NSL 724 and 411 are on the Loop “L”, turning from Wabash onto Lake. In the background, you can see the Chicago Sun-Times building is under construction, which probably dates this to around 1957. This was also the location where some “L” cars ran into each other and fell off the structure in 1977, killing 11 people and injuring 160. (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)
This is the second of three posts featuring black-and-white pictures of the North Shore Line, taken by the late Robert D. Heinlein. All seem to have been taken in the mid-1950s.
In the era before color photography more or less took over the railfan hobby, fans would try and document, as much as possible, an entire railroad’s fleet. They would have black-and-white prints made and would often paste them into scrapbooks of roster shots. This practice was so widespread that you could practically call some of these fans “Rosterfarians.”
Mr. Heinlein was no exception, and now, more than 65 years later, we can marvel at the dedication of these fans, in documenting what they considered was a way of life that was fast disappearing from the American scene. We, in turn, thank Kevin Heinlein for sharing these wonderful images with our readers.
Keep those cards and letters coming in.
Enjoy!
-David Sadowski
PS- You might also like our Trolley Dodger Facebook auxiliary, a private group that now has 1,422 members.
Our friend Kenneth Gear 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.
FYI, the Hoosier Traction Facebook Group celebrates electric transit in Indiana and the Midwest. It also supports the activities of the annual Hoosier Traction Meet (although not affiliated with the North American Transit Historical Society, which organizes that event).
Our Next Book Project
This is a picture of Aurora Elgin and Fox River Electric car 305, signed for Elgin. FYI, we are hard at work researching our next book about the Chicago Aurora and Elgin interurban. Although we already have thousands of images, we start out on these book projects with some of what we need, and then have to find the rest. Some have generously shared their images with us, and some we have to pay real money for. In case you would like to help contribute to this effort, either by sharing images or making a donation, we would like to hear from you. All contributors will be mentioned in the book, which will be dedicated to the memory of the late Robert D. Heinlein. The most difficult images to find are always the earliest ones. You can contact me via messenger, at thetrolleydodger@gmail.com or via my blog. I thank you for your time and consideration.
North Shore Line Roster Shots by Robert D. Heinlein
NSL 707 and 710 are in Skokie, at the changeover point from third rail to overhead wire. Looks like one pole is up already. (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)
NSL 703 at Roosevelt Road. (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)
NSL 701. (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)
NSL Diner 419. (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)
NSL Diner 419. (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)
NSL Diner 418. (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)
NSL Diner 417. (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)
NSL Diner 415. This was the only dining car that remained in service after the late 1940s. Upgraded to a Silverliner, this unpowered car was used on fantrips and also as part of a three-car train of Silverliners that served as the “substitute Liner,” when one of the Electroliners was in the shop for regular maintenance. 415 is now at the Seashore Trolley Museum in Maine. (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)
NSL Diner 415. (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)
NSL 413 on the Shore Line Route. This was originally an observation car that was rebuilt into a coach during World War II. (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)
NSL 413. (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)
NSL Weed Sprayer 1265. Don’s Rail Photos (via Archive.org): “1265 was built by Western Wheeled Scraper Co in 1907. It was rebuilt as a weed sprayer in 1922.” (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)
NSL 607. Don’s Rail Photos (via Archive.org): “607 was built by Cincinnati in November 1924, #2730. It was retired in 1949 and sold to Chicago Hardware Foundry in 1950 and renumbered 239.” (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)
NSL 607. (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)
NSL Line Car 606. Don’s Rail Photos (via Archive.org): “606 was built by Cincinnati in January 1923, #2620. In 1963 it became Chicago Transit Authority S-606 and burned in 1978. The remains were sold to the Indiana Transportation Museum. It was later sold to RAIL Foundation in 2018.” (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)
NSL Line Car 606. (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)
NSL Snow Plow 605. Don’s Rail Photos (via Archive.org): “605 was built by Russell in 1921.” After the abandonment, it became the last piece of equipment to be scrapped on the property in 1964. (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)
NSL Snow Plow 605. (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)
NSL Line Car 604. Don’s Rail Photos (via Archive.org): “604 was built by the C&ME in 1914. It was acquired by IRM in 1963.” (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)
NSL Line Car 604. (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)
NSL Loco 459. It, and 458, originally started out on the Oregon Electric. (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)
NSL Loco 459. (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)
NSL Loco 458. (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)
NSL Loco 457. The smaller locos were nicknamed “Pups.” (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)
NSL Loco 456. (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)
NSL Loco 455. (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)
NSL Loco 454. (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)
NSL Loco 453. (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)
NSL Loco 452. (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)
NSL 409. Don’s Rail Photos (via Archive.org): “409 was built by Cincinnati Car in May 1923, #2465, as a dining car motor. In 1942 it was rebuilt as a coach and rebuilt as a Silverliner on March 30, 1955. Since it had no bulkhead between smoking and non-smoking sections, it was our favorite car to be used for meetings of the Milwaukee Division of the Electric Railroaders Association in Milwaukee. The North Shore was very cooperative in making sure that the car was in the location shown on meeting nights.” (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)
NSL 409. (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)
This and the next four pictures show NSL City Streetcar 354 at the Chicago Hardware Foundry site in North Chicago. It is now at the Illinois Railway Museum. (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)
NSL City Streetcar 354. (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)
NSL City Streetcar 354. (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)
NSL City Streetcar 354. (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)
NSL City Streetcar 354. (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)
NSL Combine Car 256. These cars carried some baggage as well as having seating. The configurations were changed over the years on some of these cars to either handle all baggage or all seats. (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)
NSL Combine Car 254. (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)
NSL Combine car 254, next to Silverliner 773.
(Robert D. Heinlein Photo)
NSL Combine Car 254 in Milwaukee. (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)
NSL Combine Car 251, a Silverliner, on Greenleaf Avenue in Wilmette. Don’s Rail Photos (via Archive.org): “251 was built by Jewett in 1917, It had its seating reduced from 40 to 24 on October 3, 1925, and it was converted to a Silverliner on June 19, 1953. It was acquired by Illinois Railway Museum in 1963.” (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)
NSL Combine Car 251 on the middle storage track at Roosevelt Road on the “L”. (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)
NSL MD Car 239. After the Insull interests took over the railroad in 1916, they expanded the freight service by purchasing a fleet of “Merchandise Despatch” cars that were able to blend in with the passenger coaches and operate in places where freight trains otherwise would not have been allowed. By 1947, these cars were about 25 years old, and rather than replace them, the NSL decided to exit the less-than-carload business entirely, as there was too much competition from truckers. Some of these cars were sold off, some were scrapped, and others were put into work service providing a variety of jobs on the railroad. (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)
NSL MD Car 239. (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)
NSL MD Car 238, after having been turned into a snow plow. (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)
NSL MD Car 238. (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)
NSL MD Car 238. (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)
NSL MD Car 237. (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)
NSL MD Car 235. (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)
NSL MD Car 235. (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)
NSL MD Car 234, after it had been converted into a Tool Car. Don’s Rail Photos (via Archive.org): “234 was built by Cincinnati Car in May 1924, #2720. It was rebuilt with 2 motors and became a tool car in 1948. It was acquired by Iowa Terminal RR in 1965 and given a quick paint job. It was stored at Charles City on the former Charles City Western until 1968 when it was brought to Mason City and converted to a line car.” (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)
NSL MD Car 232. (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)
NSL MD Car 231, fitted with a plow. (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)
NSL MD Car 231. (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)
NSL MD Car 229 at the Highwood Shops.
This car is now at the Illinois Railway Museum. (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)
NSL MD Car 228. This car is now at the East Troy Railroad Museum, where it is undergoing restoration. (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)
NSL MD Car 220. (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)
NSL MD Car 219. (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)
NSL MD Car 218. (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)
NSL MD Car 217. (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)
NSL MD Car 216. (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)
NSL MD Car 216. (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)
NSL MD Car 213. Don’s Rail Photos (via Archive.org): “213 was built by Cincinnati Car in March 1920, #2445. It was rebuilt as an ice cutter in 1940. It was retired in 1955 and sold to CHF as 242. It was donated to Illinois Railway Museum in 1964.” (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)
NSL MD Car 213. (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)
NSL MD Car 203, after it was purchased by the Chicago Hardware Foundry Company in North Chicago, and renumbered to 240.
(Robert D. Heinlein Photo)
Our Latest Book, Now Available:
The North Shore Line
FYI, my new Arcadia Publishing book The North Shore Line is now available for immediate shipment. My publisher decided to expand it to 160 pages, instead of the usual 128. That’s a 25% increase, without any change to the $23.99 price. I am quite pleased with how this turned out.
From the back cover:
As late as 1963, it was possible to board high-speed electric trains on Chicago’s famous Loop “L” that ran 90 miles north to Milwaukee. This was the Chicago North Shore & Milwaukee Railroad, commonly known as the North Shore Line. It rose from humble origins in the 1890s as a local streetcar line in Waukegan to eventually become America’s fastest interurban under the visionary management of Midwest utilities tycoon Samuel Insull. The North Shore Line, under Insull, became a worthy competitor to the established steam railroads. Hobbled by the Great Depression, the road fought back in 1941 with two streamlined, air-conditioned, articulated trains called Electroliners, which included dining service. It regained its popularity during World War II, when gasoline and tires were rationed, but eventually, it fell victim to highways and the automobile. The North Shore Line had intercity rail, commuter rail, electric freight, city streetcars, and even buses. It has been gone for nearly 60 years, but it will always remain the Road of Service.
Each copy purchased here will be signed by the author, and you will also receive a bonus North Shore Line map. Books will ship by USPS Media Mail.
Chapters:
01. Beginnings
02. The Milwaukee Division
03. The Shore Line Route
04. The Skokie Valley Route
05. The Mundelein Branch
06. On the “L”
07. City Streetcars
08. Trolley Freight
09. The Long Goodbye
10. The Legacy
Title The North Shore Line
Images of America
Author David Sadowski
Edition illustrated
Publisher Arcadia Publishing (SC), 2023
ISBN 1467108960, 978-1467108966
Length 160 pages
The price of $23.99 includes shipping within the United States.
For Shipping to US Addresses:
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
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Have always liked box motors. Can’t give any detailing of why, can only offer the declaration that I like them.
Diner 419 was used by the painters as a spray booth for small items when it was parked next to the Highwood carpenter shop.
Thanks!