got the mistaken idea he was deceased, his son wrote to me (see the Comments section below) and informs us that he is alive and well, aged 96! In fact, he has seen this post and enjoyed it. Nothing could make me happier.
When someone dies, or has to downsize, it is often up to their loved ones to go through their things and decide what to do with them. This can be a very traumatic process, for you feel as if you are dismantling someone’s life, piece by piece. And yet that is the way of the world, for life goes on. People’s belongings are often scattered to the four winds.
I decided to give an extra special effort to restore some of Mr. Kruse’s photos for the railfan community, to honor his efforts, and the sacrifices he made. I hope you like the results. They are mementos of someone’s life, from someone who should not be so easily forgotten.
-David Sadowski
PS- By the time you read this, we will have received a substantial shipment of our new book Chicago Trolleys (see below). It should only take us a short time to mail out books to all who have pre-ordered them, plus complementary copies for important contributors. We thank you all for your support. The book was completed on time and is now available for immediate shipment.
Picture caption: “1947 snow (2 ft.). This taken off Monongahela tracks just below our house. B&O yards across river.”
Winter 1947-48. “Same as other, only vertical. Big building, left foreground, is Interstate Construction & Engineers… build coal tipples.”
Photo caption: “New Have R. R. diesel passing Providence, RI engine house 12/21/47 with New York-bound train.”
A photo stop on a steam excursion, May 1961.
South Shore Line “Little Joe” 801 in October 1960.
South Shore Line electric locos 703 and 704 in October 1960.
This looks like Chicago Surface Lines red Pullman 144 at the Illinois Electric Railway Museum (North Chicago) in June 1961.
Another scene from IERM in July 1961. At left is Milwaukee streetcar 966, built by St. Louis Car Company in 1927. At right is ex-CTA/CSL sweeper E223, which was purchased for the museum by Dick Lukin in 1956.
Two 900-series South Shore Line freight locos in October 1960.
Always remember…never step on any rails. Right? (Photo stop bedlam, September 1958.)
If you’ve ever tried taking a picture at a photo stop on a fantrip, this is what happens. Invariably, someone runs right in front of you, oblivious to the fact you are trying to take a picture.
People used to climb on just about anything, in their quest to take a picture.
This is the view from an engine cab… which makes sense, if you think about it, as the engine in front of you is massive.
I think what we are seeing here is new commuter rail bi-levels on display, probably the Milwaukee Road, in July 1961. The sign at left says, “Entrance,” implying that they wanted you to walk through the cars in one direction only. At right are some vehicles from the Railway Express Agency (REA), which delivered small packages via the railway system between 1917 and the late 1960s. It was a national monopoly formed by the federal government during the First World War.
A Milwaukee Road commuter train in July 1961. This is about the time the railroad began introducing bi-levels, which the Chicago & North Western had been using for some years. I’d bet this is the same scene as in the previous picture, but from the other end. The train is on display at a station.
There wasn’t much I could do about the scratches on this picture, but how often have you witnessed a steam locomotive on a turntable? (November 1958)
Not sure of the location, but it’s June 1958, and steam is still active here.
Several steam locos are on this property in June 1958, wherever it was.
One thing about steam… as the song goes, smoke gets in your eyes. Note the small twin-lens reflex camera this shutterbug is holding. Perhaps a grey “Baby” Rolleiflex, which took size 127 film? (On the other hand, Carl Lantz thinks thinks he’s holding a movie camera.)
More steam fantrip action.
There were many such excursions in the waning days of steam (late 1950s to early 1960s).
Evidence of a Toronto trip in June 1959. This may be part of a PCC car.
The Mt. Washington Cog Railway still operates.
CTA 6000s in Forest Park , December 22, 1976.
The CTA DesPlaines Avenue yard in Forest Park, December 22, 1976. This was the 1959 configuration that was in use until the station was rebuilt circa 1980.
CTA 6000s interior, December 22, 1976.
Central City, Colorado, August 15, 1977.
What was a PCC doing in Golden, Colorado on July 8, 1976.
My previous post did not mention the ill-fated Boston LRVs. But here is one of their SF Muni counterparts, being tested by the DOT at Pueblo on July 7, 1976.
North Shore Line car 160 at the Illinois Railway Museum in the mid-1970s.
Chicago red Pullman 144 at IRM, 1970s.
Chicago Aurora & Elgin 431 at IRM, August 8, 1976.
Chicago postwar PCC 4391 at IRM in September 1975.
Chicago postwar PCC 4391 at IRM in September 1975.
San Francisco cable car 16(?) on May 27, 1974.
Los Angeles streetcar 665 at Perris, California.
North Shore Line city streetcar 354 at IRM in September 1975.
North Shore Line city streetcar 354 at IRM in September 1975.
North Shore Line city streetcar 354 at IRM on August 8, 1976.
North Shore Line city streetcar 354 at IRM on August 8, 1976.
SF cable car 4 on May 27, 1974.
SF cable car 4 on May 27, 1974.
BART on May 27, 1974.
When did they stop letting the passengers turn cable cars around in San Francisco? They were still doing it on May 27, 1974.
BART at Balboa Park on May 27, 1974.
BART at Balboa Park on May 27, 1974.
An SF Muni PCC on Market Street, May 27, 1974.
An SF Muni PCC on Market Street, May 27, 1974.
An SF Muni trolley bus on Market Street, May 27, 1974. Looks like construction may already have been underway on the Muni Metro subway.
An SF Muni PCC on Market Street, May 27, 1974.
An SF Muni PCC on Market Street, May 27, 1974.
Don’s Rail Photos: “717 was built by Brill Co in 1925. It was rebuilt in 1939 and rebuilt in 1951 as 5167. It became LAMTA 1815 in 1958, It was retired and restored as717 at OERM in March 1960.” Here, we see it at Orange Empire on May 31, 1974. Was it ever used in service with this color scheme?
I’m wondering if the streetcar at right is Key System 987. The steam loco is Western Pacific 334, a 2-8-2 built in 1929 by American Locomotive. We see both at the Western Railway Museum on May 26, 1972.
A Toronto Peter Witt at Trolleyville USA, Olmstead Falls, Ohio, on August 23, 1975.
A Toronto Peter Witt at Trolleyville USA, Olmstead Falls, Ohio, on August 23, 1975.
I assume this is probably an ex-PE car at the Orange Empire Railway Museum on May 31, 1974.
A Los Angeles streetcar at OERM, Perris, California on July 6, 1976.
Here, we see Brooklyn car 4573 at the Branford Trolley Museum. It was built by the Laconia Car Company in 1906 and was acquired by the museum on 1947. Here is how it looked on August 31, 1976.
Marvin C. Kruse on the Queen Mary in Long Beach, California on May 24, 1974.
Marvin C. Kruse at the Andrews Raiders Memorial in the Chattanooga Military Cemetery on October 23, 1907. According to Find-a-Grave: :”Memorial erected by the State of Ohio to the Andrews Raiders. In early April, 1862, a band of Union soldiers lead by civilian James Andrews infiltrated south from the Union lines near Shelbyville, Tennessee and met at Big Shanty, Georgia (near Marietta). On the morning of April 12, 1862, 20 of them (2 raiders never arrived and 2 others overslept and missed the adventure) stole the passenger train “The General” during its morning breakfast stop. With the farms and factories of Georgia supplying the Confederate Army fighting further west, the Raiders’ mission was to burn the railroad bridges between Atlanta and Chattanooga, thus isolating the Confederate Armies from their supply sources and enabling the Union Army to seize Chattanooga. Due primarily to the persistency of William Fuller, conductor of the stolen train, and, secondarily to the rainy weather and unlucky miscoordination with the Union Army to the west, the Raiders failed. All 22 at Big Shanty that morning were captured. Eight, including James Andrews, were tried and hanged by the Confederate Army in Atlanta. In 1866, after the war, they were reburied in a semi-circle at the Chattanooga National Cemetery. On the imposing granite monument, erected in 1891, are the names of 22 of the raiders. The memorial is topped by a bronze likeness of the “General”.” This story inspired the classic 1927 Buster Keaton film The General.
Philadelphia PCC 2278, in bicentennial garb, on Route 53, September 2, 1976.
SEPTA Red Arrow cars at 69th Street Terminal on September 2, 1976.
An Amtrak GG-1 in Baltimore on August 31, 1977.
This is not a very good picture, but it does show a Liberty Liner (ex-North Shore Line Electroliner) on September 2, 1976.
SEPTA Red Arrow car 13, built by St. Louis Car Company in 1949, as it looked on September 2, 1976.
Red Arrow car 18, also built in 1949. These double-ended interurban cars closely resembled PCCs but did not use PCC trucks.
A Washington, D.C. subway car at the Rhode Island Avenue station on September 1, 1977.
A PCC car at the Roanoke, Virginia Transportation Museum on August 27, 1975.
A PCC car at the Virginia Museum of Transportation in Roanoke on August 27, 1975. This is DC Transit 1470, built by St. Louis Car Company in 1945.
J. G. Brill built car 249 for Oporto, Portugal in 1904 and features maximum traction trucks. It was retired in 1972 and is shown at the Rockhill Trolley Museum on August 24, 1975.
A Washington, D.C. subway car at the Rhode Island Avenue station on September 1, 1977.
A Washington, D.C. subway car at the Rhode Island Avenue station on September 1, 1977.
A PCC car at the Virginia Museum of Transportation in Roanoke on August 27, 1975. This is DC Transit 1470, built by St. Louis Car Company in 1945.
This is Sacramento Northern 62, a Birney car built in 1920 by American Car Company. We see it here at the Western Railway Museum on May 26, 1974.
San Francisco Municipal Railway “Magic Carpet” carr 1003 was one of five experimental double-end cars built in 1939 by the St. Louis Car Company. This lone survivor is seen at the Western Railway Museum on May 26, 1974.
At left, we see Muni car 178, and next to it is “Magic Carpet” car 1003, at the Western Railway Museum on May 26, 1974.
This open car was built by Brill in 1912 and was used in Rio De Janeiro. It’s shown at the Rockhill Trolley Museum on August 24, 1975.
This looks like a Sacramento Northern electric freight loco (Western Railway Museum, May 26, 1974).
This San Francisco cable car was on display at the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds on May 26, 1973. Many children played on this car over the years. It was originally a California Street car using a side grip and was not updated when Muni took over the line. I read that in 2005 it was in storage, listed as being in poor condition with a broken frame. I am not sure if it still exists.
This equipment is at the Travel Town Museum at Griffith Park in Los Angeles on August 26, 1977.
A Los Angeles streetcar and a Pacific electric “Blimp” interurban at Griffith Park on July 5, 1977.
In the distance, we see a pair of Key System bridge units at the Western Railway Museum on May 26, 1974. These ran in Oakland over the bay Bridge, and were retired in 1958.
Toronto PCC 4394 on October 25, 1973.
North Shore Line car 757 at East Troy, Wisconsin on June 23, 1974. This car has since gone to the Illinois Railway Museum.
The East Troy Trolley Museum, June 23, 1974.
A Chicago Transit Authority 4000-series “L” car in Louisville, Kentucky on June 3, 1974.
A pair of 700-series South Shore Line freight locos at the Gary, Indiana station in 1974.
Chattanooga, Tennessee on June 2, 1974.
A New Orleans streetcar at Union Station in Chattanooga, June 2, 1974.
A New Orleans streetcar at Union Station in Chattanooga, June 2, 1974.
A pair of 700-series South Shore Line freight locos at the Gary, Indiana station in 1974.
Steam at Union, Illinois, August 8, 1976.
The Burlington Zephyr at IRM, 1976.
IRM, August 8, 1976.
South Shore Line cars in storage at Michigan City, Indiana on July 17, 1977.
A “Little Joe” in Michigan City, July 17, 1977.
Illinois Terminal cars at IRM, July 1977.
IRM, June 23, 1974.
IRM, June 23, 1974.
Illinois Terminal cars at IRM, June 23, 1974.
IRM, August 8, 1976.
IRM, September 1975.
IRM, August 8, 1976.
IRM, August 8, 1976.
IRM, August 8, 1976.
IRM, September 1975.
Recent Finds
Boston MTA 3292, signed for Braves Field, is on a double-track loop with the ball park at the right. The Boston Braves played there last game here on September 21, 1952 (exactly 65 years ago today), after which the team was moved to Milwaukee. Following the 1965 season, they became the Atlanta Braves. A portion of Braves Field still exists as part of Boston College’s Nickerson Field. We discussed streetcar service to Braves Field in our previous post More Mystery Photos (July 29, 2016).
Hammond, Whiting & East Chicago car 67 was built by American Car in 1917 and was converted to one-man operation in 1932. Streetcar service ended in 1940. Notice how similar this car is to some operated by the Chicago Surface Lines. For much of its history, the HW&EC was run by the Calumet & South Chicago Railway, which became part of CSL in 1914.
Chicago Surface Lines crane X-3 at Dearborn and Washington in 1942. Tracks were being put back in the street after construction of the Dearborn Subway, which was 80% completed when work stopped due to wartime materials shortages. The subway did not open until 1951.
New Castle (Pennsylvania) Electric Street Railway “Birney” car 363 at Cascade Park loop on August 24, 1941. Streetcar service was abandoned on December 11th of that year. This car was formerly Penn-Ohio Power & Light 363 and was painted orange. (John A. Clark Photo)
New Castle (Pennsylvania) Electric Street Railway “Birney” car 359 at Cascade Park loop on August 24, 1941. This car was ex=Penn-Ohio Power and Light 359, and was painted orange and cream. (John A. Clark Photo)
This odd, boxy streetcar is Black River Traction car #1 in Watertown, New York. This was a 1906 product of the Barber Car Co. Some consider this an ugly design, but apparently these cars were well-built. Apparently this line abandoned streetcar service on August 17, 1937, but this negative is dated June 20, 1938. The sign on the side of the car doesn’t really solve this mystery– there were two championship heavyweight bouts between Joe Louis and Max Schmeling, and these took place on June 19, 1936 and June 22, 1938. For more information on the Barber Car Company, click here.
Black River Traction car 5, with a date given of June 20, 1938. Not sure whether this car was also built by the Barber Car Company.
Recent Correspondence
Jack Bejna writes:
I recently came across this photo, and, after looking at it awhile I realized that this is an image of the CA&E crossing the Chicago River. It appears to have been taken from Franklin Street looking generally northeast. The train appears to be an eastbound train just entering the Wells Street Terminal. Look at the two cars and you’ll see Car 436 leading trailer 603. In addition, below the El structure there is the substation that provided the power for the terminal area. The picture was taken in 1939.
Jack continues:
I enjoyed your latest post about Boston’s great trolleys. Keep up the great work.
Here is the latest stuff, the CA&E and the CNS&M woodies. As usual, some of the images aren’t the best, but it’s all I could find in my continuing search for the best of the CA&E!
Increasing suburban traffic found the CA&E short of cars. In 1936, the CNS&M came to the rescue by making some of their older wooden cars available for lease.
In 1936, cars 129, 130, 133, 134, 137 (Jewett 1907), cars 138, 139, 140, 141, 144 (American 1910) and cars 142 and 143 (Jewett 1907) were leased for suburban service and returned to the CNS&M after World War II. These cars were later purchased in 1946 and finished their long careers in suburban work on the CA&E.
I know our readers appreciate your efforts in restoring and sharing these rare pictures with us. Thanks to you, they are looking better than ever.
After CA&E service was cut back to Forest Park in 1953, these cars were no longer needed and were soon scrapped. Interestingly, these old woods were the last passenger cars bought by the Aurora & Elgin.
CA&E 129.
CA&E 130.
CA&E 133.
CA&E 134.
CA&E 137.
CA&E 138.
CA&E 139.
CA&E 140.
CA&E 141 at Batavia Junction.
CA&E 142 at the Wheaton Shops.
CA&E 143.
CA&E 144.
Our New Book Chicago Trolleys— Now In Stock!
On the Cover: Car 1747 was built between 1885 and 1893 by the Chicago City Railway, which operated lines on the South Side starting in April 1859. This is a single-truck (one set of wheels) open electric car; most likely a cable car, retrofitted with a trolley and traction motor. The man at right is conductor William Stevely Atchison (1861-1921), and this image came from his granddaughter. (Courtesy of Debbie Becker.)
We are pleased to report that our new book Chicago Trolleys will be released on September 25th by Arcadia Publishing. You can pre-order an autographed copy through us today (see below). Chicago Trolleys will also be available wherever Arcadia books are sold.
Overview
Chicago’s extensive transit system first started in 1859, when horsecars ran on rails in city streets. Cable cars and electric streetcars came next. Where new trolley car lines were built, people, businesses, and neighborhoods followed. Chicago quickly became a world-class city. At its peak, Chicago had over 3,000 streetcars and 1,000 miles of track—the largest such system in the world. By the 1930s, there were also streamlined trolleys and trolley buses on rubber tires. Some parts of Chicago’s famous “L” system also used trolley wire instead of a third rail. Trolley cars once took people from the Loop to such faraway places as Aurora, Elgin, Milwaukee, and South Bend. A few still run today.
The book features 226 classic black-and-white images, each with detailed captions, in 10 chapters:
1. Early Traction
2. Consolidation and Growth
3. Trolleys to the Suburbs
4. Trolleys on the “L”
5. Interurbans Under Wire
6. The Streamlined Era
7. The War Years
8. Unification and Change
9. Trolley Buses
10. Preserving History
Product Details
ISBN-13: 9781467126816
Publisher: Arcadia Publishing SC
Publication date: 09/25/2017
Series: Images of Rail
Pages: 128
Meet the Author
David Sadowski has been interested in streetcars ever since his father took him for a ride on one of the last remaining lines in 1958. He grew up riding trolley buses and “L” trains all over Chicago. He coauthored Chicago Streetcar Pictorial: The PCC Car Era, 1936–1958, and runs the online Trolley Dodger blog. Come along for the ride as we travel from one side of the city to the other and see how trolley cars and buses moved Chicago’s millions of hardworking, diverse people.
Images of Rail
The Images of Rail series celebrates the history of rail, trolley, streetcar, and subway transportation across the country. Using archival photographs, each title presents the people, places, and events that helped revolutionize transportation and commerce in 19th- and 20th-century America. Arcadia is proud to play a part in the preservation of local heritage, making history available to all.
The book costs just $21.99 plus shipping.
Please note that Illinois residents must pay 10.00% sales tax on their purchases.
We appreciate your business!
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NEW – Chicago Trolleys Postcard Collection
We are pleased to report that selected images from our upcoming book Chicago Trolleys will be available on September 25th in a pack of 15 postcards, all for just $7.99. This is part of a series put out by Arcadia Publishing. Dimensions: 6″ wide x 4.25″ tall
The Postcards of America Series
Here in the 21st century, when everyone who’s anyone seems to do most of their communicating via Facebook and Twitter, it’s only natural to wax a little nostalgic when it comes to days gone by. What happened to more personal means of communication like hand-written letters on nice stationery? Why don’t people still send postcards when they move someplace new or go away on vacation?
If that line of thinking sounds familiar, then Arcadia Publishing’s Postcards of America was launched with you in mind. Each beautiful volume features a different collection of real vintage postcards that you can mail to your friends and family.
Pre-Order your Chicago Trolleys Postcard Pack today!
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“Smoke Gets in Your Eyes”
Dave, I think you’ll find that the man with his left hand to his eye has a movie camera in his right hand, not a baby Rollei.
Thanks!
Photo #820 Barber Car. Here is the production list from Harold E Cox.
Link: Barber Car Roster http://streetcars.telcen.com/rosters/BarberCar.html
and also two free book downloads & other items:
Harold E. Cox http://streetcars.telcen.com/
Thanks!
The LA car is the funeral car
http://donsdepot.donrossgroup.net/dr2332.htm
What a kindness you have provided to Mr. Kruse’s memory. Gives me hope that my efforts at preserving what interests me won’t necessarily be forgotten.
David,
In reference to Marvin C Kruse’s photos found in a shoebox at a garage sale, here are a few comments concerning a number of them.
The locomotive in photo number 5, starting from the top, is CB&Q 4960. In May, 1961 it was used on four fan trips. On May 5 and 6, 1961, it made two round trips from St, Louis to Hannibal, MO. operated by the Illini Railroad Club from Champaign, IL. Then, on Saturday, May 20, it operated a trip from Davenport, IA to Dubuque, IA. The next, it operated from Davenport to Beardstown, IL. Both trips were operated by the Iowa Chapter of the NRHS. I rode both of the latter trips.
Photo number 11, with all the rail fans in the view, appears to be a trip with CB&Q 4-6-4 no. 3001. While the photo indicates that the trip occurred in September, 1958, I think it was actually a trip on Sunday, August 31, 1958 from Chicago to Rock Island, IL via Barstow, IL.operated by Illini RR Club. No. 3001 was assigned to another fan trip on October 12, 1958 from Chicago to Burgess Junction, IL to Earlville, IL and back to Chicago. The trip was operated by the North Palos Community Council. It was the last time the a CB&Q Hudson operated under it’s own power. It also was the last trip of a Hudson in the U.S. in the steam era. A couple of Hudsons have operated since, but they were restored locomotives.
Photo nos. 12, 13 20, 21, and 22 are also CB&Q fan trips powered by 4960, but without dates, I have no idea where the trips were operated.
Photo nos, 18 and 19 as you may have determined are Nickel Plate berkshires. The location may be Bellevue, OH.
Finally, the photo at Illinois Railroad Museum, taken August 8, 1976, of an unidentified 2-8-0 is actually Lake Superior and Ihspeming no. 34. This locomotive was later sold to the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad and became their no. 734. It was modified during rebuild to look very much like one of Western Maryland RR’s big 2-8-0s. It is currently out of service awaiting overhaul.
Thanks for saving Mr. Kruse’s photos. The certainly provide a candid and unique view of one man’s travels and interests.
Bill Barber Gravois Mills, MO >
Thanks very much for the information on these pictures. In some cases, the dates I have show when the film was processed. Some photo labs, years ago, would print the month and year right on the photo itself. If a trip was on August 31 it would make sense that the processing date would be September.
Very nice treasure trove of photos. The one that really caught my eye is the Air electric PCC in Colorado. That is a ex Los Angeles car and it still exists today. It is very well kept.
Thanks!
From Al Breyer:
RE: the Marvin C Kruse photos…the two steam engine terminal photos I believe are the Nickel Plate Road at Calumet (Chicago) on the far Southeast Side. There are unquestionably NKP Berks, which would still have been running in 1958.
In pict915.jpg, is there any data on which CTA 4000 “L”-car this was?
By the early 1970s, it would seem to me that the Authority would have a record on which car it had disposed of, to whom and where?
There is a web site that keeps track of such things:
Roster of Preserved North American Electric Railway Cars
It’s possible that the photo was taken at the Kentucky Railway Museum, which was located in Louisville at one time (it has since moved). But if that is the case, there’s no record here of them owning any ex-CTA 4000s. However, they have owned other electric transit vehicles, such as TMER&L 846, which is now in East Troy, Wisconsin.
However, now that I think of it, if something got scrapped, it won’t be on that list.
A caregiver for my father sent this to me. My father is the Marvin C Kruse you cited. A few corrections. My dad just celebrated his 96th birthday a few weeks ago, alive and well. Also he never said he was POW.
I LOVE what you have done with his photos that my brother sold. This is a real benefit for all. Very good memories; Dad enjoyed this blog, too.
That’s wonderful news… I will correct the text, thanks! Glad he likes it.