WHAT'S NEW AT CERA!

September Update

Zoom programs are now a permanent part of our program schedule and a wonderful way to reach our out-of-town members.

All “In-Person” Programs Cancelled through the End of 2020 University Center has informed us that all conference dates at their facility have been cancelled through the end of the year.

If you are interested in presenting a live program at CERA in 2021, contact our program director, Andrew Sunderland, through the CERA email address: cera-office@gmail.com.

Zoom Program Schedule

All Zoom programs are held on the second Friday of the month beginning at 7:00 p.m. (CDT). The link to each month’s meeting will be available on the CERA web site and admission will begin at 6:45.

October 9 at 7:00 p.m. (CDT) Are You Hungary for Streetcars? Then Czech this out! presented by Ray DeGroote

November 13 at 7:00 p.m. (CST) The Loop: The “L” Tracks That Shaped and Saved Chicago presented by Patrick Reardon

Patrick's presentation is in conjunction with the publication of the book of the same name that will be available to CERA members through our online bookstore.

December 11 at 7:00 p.m. (CST) TBA presented by David Wilson

NEW DVDS

Check out our new line of traction DVDs. Many traction titles from Charles Smiley Presents available at a discount to CERA members. 

Blog: The Photography of Robert Konsbruck

CERA’s Blog returns with color traction photographs from the collection of the late Robert Konsbruck. We plan to present these and other images from the CERA archives every three to four weeks.

Also, if anyone has any rail transit news to pass along to the membership, please send it along to us with any accompanying images you might have to ceraoffice@gmail.com. This is your website and we can all participate to make it interesting and exciting to all.

Publications

Editorial and layout work continues on CERA Bulletin 151 (2018 Member Benefit), Trolleys to the Boardwalk, by the late James Henwood, an extensive history of rail transportation in the Atlantic City area.

Publication of Bulletin 152 (2019 Member Benefit), Sunshine State Trolleys by Seth Bramson is expected in the first half of 2021.

Following that will be publication of Bulletin 153 (2020 Member Benefit) Transit in the Triangle, Vol. 2, by Blaine Hays near the end of 2021.

MEETING NOTICE

CERA'S SEPTEMBER ZOOM PROGRAM ON FRIDAY, SEPT. 11

Our second monthly CERA Zoom presentation was a great success with more than 150 participants!
Stay tuned for more the September video and information plus a the Zoom link for our Oct. 9, 2020 Zoom program.

SEPTEMBER ON ZOOM
The South Shore Line: A Visual Appreciation

PRESENTED BY: John Nicholson

We took a visual journey on the Chicago South Shore & South Bend, America’s last interurban. Using digitally restored and enhanced color photography, we'll travel over the South Shore’s route and view its stations, rolling stock, and operations, both passenger and freight.

Our period will cover the late 1940s up to the early 1980s and we’ll see how the South Shore Line was able to soldier on through both inclement weather and uncertain financial conditions. 

While the South Shore remains with us today in a more modern form, tonight’s program will be a nostalgic trip back in time when the orange-and-maroon interurbans went about their daily business between Chicago and South Bend in true interurban fashion.