Used Book Exchange List #6

Our latest used book list, including original CERA and ERHS bulletins, plus traction books from other publishers, has been mailed to our current Members. We will post this list here on August 5th, one week after our mailing. The one week delay gives people who do not use the Internet more of an equal chance to purchase some of these books, which usually sell out quickly.

A 1956 photo of a CA&E train similar to the type featured on our Railroad Record Club Vol. 1 audio CD. (R. F. Munroe Photo – CERA Archives)

Two New Publications

This month, we have two new CERA Archives releases, following up on the success of the Complete ERHS Collection on DVD data disc (AR-1) and the Interurban Memories audio CD (AR-2). Railroad Record Club Vol. 1 (AR-3) is an audio CD that compiles two 10” LP releases by the long-defunct Railroad Record Club of Hawkins, Wisconsin. The Chicago, North Shore & Milwaukee is featured on half, with the other half split between the Chicago, Aurora & Elgin and the CTA Garfield Park “L”. These classic 1956 recordings have been digitally remastered and are available on CD for the first time ever.

You asked for it- the first 76 CERA Bulletins plus extras on a DVD data disc. Our new collection “The Spirit of 76” (AR-4) celebrates CERA’s 76th anniversary by featuring all the publications from the years 1938-1947, our first decade. These can be read on any computer with a DVD disc drive. We all still need “The Spirit of 76” more than ever!

All these Archive releases can be purchased here. You can also download a form to purchase these discs by mail.

Chicago PCC Weekend Tickets

Order forms have been mailed to our Members for September’s events, which begin with the Chicago Streetcar Pictorial Round Table on Friday evening, September 26th. Get your Round Table tickets now, before it’s completely sold out!

We will continue our celebration of Chicago’s PCCs streetcars on Saturday and Sunday with Inspection Trips to the Kenosha Streetcar and the Illinois Railway Museum. CERA has arranged with MCERA Vince Allen’s Victory Bus Service to provide round-trip transportation between the Crystal Lake Metra station and IRM.

Before

After

B-146 Update

CERA is pleased to announce that each copy of Chicago Streetcar Pictorial: the PCC Car Era 1936-1958 will include a reproduction 1936 Chicago Surface Lines brochure, which introduced the new “Streamliners.” This we are doing at no additional cost to you. The brochures have already been printed and they look great.

We are finishing up work cleaning up the many 60-year-old images in the book using Photoshop. Since this a very labor-intensive process, we are not going to quote a firm publication date until the book actually is sent off to the printer. However, we are doing our best to get the book published prior to our September meeting. It is better to underpromise and overdeliver, than to overpromise and underdeliver!

Since we stand behind what we sell, we will cheerfully offer a refund anyone who pre-ordered the book and does not want to wait any longer to receive it. Because the book is already very popular and likely to sell out quickly, we expect that very few people (if any) will take us up on this offer. See you all in September!

-Your CERA Directors