North Shore Line Rarities, Part Three

September 14, 2023September 17, 2023David Sadowski 3 Comments

Silverliner 773 is northbound at Belmont. At left, you can see part of the platform the CTA added in 1953, used only by southbound NSL trains. This was to prevent such riders, upon exiting their train, from making a free transfer to the CTA. They would need to exit, re-enter the CTA station, and pay another fare. This was implemented after the Chicago Aurora and Elgin stopped running on the CTA. Riders departing CA&E trains in Forest Park also had to pay a full CTA fare to continue inbound. (Robert D. Heinlein Photo) Miles Beitler adds, “If you zoom in on the photo, there appears to be a northbound train of wood cars just north of the station. The absence of trolley poles would indicate this was a Ravenswood train. If this train was in revenue service, it dates the photo to 1957 at the latest, and more likely the mid-1950s.”

This is our third and last post 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.

We also have some recent photo finds, which include color shots by Mr. Heinlein and black-and-whites by Robert A. Selle, among other things. Both were excellent photographers.

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 1,431 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

The interior of car 721. (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)

The control cab of NSL 721. (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)

This station, and Madison/Wabash, have since been replaced by a new one at Washington and Wabash. (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)

NSL 724 is northbound at Randolph and Wabash, at the head of a two-car train.
This station, and Madison/Wabash, have since been replaced by a new one at Washington and Wabash. (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)

Silverliner 737. (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)

Silverliner 738 (center) is heading northbound at Howard Street. (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)

NSL 743. (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)

NSL 746 at Roosevelt Road. (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)

Silverliner 750 at the Highwood Shops. (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)

Silverliner 756 is stopped, possibly for a photo stop, while the conductor consults his watch. (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)

NSL 758, at the rear end of an Illini Railroad Club charter. (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)

NSL 759 at the Milwaukee Terminal. (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)

NSL 761 at Howard Street. (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)

NSL 762. (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)

Silverliner 766, at left, is at the head of an Illini Railroad Club fantrip train at the Mundelein Terminal. The regular service train is at right. (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)

Silverliner 766 is part of a fantrip train on Greenleaf Avenue in Wilmette, on the Shore Line Route. (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)

Silverliner 771. (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)

Silverliner 773. (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)

NSL 774 on the “L”, possibly at Roosevelt Road. (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)

Silverliners 776 and 756 at speed. (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)

A two-car train of standard coaches has just left the Milwaukee Terminal. (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)

On the Winnetka Grade Separation portion of the Shore Line Route. (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)

Electroliner 801-802 is at speed in Skokie.
(Robert D. Heinlein Photo)

Electroliner 801-802 is on 6th Street in Milwaukee. (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)

Electroliner 801-802, possibly departing the Kenosha station. (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)

Electroliner 801-802 at Kenosha (most likely a photo stop on a fantrip). (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)

Electroliner 801-802 on the 6th Street Viaduct in Milwaukee. (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)

Electroliner 803-804 on the Skokie Valley Route.
(Robert D. Heinlein Photo)

NSL Electroliner 803-804, northbound at Belmont. (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)

NSL Electroliner 803-804 at speed. (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)

NSL 803-804 on Lake Street at LaSalle Street downtown. (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)

The Chicago Aurora and Elgin’s Mt. Carmel Branch (also called the Cook County Branch) used overhead wire instead of thrid rail, and was an important source of freight revenue for the interurban. When I-290 was built in the late 1950s, a new bridge took the tracks over the highway. Although CA&E freight service ended in June 1959, the interurban did apparently use this bridge prior to abandonment, as I have seen a photo. Cars could also drive on this bridge, which remained in use at least until 1986. The overhead wire remained up for several years after this branch was taken over by the Indiana Harbor Belt, which used diesel engines. This slide was processed in November 1962. We are looking north. The bridge itself was removed years ago. (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)

Chicago Aurora and Elgin wood car 315, at the Wheaton Yards in a slide processed in April 1962. Some of the windows on this car were boarded up for shipment to the Rockhill Trolley Museum in Pennsylvania, which happened shortly after this picture was taken by Robert Heinlein. 315 was built by Kuhlman Car Company in 1909.

(This and the next picture) Don’s Rail Photos (via Archive.org): “(Northwestern “L” car) 1796 was built by American Car & Foundry in 1907 as NEWRy 287, #5098, a trailer. It was renumbered 1287 in 1913 and rebuilt as motor 1796. It became CRT 1796 in 1923 and was sold to Gaylord Container in Louisiana (circa 1958), where it was scrapped in 1966.” Some other sources put the scrap date in the 1970s. This paper mill removed one side of the car to make it easier to load and unload the rolls of paper it transported. As a result, by the time it was finally retired, the body of 1796 was not structurally sound. It was scrapped for parts to help keep sister car 1797 running at the Illinois Railway Museum. Here, we see it on May 5, 1960 in Bogalusa, Louisiana. (Robert D. Heinlein Photos)

Chicago Aurora and Elgin 401 at the 11th Avenue station in Maywood on June 29, 1957, just a few days before the abrupt end of passenger service. (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)

The interior of Chicago Aurora and Elgin 414 at the Wheaton Shops on April 17, 1957. (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)

While passenger service on the Chicago Aurora and Elgin did end abruptly at mid-day on July 3, 1957, there were various attempts to get service restored after that. On March 6, 1958, a charter trip, using a two-car train, toured the western suburbs as “The Mass Transit Special,” meeting local officials in various towns along the way (and at least one marching band). Here, we see cars 417 and 460 westbound in Wheaton. Although the effort to save the CA&E ultimately failed, there were at least two other charter trips, the last in December 1958. (Robert Heinlein Photo) The former CA&E right-of-way is now the Illinois Prairie Path. The old CA&E Wheaton station would have been behind the photographer. Car 460 is now at the Illinois Railway Museum.

The same location on September 9, 2023.

On May 5, 1963, this is what remained of Chicago Aurora and Elgin car 419 after it was torched during scrapping at the Wheaton Yards. The metal parts that remained would be broken apart and hauled away. 419 was built by Pullman in 1923. Sister car 409, now at the Illinois Railway Museum, is the only Pullman that survives from the fleet. (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)

The control cab of Chicago Aurora and Elgin 460 on an October 26, 1958 fantrip– the final time it operated on the CA&E. There was one later fantrip, but it used two of the wood cars. The 460 is now at the Illinois Railway Museum. (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)

Here is a view of the back end of the Chicago and West Towns bus garage (and former streetcar barn) at North Boulevard and Cuyler Avenue in Oak Park on March 16, 1957. There are a couple of West Towns “Old Look” buses parked in the distance. (Robert D. Heinlein Photo) Mike Franklin: “Photo was taken from atop (and below) a spur feeding off of the C&NW tracks, which provided deliveries to a coal company on the NE corner of Ridgeland & North Blvd. It was removed sometime in the mid 1970’s.” After West Towns was absorbed into PACE, this garage was replaced by one further west on Lake Street. After the building was torn down in the 1980s, a Dominick’s Finer Foods went up, and this in turn has been replaced by a Pete’s Fresh Market.

Chicago Aurora and Elgin 460 is at the Aurora Terminal on April 17, 1957. Chances are this wasn’t a fantrip, as that was a Wednesday. Back then, the great majority of such trips were held on Sundays. This car is now at the Illinois Railway Museum. (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)

The body of Roanoke Railway and Electric car 57 near Salem, VA on August 31, 1957. This is a lightweight Brill Master Unit streetcar, built in 1929. Streetcar service in Roanoke ended in 1948. Sister car 51 is at the Seashore Trolley Museum in Maine. (George Krambles Photo, Robert D. Heinlein Collection)

Aurora Elgin and Chicago city streetcar 256.

In May 1962, workers began tearing up the tracks of the abandoned Chicago Aurora and Elgin Railway. (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)

Chicago Aurora and Elgin 410 heads up a westbound two-car train at the 25th Avenue station in Bellwood on June 29, 1957. (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)

Chicago Aurora and Elgin 421 is at the rear of an eastbound two-car train at the 25th Avenue station in Bellwood on June 29, 1957. (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)

Chicago Aurora and Elgin car 460 is at the front of a two-car train, heading westbound at the 25th Avenue station in Bellwood on May 18, 1957. (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)

Chicago Aurora and Elgin 421 is westbound at 9th Avenue in Maywood on April 20, 1957. (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)

Some very creative fantrips were held back in the old days, using unusual equipment. Here, we see a Central Electric Railfans’ Association excursion on the Chicago Aurora and Elgin interurban, probably prior to World War II, using electric freight locomotives and cabooses.

After the Chicago Aurora and Elgin interurban was abandoned, the railroad put their rolling stock up for sale. The ten curved-sided cars, built in 1945 by the St. Louis Car Company, were the newest and the railroad had hopes of finding buyers for them. Cleveland considered purchasing them for a rapid transit extension to an airport, but that project was delayed, and didn’t open until 1969. Finally, Gerald E. Brookins (pictured here as they were being moved off the property in 1962) purchased four of the cars for his Trolleyville USA, which provided transportation within a trailer park he owned in Ohio. Now, all four are back in Illinois– three at IRM, one at Fox River Trolley Museum. (Robert D. Heinlein Collection)

On April 17, 1957, Chicago Aurora and Elgin wood car 318 is on a fantrip on the Batavia branch, by the Fox River. Robert D. Heinlein took this picture from the second floor of the abandoned powerhouse nearby in Glenwood Park. It has since been demolished, but at one time, provided the electricity for the entire railroad. It was the first major electricity provider in the western suburbs.

Former Aurora Elgin and Fox River Electric car 300 is seen in suburban Cleveland on the Shaker Heights Rapid Transit line. Don’s Rail Photos (via Archive.org): “300 was built by St Louis Car in 1924. #1308. In 1936 it was sold to Cleveland Interurban RR as 300. CI became Shaker Heights Rapid Transit in 1944. It was sold to Milwaukee Rapid Transit & Speedrail in May 1950 as 300. It was scrapped in 1952.” With that in mind, this picture dates to between 1936 and 1950. Sister cars 303, 304, and 306 have been preserved in various railway museums.

Chicago Aurora and Elgin car 459 on a siding in downtown Aurora by the Fox River on April 21, 1957. As with the end of the line in Elgin, overhead wire was used instead of third rail. (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)

North Shore Line electric loco 450 in Milwaukee on February 15, 1938. (T. G. Wurm Photo) Don’s Rail Photos (via Archive.org): “450 was built in 1907 by Alco, (order) #44386, and General Electric, #2696. It was sold to Commonwealth Edison Co. as 6 in February 1948.”

Chicago Aurora and Elgin car 457 at Wesley Street in Wheaton on June 30, 1957, just a few days before the interurban suspended passenger service. This bridge carried the Elgin branch over the Chicago and North Western (now the Union Pacific). (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)

This picture, taken by Robert D. Heinlein on June 30, 1957 in Wheaton, shows the differences between Chicago Aurora and Elgin wood car 309, at left, and steel car 454 at right.

Chicago Aurora and Elgin cars 455, 452, and 459, as they were being scrapped in Wheaton on June 16, 1963. Out of a ten-car order, built in 1945 by the St. Louis Car Company, only four were saved– all bought by Gerald E. Brookins for his Trolleyville USA operation at a trailer park in Ohio. Now all four are back in Illinois. These cars only saw 12 years of regular service. (Robert D. Heinlein Photo)

On August 8, 1954, photographer Robert A. Selle took this picture of Chicago Aurora and Elgin car 459 during a fantrip photo stop on the Elgin branch. The event was a Central Electric Railfans’ Association excursion. When the time comes to submit potential cover images for my next book, this could be among them. When we worked on my last book, I had to submit six different images, and then we chose the one that worked best. Although the sign says “St. Charles – Geneva,” that branch of the CA&E had last run in 1937, but as Bob Bresse-Rodenkirk notes, “Elgin branch trains connected at Lakewood after 1937 for CA&E buses to St. Charles and Geneva.” Michael Crist thinks we are “sitting on the Milwaukee Road interchange track just east of Raymond Street, Elgin.”

Here are the bodies of Chicago and West Towns streetcars 164 and 165 on March 22, 1959. After trolley service ended on the line to LaGrange in 1948, they were apparently dumped in the woods along First Avenue, just north of North Avenue in Melrose Park. (Robert A. Selle Photo)

Five Chicago and West Towns streetcar bodies, in the woods along First Avenue just north of North Avenue on March 22, 1959. Car 141, the only survivor of the fleet, was sold as a chicken coop and was retrieved around this time by the ERHS (Electric Railway Historical Society) group. who tried to get a museum going on a farm in Downers Grove, IL. When that effort failed in 1973, the collection went to the Illinois Railway Museum. After a long, international search for parts, IRM eventually got 141 running again about 10 years ago. (Robert A. Selle Photo)

On Saturday, September 26, 1953, CTA “L” car 2899 is looping at the western end of the Garfield Park line at DesPlaines Avenue in Forest Park, while Chicago Aurora and Elgin car 413 rolls out of the terminal on its way west. This was the new arrangement, starting on September 20th, where the two railroads were no longer connected to each other. Therefore, two loops were necessary that did not directly intersect. There had previously been a loop here for turning CTA trains at ground level, and it was located just behind where the new loop is seen here. This new system remained in place until the CA&E suspended passenger service in 1957, and the CTA reconfigured the entire area in 1959 as work continued nearby on the new expressway. (Robert A. Selle Photo)

On Sunday afternoon, March 21, 1954, a westbound CTA Douglas Park “L” train is at the Racine station on the Metropolitan Main Line. This was shortly before the station closed and was demolished as part of the construction project that built the Congress (now Eisenhower) expressway. This was a four-track “L”, but by this time, Garfield Park trains had been rerouted onto temporary ground-level trackage on Van Buren Street. Logan Square trains had stopped using this part of the “L” in 1951. Starting in April 1954, Douglas Park trains went downtown via a new connection to the Lake Street “L”– the same routing that the Pink Line uses today. (Robert A. Selle Photo)

On December 9, 1951, the CTA, as part of their efforts to speed things up on the “L”, brought A/B “skip stop” service to the Douglas Park branch. Several lightly used stations were closed, but Wood Street (1800 W, 2100 S) was one of three that were given “partial” service. There was no agent on duty, and riders had to put a token into a turnstyle to enter. Soon the other two such stations were closed, but Wood continued as a partial service station from May 3, 1952 until May 19, 1957, when it was closed. Certain “B” trains that stopped at Wood had a special sign, which you see here, in this photo taken by Robert A. Selle on March 21, 1954. (Station info from http://www.chicago-l.org)

This is the interior of CTA wooden “L” car 3141, taken on December 12, 1953 at the Indiana Avenue station. It was operating on the Stock Yards branch and was laying over on a stub end track. (Robert A. Selle Photo)

A CTA 1700-series “L” car leaves the pocket track at Indiana Avenue on Saturday afternoon, November 28, 1953, for its trip east to 42nd and Oakenwald. Between 1949 and 1957, Kenwood operated as a shuttle, after which it was discontinued. (Robert A. Selle Photo)

This is apparently the only Birney car that ran on the Aurora streetcar system. Here’s what the Hicks Car Works blog has to say about it: “In 1920, in order to improve service, the company (Aurora Plainfield and Joliet Railway) ordered a new four-wheel Birney streetcar to operate the local line in Joliet… On July 21, 1924, the company was authorized to abandon its line. All service was stopped on August 31, 1924, being one of the first interurban systems in Illinois to be abandoned… The Birney streetcar was shipped to the Aurora streetcar system, with delivery being made via the Chicago & Illinois Valley Railway to Morris, the Fox & Illinois Union Railway to Yorkville, and then over the abandoned (but not yet dismantled) Yorkville division of the Aurora Elgin & Fox River Electric Company to Aurora. (Aurora Plainfield and Joliet) 101 – AR (arch roof) ST (single truck) DE (double end) Birney streetcar – St. Louis (Car Company)1920 (ord#1249) – K63 control, St Louis 7 truck – sold in 1924 to Aurora Elgin & Fox River Electric as number 48.”

Another view of Aurora Elgin and Fox River Electric Birney car 48. Birney cars were briefly popular in the 1920s for use on smaller streetcar systems, since they could be operated by one person. Because they are single truck cars, riding qualities weren’t the best, but they are certainly popular among the fans. “Downer” is a street in Aurora.

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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North Shore Line Rarities, Part One

August 23, 2023August 23, 2023David Sadowski 3 Comments

North Shore Line 721 sports an interesting destination sign. The interurban ran several such “named” trains in the 1920s, in an attempt to compete with the steam railroads. The Interstate Eastern ran to Chicago’s south side, where travelers could change for eastbound trains. From 1922 to 1938, a small number of NSL trains ran south of Roosevelt Road, the usual terminus, but did not ultimately attract much ridership. I don’t think the named trains lasted beyond 1932. Where is that sign today? (Robert Heinlein Photo) Correction: J. J. Sedelmaier notes that these were two different trains, the Interstate and the Eastern. Zachary Ehlers: “The Eastern Limiteds left Chicago and Milwaukee at 10am, carrying a Parlor car. The Interstate Limited left Milwaukee at 7:15am and Chicago at 5:05pm, carrying a dining car. (Source: the 1929 PTT).”

Today we are featuring a bevy of rare black-and-white North Shore Line photos taken in the mid-1950s by the late Robert D. Heinlein. Many of these might be considered “roster shots,” attempts to document the entire fleet of cars on a railroad.

There are numerous pictures of the “Farewell to the Shore Line Route” fantrip held by the Central Electric Railfans’ Association on July 24, 1955, the day before the abandonment of service on that branch of the interurban. To some extent, all three cars operated on that trip (154, 190, and 155) were ill-fated. 155 and 190 were damaged in a fire at Highwood on August 11, 1955, along with several other cars, and were scrapped. 154 survived the 1963 abandonment of the railroad, but ultimately succumbed to years of neglect. The body of that car was dumped in a field, after being stripped for parts, and its owners touted its potential as a chicken coop for prospective buyers.

These images were shot on medium format paper-backed roll film, either 120 or 620 size. There were apparently some handling issues, as some of the negatives were light-struck. However, we have included many of these, due to their historic significance.

We could not include all of Mr. Heinlein’s black-and-white images in this post, so there are more to come in future posts. We thank Kevin Heinlein for sharing these excellent images with our readers. We are presenting them in much the same order his father had them sorted in, mainly in car number order rather than by location.

They are especially noteworthy, as they are mainly pictures taken on the Shore Line Route, which was not as well documented as the Skokie Valley Route, as it was abandoned nearly eight years earlier.

Enjoy!

-David Sadowski

PS- You might also like our Trolley Dodger Facebook auxiliary, a private group that now has 1,414 members.

Effective immediately, due to the increased cost of international shipping, we will need to quote shipping prices before sending Trolley Dodger orders outside the United States. Until now, we had a fixed price surcharge on most international orders, but we actually lost money shipping out recent orders. It is not our intention to make a profit on international shipping, and we will quote based on actual cost. Thanks.

Robert Heinlein’s North Shore Line Rarities

North Shore Line (originally Chicago & Milwaukee Electric) sweeper 3 was built in 1904 using parts from an earlier sweeper from 1899. It was retired in 1951, and the body was sold to the Illinois Electric Railway Museum in North Chicago. Presumably the sign that says “Garfield” is from the “L”. (Robert Heinlein Photo)

Don’s Rail Photos (via Archive.org): “21 was built by McGuire-Cummings in 1908. The brooms could be removed for work service. It was retired in 1950 and sold to Chicago Hardware Foundry Co. as 238 in 1953.” (Robert Heinlein Photo)

North Shore Line cars 154, 190, and 155 are at the Linden Avenue station in Wilmette on July 24, 1955. This was a Central Electric Railfans’ Association fantrip just prior to the abandonment of the Shore Line Route. (Robert Heinlein Photo)

This and the next picture: The fantrip train makes a photo stop in Lake Bluff, where the branch line to Libertyville and Mundelein started. (Robert Heinlein Photos)

North Shore Line cars 154, 190, and 155 are stopped by the Lake Forest station on July 24, 1955. This was a Central Electric Railfans’ Association fantrip just prior to the abandonment of the Shore Line Route. (Robert Heinlein Photo)

The fantrip train at Linden Avenue in Wilmette.
(Robert Heinlein Photo)

The fantrip train at the Wilmette station near the Chicago and North Western. (Robert Heinlein Photo)

The fantrip train at the Glencoe gauntlet.
(Robert Heinlein Photo)

154 in Kenilworth, by the historic fountain designed by George Maher. (Robert Heinlein Photo)

Car 154. (Robert Heinlein Photo)

Lake Bluff. (Robert Heinlein Photo)

This and the next picture: At the Glencoe gauntlet. (Robert Heinlein Photos)

155, at the tail end of the famtrip train, turns onto Greenleaf Avenue in Wilmette. (Robert Heinlein Photo)

In the Winnetka grade separation area. (Robert Heinlein Photo)

I’m wondering if this is the 10th Street station, which in 1955 was the end of the line on the Shore Line Route. It was located on the border between North Chicago and Waukegan. (Robert Heinlein Photo)

Turning onto Greenleaf Avenue in Wilmette.
(Robert Heinlein Photo)

The fantrip train makes a photo stop in the short area of street running in Highland Park. (Robert Heinlein Photo)

Don’s Rail Photos (via Archive.org): “155 was built by Brill in 1915, #19605. It was damaged by fire at Highwood on August 11, 1955, and scrapped. One end from it was used to repair 735.” (Robert Heinlein Photo)

At the east end of the Libertyville/Mundelein branch in Lake Bluff. (Robert Heinlein Photo)

In the general area of Winnetka. (Robert Heinlein Photo)

I’m not sure where this might be… Highland Park or Kenilworth. (Robert Heinlein Photo)

Lake Bluff, going under the Chicago and North Western tracks, where the Mundelein branch began. (Robert Heinlein Photo)

157 was built by Brill in 1915. (Robert Heinlein Photo)

156 was built by Brill in 1915. (Robert Heinlein Photo)

Car 162 at the Wilmette Village Hall. Car 162 is now at East Troy, and is the oldest survivor of the fleet, having been delivered prior to IRM’s 160. It is undergoing restoration. I originally had the wrong location for this one. Thanks to Nick Jenkins for the correction. (Robert Heinlein Photo)

Car 163 in Winnetka. (Robert Heinlein Photo)

Car 157 on Greenleaf Avenue in Wilmette.
(Robert Heinlein Photo)

This and the next photo show 165 in Winnetka. It was built by Jewett in 1917. (Robert Heinlein Photos)

This and the next photo show 169 in Wilmette.
(Robert Heinlein Photos)

169 at Highwood. (Robert Heinlein Photo)

169 in Wilmette. (Robert Heinlein Photo)

Car 175. (Robert Heinlein Photo)

Car 170 was built by the Cincinnati Car Company in 1920. (Robert Heinlein Photo)

Car 176 on Greenleaf Avenue in Wilmette.
(Robert Heinlein Photo)

175 in Winnetka. (Robert Heinlein Photo)

Car 178 is stored on the middle track at Roosevelt Road on the “L”. (Robert Heinlein Photo)

178 on Greenleaf Avenue in Wilmette. (Robert Heinlein Photo)

North Shore Line coach 178 at the Highwood Shops in the mid-1950s. (Robert Heinlein Photo)

Car 186, presumably at Highwood. Don’s Rail Photos (via Archive.org): “186 was built by Cincinnati Car in August 1920, #2450. It was scrapped at Rondout on January 29, 1964.” (Robert Heinlein Photo)

Car 180 at the Milwaukee Terminal. (Robert Heinlein Photo)

Don’s Rail Photos (via Archive.org): “188 was built by Cincinnati Car in August 1920, #2450. It was damaged by fire at Highwood on August 11, 1955, and scrapped.” (Robert Heinlein Photo)

Don’s Rail Photos (via Archive.org): “189 was built by Cincinnati Car in August 1920, #2450. It was damaged by fire at Highwood on August 11, 1955, and scrapped.” (Robert Heinlein Photo)

Don’s Rail Photos (via Archive.org): “190 was built by Cincinnati Car in August 1920, #2450. It was damaged by fire at Highwood on August 11, 1955, and scrapped.” (Robert Heinlein Photo)

The “Greenliner” style logo was painted on, while the Silverliners had logos made of aluminum and bolted on. This is car 190.
(Robert Heinlein Photo)

Car 190, presumably on the 1955 farewell to the Shore Line Route fantrip on July 24, 1955.
(Robert Heinlein Photo)

190 at Highwood. (Robert Heinlein Photo)

190 at the Glencoe gauntlet. (Robert Heinlein Photo)

Don’s Rail Photos (via Archive.org): “192 was built by Cincinnati Car in August 1920, #2450. It was retired on December 31, 1955. It was scrapped at Rondout on January 29, 1964.” (Robert Heinlein Photo)

193 was built by Cincinnati Car in August 1920, #2450. It was scrapped at Rondout on January 29, 1964. (Robert Heinlein Photo)

Don’s Rail Photos (via Archive.org): “195 was built by Cincinnati Car in August 1920, #2450. It was retired on December 31, 1955. It was scrapped at Rondout on January 29, 1964.” (Robert Heinlein Photo)

Don’s Rail Photos (via Archive.org): “196 was built by Cincinnati Car in August 1920, #2450. It was damaged by fire at Highwood on August 11, 1955, and scrapped.” (Robert Heinlein Photo)

This and the next picture: Don’s Rail Photos (via Archive.org): “202 was built by Jewett in 1909 as a combine. In January 1917 it was converted to a merchandise dispatch cars by removing the seating and adding doors at the former passenger end of the cars. In 1936 it was converted to use as a supply car. In August 1946 it was sold to Chicago Hardware Foundry where the body was used as a storage shed for several years.” (Robert Heinlein Photos)

North Shore Line 458 started life as Oregon Electric loco 50. Here it is in Portland on February 2, 1946. (Gordon Spafford Photo)

North Shore Line loco 459 was originally Oregon Electric 51. Here it is in Portland on December 1, 1946. (George Butte Photo)

In the 1960s, you could buy sets of duplicate slides, often taken by the late A. C. Kalmbach, of Kalmbach Publications fame. These have tended to fade badly over the years, probably due to the cheap film stock that was used for duplicating. I purchased this one recently, and took a crack at restoring it. We see a view of the North Shore Line Milwaukee Terminal, probably around 1960, looking east along Michigan Street at Sixth Street.

Our Latest Book, Now Available:

The North Shore Line

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.

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

Total time – 74:38

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Thanks a Million

August 13, 2023August 14, 2023David Sadowski 2 Comments

North Shore Line car 154 makes a photo stop at the Glencoe gauntlet on a July 24, 1955 “farewell to the Shore Line Route” fantrip.

The Trolley Dodger blog reached another milestone on July 22, 2023, with one million page views. So, I am not exaggerating when I say thanks a million to all our readers over the last eight-and-a-half years!

We have a fine batch of classic traction photos for your enjoyment today. We acquired some of them as part of our research for our next book about the fabled Chicago Aurora and Elgin interurban.

All this research does cost money, however, so we hop you will consider making a donation. You can find links to do just that at the top of this post, and also at the end. We thank everyone who has already contributed.

In addition, we have coverage of the Chicago Transit Authority‘s celebration of the 100th anniversary of Heritage cars 4271 and 4272, which gave rides around the Loop for several hours on July 29th.

Enjoy!

-David Sadowski

PS- You might also like our Trolley Dodger Facebook auxiliary, a private group that now has 1,394 members.

100 Years of the CTA 4000s

To get downtown, I took an inbound Metra commuter train. Running on the Burlington Northern Santa Fe, it stops at the Riverside station on July 29, 2023.

The 4000s arrive at Washington and Wabash.

What it was like to ride the 4000s around the Loop.

The 4000s berthed at the south end of the Washington and Wabash platform, as the lines of people waiting to board were quite long.

CTA 2400-series cars, which were retired some years back, made up the other Heritage Fleet train being used that day.

The various advertising wraps on “L” trains break up the monotony of having everything be gray.

Fred Lonnes, a retired CTA employee, stands near the train.

The original plans were to make all stops around the Loop after the first few trips. But that had to be revised due to the large crowds. As far as I am aware, nearly all trips began and ended at Washington and Wabash.

Lots of pictures are videos were taken.

People were excited to ride the old cars.

There was a long line to ride the 4000s at Washington and Wabash.

Recent Finds

The miniature railway and electric wheel at Chicago’s White City amusement park, which was located on the south side on 63rd Street in the early 1900s.

The back of the postcard, mailed in 1909.

Chicago Aurora and Elgin car 320 makes a photo stop on an early “Railfan Special” fantrip, probably circa 1939-40. Don’s Rail Photos (via Archive.org): “320 was built by Jewett Car Co in 1914. It was modernized at an unknown date and sold to Iowa Chapter NRHS in 1962. It was transferred to Midwest Electric Railway Museum in 1968.”

Chicago Aurora and Elgin car 320 was the last to leave the property, and the first to return to service elsewhere. Here, it is in Centerville, Iowa (on the Southern Iowa Railway) on October 20, 1962. (Don Christenson Photo)

A group of Aurora Elgin and Chicago employees posed for a picture at the Dispatch Tower in Wheaton, circa 1920. The AE&C was reorganized into the CA&E in 1922.

Chicago Aurora and Elgin wood car 316 at the Fox River Trolley Museum on June 1, 1969. Don’s Rail Photos (via Archive.org): “316 was built by Jewett Car Co in 1913. It was sold to Railway Equipment Leasing & Investment Co. in 1962 and transferred to Fox River Trolley Museum in 1984.” (Don Christenson Photo)

Chicago Aurora and Elgin wood car 315 at Orbisonia, Pennsylvania on February 10, 1968. Don’s Rail Photos (via Archive.org): “315 was built by Kuhlman Car Co in 1909, #404. It was modernized at an unknown date and sold to Rockhill Trolley Museum in 1962.” (William D. Volkmer Photo)

Chicago Aurora and Elgin center cab locos 3003 and 3004 are in Elgin on July 15, 1954. They were built by Baldwin-Westinghouse in 1923-1924 and rebuilt in 1930. Both were scrapped in August 1963.

CA&E loco 3003 at the Wheaton Shops. (S. Palmer Photo)

A J. G. Brill builder’s photo of Aurora and Geneva Railway Company car 4. The line had only four cars in all.

Aurora and Geneva Railway car 1. This was a predecessor of the Aurora Elgin and Fox River Electric and was merged into another company by 1901.

Chicago Aurora and Elgin express car 15 on the scrap track at Wheaton on February 1, 1953. It was built by McGuire-Cummings in 1910.

CA&E express motor 5 in the scrap line at Wheaton. Don’s Rail Photos (via Archive.org): “5 was built by Cincinnati Car in 1921 to replace 1st 5 which was built by American Car in 1909 and wrecked in 1920. It was retired in 1953.”

These plans are for 15 CA&E cars built by the Cincinnati Car Company in 1927, numbered 420-434.

Chicago Aurora and Elgin 137 was originally a North Shore Line car. Don’s Rail Photos (via Archive.org): “137 was built by Jewett Car Company in 1907 as Chicago & Milwaukee Electric 137. It was rebuilt in 1914 retired in 1954.” The CA&E leased it from the North Shore Line from 1936 to 1945. it was briefly returned to the NSL and was then purchased by CA&E in 1946. Here, we see it on August 31, 1942 in Wheaton.

Chicago Aurora and Elgin control trailer 604 is at Wheaton in August 1948. It originally came from the Washington, Baltimore and Annapolis. Don’s Rail Photos (via Archive.org): “604 was built by Cincinnati Car Co in 1913 as WB&A 39. It was sold as CA&E 604 in October 1937.”

Chicago Aurora and Elgin cars 452, 453, and 451 were new arrivals in November 1945, when this picture was taken.

Chicago Aurora and Elgin cars 309 and 310 are on a May 19, 1957 fantrip, as a westbound train at Ardmore in Villa Park.

The fresh ballast, ties, and construction in this picture date it to September 1953, when the Chicago Aurora and Elgin cut back service to Forest Park. Their passengers then had to change trains and ride the CTA Garfield Park “L” the rest of the way into the city– at times, a rather slow and ponderous ride via 2.5 miles of temporary trackage in Van Buren Street, due to construction of the Congress (now Eisenhower) expressway. Here, we see cars 451 and 425, just after they have dropped off their riders. This arrangement continued until the CA&E suspended passenger service on July 3, 1957. The view looks to the northeast. William Shapotkin adds, “I see the Forest Park CGW station in the background. The CGW continued operating passenger service out of Chicago (stopping at Forest Park) until Sept 5-6, 1956. The SOO station (located at Madison St) continued serving passenger trains until Jan 1963 (when the remaining train, the LAKER was moved from Grand Central Station to Central Station in Chicago).”

Chicago Aurora and Elgin car 320 is at the end of the line in Aurora, most likely in the 1940s. This was a fantrip for the Central Electric Railfans’ Association. Now, this is where the Illinois Prairie Path terminates.

CA&E 414 is on the Aurora branch just east of Eola Road (near Batavia Junction) on July 3, 1949. The crossing with the EJ&E is in the distance, and the Commonwealth Edison substation at left is still in use.

Chicago Aurora and Elgin car 316 as it was being moved off the interurban via the Chicago and North Western in May 1963. Car 20 is behind it. Both cars went to what is now the Fox River Trolley Museum.

CA&E 453, most likely just after it was delivered in late 1945.

CA&E 451 in Wheaton.

The CA&E Wheaton Yards.

CA&E 303 at Trolleyville USA in Olmstead Falls, OH in August 1991. Don’s Rail Photos (via Archive.org): “303 was built by Niles Car & Mfg Co in 1906. It was modernized in March 1945 and sold to Trolleyville in 1962. It was sold to Connecticut Trolley Museum in December 2009.”

Chicago Aurora and Elgin wood car 317, taken at the Batavia Terminal on an October 16, 1955 fantrip. (Raymond DeGroote, Jr. Photo)

A westbound Chicago Aurora and Elgin train, with car 32 at the helm, stops at Glen Ellyn circa 1926. The station building for eastbound trains appears to be brand new. It was torn down around 1966. The two buildings visible next to the telephone pole are still extant. (Chapek Photo)

Chicago Aurora and Elgin wood car 300 on January 13, 1962 at Wheaton, a few weeks before scrapping started on the bulk of the fleet. (Raymond DeGroote, Jr. Photo)

CA&E car 300 looks much the worse for wear at Wheaton on May 18, 1963. It was not one of the cars saved. (Raymond DeGroote, Jr. Photo)

CA&E control trailer 700 at the Wheaton Shops. This car originally came from the Washington, Baltimore and Annapolis, and the ends were modified to fit the tight clearances on the “L” system. (S. Palmer Photo)

Chicago Aurora and Elgin express motor 9 at the Wheaton Shops. Don’s Rail Photos (via Archive.org): “9 was built by Niles Car in 1907. It was scrapped in 1959.” (S. Palmer Photo)

This and the next image are early postcards of the Met “L” bridge (actually two bridges, side by side) over the Chicago River.

CTA 6439-40 are at an unknown location in the 1950s, marked as a special run. The photographer is not known for certain, but I suspect this was taken by Vic Wagner.

A Central Electric Railfans’ Association special made a photo stop at the Sedgwick CTA “L” station on Sunday, December 11, 1955, using cars 6129 and 6130, which were equipped with trolley poles for use on the Evanston branch (which did not switch to third rail until 1973). Many fantrips in this era ran on Sundays, as there were fewer regular service trains to get in their way. In this case, Ravenswood “L” service did not operate south of Armitage at night or on Sundays, so leisurely photo stops were possible on the stations which had no service that day. The hanging sign on the front of the train is contemporary and was used by Evanston “Shopper’s Special” trains, a late morning version of the Evanston Express, which ran only in rush hours, for a premium fare of 40 cents. The CTA charged an extra amount north of Howard Street for a “zoned” fare for many years, unlike today where riders pay the same amount throughout the rapid transit system. These cars were also equipped with high-speed motors at the time, as the CTA was experimenting– which eventually led to their use on the 2000-series cars delivered in 1964. (Vic Wagner Photo)

This postcard, mailed in 1908, shows the Chicago and Milwaukee Electric (predecessor of the North Shore Line) station in Lake Bluff, where the branch line to Libertyville and what is now called Mundelein crossed under the Chicago and North Western.

The back side of the postcard.

A three-car North Shore Line train of Silverliners is at Valley Junction in North Chicago on January 20, 1963, the last full day of operations.

North Shore Line 721 heads west on the Mundelein branch in June 1962. (Laurence Veysey Photo) I looked up the photographer, whose name was new to me. I found this online: “Laurence R. Veysey (1932-2004) was an eccentric, a hermit, and an ardent nudist — and author of one of the foundational texts on the history of higher education.”

At the time of the 1963 abandonment, North Shore Line car 154 became the oldest survivor of the fleet. Unfortunately, it has not survived to the present time. Here, we see it in Anderson, Indiana in November 1964, when it was owned by a railroad club there, which had it pulled around by a diesel locomotive. A sign in the window says “Dixie Flyer,” which was an Indiana Railroad train. Within a few years, 154 ended up at a railway museum in Ohio, which stored it outdoors and allowed the car to slowly deteriorate. It was finally purchased by a Michigan museum, which stripped it for parts to restore an unrelated car, then dumped the body in a field.

A view of the North Shore Line’s Mundelein Terminal in July, 1962, looking northwest. (George Niles Photo)

George Niles took this picture of the North Shore Line’s Mundelein Terminal in July 1962, looking west. Past the terminal, there was a freight interchange with the Soo Line.

North Shore Line car 735 and others are at the Mundelein Terminal in July 1962. (George Niles Photo)

North Shore Line former Merchandise Despatch car 228 at Pettibone Yard in July 1962. It is now undergoing restoration at the East Troy Railroad Museum. (George Niles Photo)

North Shore Line freight loco 458 is at the Pettibone Yard in July 1962. (George Niles Photo)

North Shore Line 752 is part of a two-car train at Edison Court in Waukegan in July 1962. We are looking south. (George Niles Photo)

The Rynksel Oil and Coal Company was located in Waukegan, which is where this picture of the North Shore Line was taken (along the Skokie Valley Route) in July 1962. We are looking south from the south end of the Edison Court station. Waukegan was where the NSL originated in the late 1890s, and as there was a lot less ridership north of here, there were storage tracks, and cars were added and cut going north and south as needed. (George Niles Photo)

North Shore Line 752 is at Edison Court in July 1962. (George Niles Photo)

The “38 Fast Trains Daily” sign at the North Shore Line’s Milwaukee Terminal on June 18, 1962.

Finally, here are some black and white photos that the late Robert Heinlein took in the mid-1950s:

The Milwaukee Terminal. (Robert Heinlein Photo)

A two-car train leaves the Milwaukee Terminal.
(Robert Heinlein Photo)

The Shore Line Route. (Robert Heinlein Photo)

Winnetka on the Shore Line Route. (Robert Heinlein Photo)

Ravinia Park on the Shore Line Route. (Robert Heinlein Photo)

Street running on Greenleaf Avenue in Wilmette. (Robert Heinlein Photo)

Greenleaf Avenue in Wilmette. (Robert Heinlein Photo)

The 10th Street station in Waukegan on the Shore Line Route. After 1947, this was where the Shore Line Route ended. (Robert Heinlein Photo)

Our Latest Book, Now Available:

The North Shore Line

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.

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

Total time – 74:38

Help Support The Trolley Dodger

This is our 304th post, and we are gradually creating a body of work and an online resource for the benefit of all railfans, everywhere. To date, we have received over 1,005,000 page views, for which we are very grateful.

You can help us continue our original transit research by checking out the fine products in our Online Store.
As we have said before, “If you buy here, we will be here.”

We thank you for your support.

DONATIONS

Your financial contributions help make this web site better, and are greatly appreciated.

Chicago Streetcars in Color, Part Five

June 20, 2023June 20, 2023David Sadowski 6 Comments

CTA 566 is on Ashland at 95th on July 14, 1953. This was the south end of Route 9 – Ashland. The car is about to change ends and head back north. (William Shapotkin Collection)

Today’s post features many classic pictures from the collections of longtime friend William Shapotkin. Most feature Chicago streetcars, and there are others from the “L”. Even if we have shared a few of these before, they are well worth seeing again. Most are here for the first time, and we put in many, many hours working these images over in Photoshop to make them look their best.

This is “Part Five” because we made four previous posts in the Chicago Streetcars in Color series. Here are the links to parts One, Two, Three, and Four. It’s been a while, though– the last such post was in 2016.

We also recently paid a visit to the Fox River Trolley Museum in South Elgin, Illinois, where Chicago Aurora and Elgin car 458 has been put into service after a 13-year-long restoration.

We hope that you will enjoy them. Keep those cards and letters coming in, folks.

-David Sadowski

PS- You might also like our Trolley Dodger Facebook auxiliary, a private group that now has 1,288 members.

From the Collections of William Shapotkin

CTA 473 is at Devon and Ravenswood on a May 16, 1954 fantrip. (William Shapotkin Collection)

A CTA two-car train of 4000s is running on the Garfield Park “L” (actually, the Met main line) on August 10, 1956. The huge parking lot is actually where the Northwest (now Kennedy) expressway would soon be built, opening in 1960. The “L” continued to run here until June 1958, when the new median line opened in the Congress expressway, just to the south of here. This view looks to the northeast from the Halsted “L” station. (William Shapotkin Collection)

CTA Pullman-built PCC 4180 is southbound on south State Street in May 1950. (William Shapotkin Collection)

CTA 479 is on Irving Park Road during the May 16, 1954 “farewell to red cars” fantrip, just east of the north-south “L”. (William Shapotkin Collection)

The same location today.

CTA red Pullmans 479 and 473 make a photo stop on Irving Park Road, just west of the north-south “L”, on a May 16, 1954 fantrip.
This was a convenient place to stop, as there were no streetcars in regular service on Irving Park Road by this time, although the tracks and wire were still in place connecting some of the remaining lines. Two weeks later, red cars were retired, and only a few were used for charters after that. (William Shapotkin Collection)

CTA 473 on Irving Park Road, May 16, 1954.
This is just a few blocks north of Wrigley Field. (William Shapotkin Collection)

CTA 4390 at Vincennes and 77th on May 14, 1958. (William Shapotkin Collection)

CTA 7182 is southbound on State Street approaching Van Buren, circa 1955-57.
(William Shapotkin Collection)

This and the next two images: CTA work car Y-303 is at the Halsted and 39th Street materials handling yard on January 20, 1952. A Chicago Surface Lines trailer from the 1920s is behind it, used as a storage shed. (William Shapotkin Collection)

Two CTA streetcars pass on Cermak Road, near the city limits end of the line in the early 1950s. One 1700-series car has been repainted into CTA green. (William Shapotkin Collection)

CTA salt car AA-54 is on Kedzie Avenue on December 25, 1951. (William Shapotkin Collection)

CTA PCC 4375 is at Vincennes and 78th on May 14, 1958. (William Shapotkin Collection)

CTA 7256 is southbound on State Street at Van Buren on December 2, 1950. This picture was taken from the Loop “L” station there. (William Shapotkin Collection)

CTA L-203 at South Shops in the 1950s. (William Shapotkin Collection)

CTA work car AA-73 is at the 69th and Ashland yard on November 8, 1953. (William Shapotkin Collection)

CTA PCC 4136 is on “shoo-fly” trackage on Madison at Wacker Drive in June 1952, during construction of the Wacker Drive extension on the former Market Street. (William Shapotkin Collection)

CTA AA98 was trotted out one last time on May 25, 1958, shortly before the end of streetcar service in Chicago. It started life in 1907, built by the South Chicago City Railway. It eventually became Chicago Surface Lines 2846, and is now at the Illinois Railway Museum. (William Shapotkin Collection)

CTA crane S-342 is at the 61st Street Lower Yard on May 26, 1963. (William Shapotkin Collection)

CTA 6221-6222, at Skokie Shops on March 25, 1954, presumably when just delivered from the St. Louis Car Company. (William Shapotkin Collection)

A new CTA 2200-series “L” car, leaving the Brooklyn Army Terminal (presumably in 1969-70). (William Shapotkin Collection)

A four-car CTA Douglas Park “L” train descends the ramp to the Congress expressway median line in August 1978. (William Shapotkin Collection)

Nick Jenkins: “The (North Shore Line) train is northbound at North Chicago Junction. I also think that it is later than 1955. The track to the East Line (Waukegan) was removed in 1956.” (William Shapotkin Collection)

The interior of the CTA “L” station at Damen and North Avenues (today’s Blue Line to O’Hare) in February 1986. (William Shapotkin Photo)

The CTA North/Damen Tower, located at the north end (southbound platform) of the Damen and North Avenue station, which at one time controlled the movements of Logan Square and Humboldt Park trains, as it appeared in February 1986. (William Shapotkin Photo)

The view looking west from the Damen and North Avenue station, showing the former right-of-way of the old Humboldt Park “L”, as it appeared in February 1986. (William Shapotkin Photo)

CTA 6151 is southbound at Halsted and 38th on February 22, 1954. Towards the end of streetcar service on Halsted, older red cars replaced newer PCCs. Halsted had operated mainly Pullman-built postwar PCCs, which the CTA retired early and sent off to the St. Louis Car Company for scrapping and parts recycling into new rapid transit cars. The track going off to the left led to a materials handling yard. (William Shapotkin Collection)

CTA sand car AA-29 is at the car barn at 69th and Ashland in 1950. (William Shapotkin Collection)

CTA 7065 is on State Street, having crossed the Chicago River, in March 1951. The bridge here opened in 1949, ten years after the previous one was removed during construction of Chicago’s first subways.
(William Shapotkin Collection)

We are just north of the intersection of Armitage and California Avenues on Chicago’s Northwest Side. Car #6133, working a southbound trip on CTA Route #52 — KEDZIE/CALIFORNIA, is seen heading southbound in California approaching Armitage. The year is 1949 and in less than five years, transit service on this line would be converted to trolley buses. The view looks north. (William Shapotkin Collection)

In May 1952, car #369, working a southbound trip on CTA Route #52 — KEDZIE/CALIFORNIA, was photographed as it headed southbound in California at Shakespeare Ave on Chicago’s Northwest Side. The view looks north. (William Shapotkin Collection)

We are on Chicago’s South Side as cars #652 and 678, both working CTA Rt #8 — HALSTED, pass in Halsted at 74th Street. The view looks north from platform of Halsted suburban station on the WABASH. Photo dated Feb 22, 1954. (James J. Buckley Photo, William Shapotkin Collection)

We are at the Connecticut Trolley Museum at Warehouse Point– where CTA ‘L’ car #4436 was caught in this undated photo. (Our thanks to Bruce Moffat in identifying the car number and location.) According to their on-line roster, this car is still with us. (William Shapotkin Collection)

Car #2622 is seen working a westbound trip on CSL (i.e.: pre-CTA) Rt #75 — 74th/75th, heading west in 75th Street passing beneath the Illinois Central overcrossing of 75th near Woodlawn Avenue on Chicago’s South Side. Buses of successor CTA Rt #75 — 74th/75th continue operating through here for some 19 hours every day. Our thanks to Andre Kristopans for his assistance in identifying the photo location. (William Shapotkin Collection)

In October 1951, car #586 was caught working a northbound trip on CTA Rt #56 — MILWAUKEE. The car is heading northwest in Milwaukee Avenue as it crosses over the MILW/PRR (PCCStL) tracks, located just south of Kinzie Street in Chicago. (The MILW/PRR tracks led to the north approach to Union Station and are still in-use by Amtrak and Metra passenger trains today.) Today the Milwaukee Avenue bridge over these tracks is history, and buses of the successor bus route (still #56 — MILWAUKEE) cross these tracks on Des Plaines Street — located approximately 1-1/2 blocks west of this location. The view looks southeast. (William Shapotkin Collection)

Car #430, working a southbound trip on CTA Route #52– Kedzie/California, is southbound in Kedzie Avenue, crossing the Sanitary and Ship Canal near 34th Street on April 19, 1951.
(William Shapotkin Collection)

CTA red Pullman 563 is at Ashland and 95th (south terminus of Route 9 – Ashland) on July 14, 1953. (William Shapotkin Collection)

CTA red streetcar 6141 is at Navy Pier on July 4, 1951. This was, among other things, the eastern terminus of Route 65 – Grand Avenue, but that had already been converted to buses as of April 1, 1951. It appears the streetcar is signed for Route 28 – Stony Island, which was converted to buses as of June 29, 1951, so perhaps the date given here is wrong. CTA bus 3632 is operating on Route 15 – Canal-Archer. (William Shapotkin Collection)

CTA 1581 is at 16th and Kenton on May 22, 1948. (William Shapotkin Collection)

CTA snow plow/sweeper E-54 (still lettered for the Chicago Surface Lines) is at the Ashland car barn on September 29, 1952.
(William Shapotkin Collection)

CTA one-man streetcar 1725, signed for Route 58 – Ogden, is on Randolph at Halsted on March 13, 1951. We are looking to the northeast. (William Shapotkin Collection)

CTA 6150 is on Halsted at 78th Street on February 22, 1954, operating on Route 42 – Halsted-Downtown, which was a variant of the regular Route 8 – Halsted. (William Shapotkin Collection)

CTA red Pullman 677 is on State Street at Roosevelt Road on March 13, 1951. (William Shapotkin Collection)

CTA red Pullman 786 is on Van Buren Street near the Chicago River on April 1952.
(William Shapotkin Collection)

CTA red Pullman 706 is southbound on Wabash Avenue just north of the Chicago River on January 26, 1952, passing by the Silver Frolics nightclub. (William Shapotkin Collection)

CTA red Pullman 602 emerges from the Washington Street Tunnel in April 1951. (William Shapotkin Collection)

This car, marked as Chicago City Railway cable car trailer 209, is actually a recreation made by the Chicago Surface Lines in the 1930s, possibly using some original parts.
Here, we see it when it was part of the CTA Historical Collection. It is now at the Illinois Railway Museum. (Gerald H. Landau Photo, William Shapotkin Collection)

CTA red Pullman 483 is on 79th Street at Wallace Avenue on February 22, 1954. (William Shapotkin Collection)

CTA red Pullman 200 is on Halsted in April 1952, crossing the construction site of the Congress expressway. The streetcar is on a “shoo-fly” track, going around where the new bridge is under construction. (William Shapotkin Collection)

CTA 585 is on Des Plaines Avenue near Milwaukee Avenue in April 1951, running on Route 56 – Milwaukee. (William Shapotkin Collection)

CTA red Pullman 410 is on Kedzie Avenue in January 1951. (William Shapotkin Collection)

We are at the Indiana Avenue station on Chicago’s South Side for this going-away view of a northbound JACKSON PARK/HOWARD train of 6000-series cars. From the vantage point of the photo, the overhead transfer bridge (allowing passengers to transfer between Subway trains and the already-abandoned Kenwood and Stock Yards lines) was still in place. The view looks west (timetable northbound) in this June 3, 1960 photo by C. G. Parsons. (William Shapotkin Collection)

CA&E 458 Restored

I visited the Fox River Trolley Museum in South Elgin on Saturday, June 17th. Before I got there, they had unveiled newly restored Chicago Aurora and Elgin car 458, built in 1945. After the CA&E was abandoned, it went to Trolleyville USA in Ohio, where it was used as a parts car. But once it came back to Illinois, the Fox River people found it was surprisingly complete, and it underwent a complete restoration. Now, the car looks and runs great and can carry passengers for the first time in 66 years. The volunteers here are very dedicated and do excellent work. Someone also had a circa 1958-60 Lincoln on hand, with a power rear window.

The Trolley Dodger

Musings on transit, past, present, and future

CERA

North Shore Line Rarities, Part Three

North Shore Line Rarities, Part One

Thanks a Million

Chicago Streetcars in Color, Part Five