CENTRAL ELECTRIC RAILFANS' ASSOCIATION
Upcoming Programs
- In-person meetings have returned! Watch this space.
March 24, 2023 Fourth Friday In-person and Zoom member program See Contemporary Rails of Greece,Remember the Street Level on Lake Street "L" Friday, March 24, 2023, 7:00 P.M. (Central Time), 899 S. Plymouth Ct., Chicago Presented by Bruce Moffat
Join us for our latest program, this coming Friday! The Greek Railway system has been in the news lately due to an unfortunate incident. However, Greece and its railways and transit properties are actually quite varied and interesting. Bruce visited the country on the western shore of the Aegean last year and will provide a general overview of their transportation system. He'll also throw in some Chicago transit history into the program. As a bonus (and to fill out the time!) Bruce will also show digitized films of the last decade of ground level operations on CTA's Lake Street "L" through Austin and Oak Park. Bruce rode this operation in its last years and is what got him hooked on railfanning. The Lake Street operation was unlike anything else on the rapid transit system. The in-person program is in the Club Room of 899 S. Plymouth Ct., Chicago. Members have been sent the Zoom login and passcode. Join CERA now Not a member? Haven't renewed for 2023? There's no time like the present. Visit https://cera-chicago.org/join Or let us know by email if you have questions at: ceraoffice@gmail.com Questions? Send us an email at ceraoffice@gmail.com For more railfan programming listings, visit: http://www.railcc.org/events.html |
THE RETURN OF CERA VIDEOS! After a brief hiatus from our webpages, CERA is happy to announce that previous videos hosted on YouTube, are now back up and running. Here is a list, and links, to currently available videos. Click on the date: September 2020: A visual appreciation of the South Shore Line by John Nicholson. October 2020: "Hungary for Streetcars? Czech this out!" a travelog of railfanning in Eastern Europe, by Raymond DeGroote, Jr. November 2020: The Loop: The 'L' Tracks that Shaped and Saved Chicago by Patrick Reardon. December 2020: Manhattan Transfer, by David Wilson TROLLEYS TO THE BOARDWALK Order CERA Bulletin B-151 today! The highly anticipated new book from CERA, Trolleys to the Boardwalk is now available. It is being shipped as a benefit of membership to all who were members in 2018. We also have books in hand at our Chicago offices and are ready to send them. Please click on Buy a Book to order. B-151 is a history of Atlantic City Trolleys from 1854 to 1955, written by James J.N. Henwood, who ecounts the story of trolley operation in Atlantic City, from humble horse cars to the modern Brilliners. Originally conceived of as a seaside shipping port, Atlantic City’s developers realized its potential for summer visitors seeking an escape from crowded cities to the inviting beaches of the Jersey Shore. Resorts and other businesses burgeoned, helped by the crowds brought to the city over three railroads. Local transportation began with a simple horsecart service as well as a steam dummy operation. It was traction Pioneer Frank J. Sprague who electrified the city railway in 1889. Under the control of the Pennsylvania Railroad, lines were ultimately consolidated into the Atlantic City & Shore Railroad. Over the years AC&S operated the local Atlantic City trolley service and a short interurban—the Shore Fast Line-between Atlantic City and Ocean City. There was also another electric line in the area, the Atlantic City & Suburban, that led a troubled existence and suffered an early demise. Come on board and ride back with us in time to relive Atlantic City’s colorful trolley era.
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