North Shore Line Silverliner 737 (at left) and “Greenliner” 767 (at right) prepare to leave the Milwaukee Terminal on May 24, 1953. (Robert Selle Photo)
Seasons change and Fall is here. Today’s post features classic images from two excellent photographers, Robert A. Selle (1929-2013) and Charles L. Tauscher (1940-2017). Selle was a master of black-and-white photography, while Tauscher shot Kodachrome slides in his prime.
We spent a lot of time working these slides over in Photoshop, making them look their best for you. Some required a lot of cleaning.
Lastly, we have some interesting historical CTA documents to share. Going back to the original source can often shed light on past events.
Keep those cards and letters coming in, folks.
-David Sadowski
New Book Update
FYI we recently turned in a second draft of our upcoming book The North Shore Line to Arcadia Publishing. I am pleased to report that the book has been expanded to 160 pages (from 128), a 25% increase. A publication date of February 20, 2023 has been announced, and we will begin our pre-sale on November 20 of this year.
PS- You might also like our Trolley Dodger Facebook auxiliary, a private group that now has 974 members.
Our friend Kenneth Gear now has a Facebook group for the Railroad Record Club. If you enjoy listening to audio recordings of classic railroad trains, whether steam, electric, or diesel, you might consider joining.
Indiana Railroad cars 446, 737, and 68 in Indianapolis, IN on June 3, 1938.
FYI, we are in the process of assisting with the creation of a new Facebook group called Hoosier Traction, which will be formally announced in the near future.
The Hoosier Traction Facebook Group will celebrate electric transit in Indiana and the Midwest, and also support the activities of the annual Hoosier Traction Meet in Dayton, OH (although not affiliated with the North American Transit Historical Society, which organizes that event).
The North Shore Line (nearly all by Robert A. Selle)
North Shore Line car 162 is at the rear of a northbound train at Chicago Avenue on June 30, 1958. This car is now the oldest survivor of the fleet, and recently arrived at East Troy, where it will be restored. (Robert Selle Photo)
North Shore Line tool car 234 (a former Merchandise Despatch car) at Edison Court in Waukegan on August 2, 1958. (Robert Selle Photo)
A view of the abandoned Shore Line Route and the crossover to the Chicago Hardware Foundry Company in North Chicago in April 1956. (Robert Selle Photo)
A view of the abandoned Shore Line Route in North Chicago in April 1956. (Robert Selle Photo)
A view of the abandoned Shore Line Route in North Chicago in April 1956. (Robert Selle Photo)
North Shore Line caboose 1005 at North Chicago in June, 1939. (Richard J. Anderson Photo)
North Shore Line caboose 1004 at North Chicago on September 17, 1955. (Robert Selle Photo)
Former North Shore Line Merchandise Despatch car 213 at North Chicago (Chicago Hardware Foundry Company) on August 20, 1955. (Robert Selle Photo)
Newly painted North Shore Line caboose 1003 at North Chicago on January 19, 1957. (Robert Selle Photo)
North Shore Line caboose 1002 at North Chicago on January 19, 1957. (Robert Selle Photo)
North Shore Line car 419 is at the Highwood Shops on August 9, 1953. (Robert Selle Photo)
North Shore Line car 444 at the Highwood Shops on August 9, 1953. (Robert Selle Photo)
North Shore Line car 169 in Mundelein on August 9, 1953. (Robert Selle Photo)
North Shore Line car 735 is at the Mundelein Yards on August 9, 1953. (Robert Selle Photo)
North Shore Line car 150 is on the rear end of a northbound train at Chicago Avenue on June 3, 1959. (Robert Selle Photo)
North Shore Line diner/lounge car 417 is at the Highwood Shops on February 20, 1955. (Robert Selle Photo)
North Shore Line Silverliner 764 is on a side track at Edison Court in Waukegan on July 26, 1958. (Robert Selle Photo)
North Shore Line car 169 is on a side track at Edison Court in Waukegan on July 9, 1955. (Robert Selle Photo)
North Shore Line car 190, which had recently been damaged by fire, at the Highwood Shops on August 27, 1955. (Robert Selle Photo)
North Shore Line steeple cab loco 452 (with 453 at left) at Great Lakes Naval Station, on August 9, 1953. (Robert Selle Photo)
North Shore Line loco 459 at the Pettibone Shops in North Chicago on October 23, 1954. (Robert Selle Photo)
North Shore Line tool car 234 at the Highwood Shops on February 20, 1955. (Robert Selle Photo)
North Shore Line line car 606 at the Highwood Shops on February 20, 1955. (Robert Selle Photo)
North Shore Line line car 604 at the Highwood Shops on February 20, 1955. (Robert Selle Photo)
Chicago Transit Authority Buses by Charles L. Tauscher
CTA trolley bus 9410 is westbound on Montrose Avenue in June 1961. Note the late 1940s Jeepster at left, and the mid-50s Chevy at right. (Charles L. Tauscher Photo)
CTA trolley bus 9341 is southbound on Central Avenue at North Avenue in August 1965, at a time when a White Castle hamburger cost just 12 cents. (Charles L. Tauscher Photo)
The same location in 2019. There is still a White Castle on the corner, off to the left, but the building in the previous photo has been replaced by a newer one just out of view.
CTA trolley bus 9287 is turning from North Avenue onto Narragansett Avenue in September 1962, so it can go into the off-street loop. It’s possible that the man on the corner looking down may be the late William C. Hoffman. The Terminal Grill is long gone, but this loop is still used by CTA buses.
(Charles L. Tauscher Photo)
The same location in 2021. A Dunkin Donuts has replaced the diner grill. Midas Muffler is still there, down the street at the corner of North Avenue and Ridgeland Avenue in Oak Park. The off-street loop is in Chicago.
CTA 9746 at an unidentified location in April 1963. (Charles L. Tauscher Photo) Andre Kristopans: “9746 is on Giddings east of Austin facing west.”
CTA trolley bus 9502 is southbound on Central Avenue at Bloomingdale (1800 N.) in 1969. (Charles L. Tauscher Photo)
The same location today. The bridge has been replaced since the previous photo.
This is most likely CTA trolley bus 9631 on the April 1, 1973 Omnibus Society of America fantrip that closed out trolley bus service in Chicago. (Charles L. Tauscher Photo)
CTA trolley bus 9761 in 1973. This may be on a fantrip. The location is at Belmont and Kimball, but the side sign says Montrose. (Charles L. Tauscher Photo)
The same location in 2019.
CTA trolley bus 9761 on a 1973 fantrip. Can this be somewhere along Belmont Avenue? (Charles L. Tauscher Photo) Andre Kristopans: “9761 shots at Belmont and Nagle wye.”
CTA trolley bus 9761 at an unidentified location on a 1973 fantrip. (Charles L. Tauscher Photo) Andre Kristopans: “9761 shots at Belmont and Nagle wye.”
CTA trolley buses in dead storage some time after the end of service in 1973. (Charles L. Tauscher Photo)
CTA trolley bus 9325 is westbound on Irving Park Road in September 1968. (Charles L. Tauscher Photo)
CTA trolley bus 9708 at an unidentified location in August 1965. (Charles L. Tauscher Photo) Andre Kristopans: “9708 wyeing in 1965 is most likely at Central and West End. There were not many head-in, back-out wyes in the trolley bus network, and this is only one where buildings would look like this.” The wye was located on the east side of Central Avenue. On September 20, 2022, a gas explosion destroyed the top floor of an apartment building on the west side of Central at West End.
CTA trolley bus 9708 at an unidentified location in August 1965. (Charles L. Tauscher Photo) Andre Kristopans: “9708 wyeing in 1965 is most likely at Central and West End. There were not many head-in, back-out wyes in the trolley bus network, and this is only one where buildings would look like this.”
CTA 9761 is signed for Route 80 – Irving Park Road in 1969, but the actual location seems to be Central Avenue not far south from Fullerton, so this may be a fantrip. (Charles L. Tauscher Photo)
CTA 9545 is signed for 47th Street in August 1965. Not sure of the actual location, however. (Charles L. Tauscher Photo) Mike Tuggle adds, “The actual location of this photo is the southeast corner of 48th Street and Lake Park Avenue in the Kenwood area, just north of Hyde Park. I know because I was living about 2 blocks south of that area in August 1965. I was 10 years old at the time. The building at the right is long gone, and to the right of the photo is the old Sam Bell Shell filling station. Today, it is a strip mall. The land on which this trolley stood is occupied by townhomes and condos. The building, partially seen over the trolley was the Lakeridge Hotel, which is has since been renovated into apartments. Thank you. I always look forward to the next issue, though I would like to see more photos in this area as well as Hyde Park, South Shore, Woodlawn and Chatham.” Andre Kristopans: “9545 certainly is 47th, specifically at the gas station terminal between Harper and Lake Park south of 47th.”
CTA 9308 has just crossed over the Chicago River on North Avenue on May 15, 1962. (Charles L. Tauscher Photo)
CTA 2583 is westbound on 103rd Street at Vincennes Avenue in May 1960. (Charles L. Tauscher Photo)
CTA trolley bus 9300 is southbound on Central Avenue in July 1969. (Charles L. Tauscher Photo)
We can infer from this July 1968 photo that CTA trolley bus 9537 could not go through the northbound side of the viaduct under the Chicago and North Western tracks on Central Avenue at Lake Street. There must have been some sort of obstruction. The bus is being pushed so that it can get back to the northbound side of the street where it can be re-wired. (Charles L. Tauscher Photo)
CTA 9761 is northbound at Central Avenue at North Avenue on a 1973 fantrip. (Charles L. Tauscher Photo)
CTA 9761 is northbound at Central Avenue at North Avenue on a 1973 fantrip. (Charles L. Tauscher Photo)
CTA 9670 and 3534 are at an unidentified location in June 1961. (Charles L. Tauscher Photo) Andre Kristopans: “9670/3534 at Cicero and Pensacola.”
CTA 9670 and 3534 are at an unidentified location in June 1961. (Charles L. Tauscher Photo) Andre Kristopans: “9670/3534 at Cicero and Pensacola.”
CTA 3534 and 9389 are at Irving Park Road and Neenah in June 1961. This off-street loop was as far west as trolley buses went on Irving Park. This loop was later decommissioned and part of it is now used as a private driveway. 3534 is on a fantrip. (Charles L. Tauscher Photo)
CTA 3534 and 9389 are at Irving Park Road and Neenah in June 1961. This off-street loop was as far west as trolley buses went on Irving Park. This loop was later decommissioned and part of it is now used as a private driveway. 3534 is on a fantrip. (Charles L. Tauscher Photo)
Historical CTA Documents
Who can say why some things are kept, while others are destroyed? These historical documents form a paper trail that helps inform our understanding of the past.
Mystery CERA Document
In 2014, I compiled a data disc made up of the first 76 Central Electric Railfans’ Association Bulletins from 1938-47. I recently came across an early document that I had not seen before. Curiously, it is not one of the numbered bulletins, but is called “Circular 115.” Which gives rise to the question, were there really 114 previous circulars issued in the three years prior to this one? And if so, where are they and what happened to them?
Please note that the Trolley Dodger is not affiliated with Central Electric Railfans’ Association.
New Compact Disc, Now Available:
CTA-1
The Last Chicago Streetcars 1958
# of Discs – 1
Price: $15.99
Until now, it seemed as though audio recordings of Chicago streetcars were practically non-existent. For whatever reason, the late William A. Steventon does not appear to have made any for his Railroad Record Club, even though he did make other recordings in the Chicago area in 1956.
Now, audio recordings of the last runs of Chicago streetcars have been found, in the collections of the late Jeffrey L. Wien (who was one of the riders on that last car). We do not know who made these recordings, but this must have been done using a portable reel-to-reel machine.
These important recordings will finally fill a gap in transit history. The last Chicago Transit Authority streetcar finished its run in the early hours of June 21, 1958. Now you can experience these events just as Chicagoans did.
As a bonus, we have included Keeping Pace, a 1939 Chicago Surface Lines employee training program. This was digitally transferred from an original 16” transcription disc. These recordings were unheard for 80 years.
Total time – 74:38
Chicago’s Lost “L”s Online Presentation
We recently gave an online presentation about our book Chicago’s Lost “L”s for the Chicago Public Library, as part of their One Book, One Chicago series. You can watch it online by following this link.
The Trolley Dodger On the Air
We appeared on the Dave Plier Show on WGN radio on July 16, 2021, to discuss Chicago’s Lost “L”s. You can hear that discussion here.
Our Latest Book, Now Available:
Chicago’s Lost “L”s
From the back cover:
Chicago’s system of elevated railways, known locally as the “L,” has run continuously since 1892 and, like the city, has never stood still. It helped neighborhoods grow, brought their increasingly diverse populations together, and gave the famous Loop its name. But today’s system has changed radically over the years. Chicago’s Lost “L”s tells the story of former lines such as Garfield Park, Humboldt Park, Kenwood, Stockyards, Normal Park, Westchester, and Niles Center. It was once possible to take high-speed trains on the L directly to Aurora, Elgin, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The L started out as four different companies, two starting out using steam engines instead of electricity. Eventually, all four came together via the Union Loop. The L is more than a way of getting around. Its trains are a place where people meet and interact. Some say the best way to experience the city is via the L, with its second-story view. Chicago’s Lost “L”s is virtually a “secret history” of Chicago, and this is your ticket. David Sadowski grew up riding the L all over the city. He is the author of Chicago Trolleys and Building Chicago’s Subways and runs the online Trolley Dodger blog.
The Images of America series celebrates the history of neighborhoods, towns, and cities across the country. Using archival photographs, each title presents the distinctive stories from the past that shape the character of the community today. Arcadia is proud to play a part in the preservation of local heritage, making history available to all.
Title Chicago’s Lost “L”s
Images of America
Author David Sadowski
Edition illustrated
Publisher Arcadia Publishing (SC), 2021
ISBN 1467100007, 9781467100007
Length 128 pages
Chapters:
01. The South Side “L”
02. The Lake Street “L”
03. The Metropolitan “L”
04. The Northwestern “L”
05. The Union Loop
06. Lost Equipment
07. Lost Interurbans
08. Lost Terminals
09. Lost… and Found
Each copy purchased here will be signed by the author, and you will also receive a bonus facsimile of a 1926 Chicago Rapid Transit Company map, with interesting facts about the “L” on the reverse side.
The price of $23.99 includes shipping within the United States.
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9746 is on Giddings east of Austin facing west.
9545 certainly is 47th, specifically at the gas station terminal between Harper and Lake Park south of 47th
9761 shots at Belmont and Nagle wye.
9670/3534 at Cicero and Pensacola.
9708 wyeing in 1965 is most likely at Central and West End. There were not many head-in, back-out wyes in the trolley bus network, and this is only one where buildings would look like this.
That means the building shown at left in image aad437a is the one where there was a gas explosion on September 20th that collapsed the top floor and caused widespread damage.
The wye was on the east side of Central. Building in photo was replaced by a newer one probably late 60s. The one that blew up is on west side of street.
Thanks.
A few comments on the NSL pictures. Photo 12 of Caboose 1002 is at IRM in Union sometime in the mid-late 60’s. Photo 14 is ex-dining car 414 (not 444).