CERA is pulling out all the stops as we celebrate our 75th Anniversary this Sept. 20, 21, and 22. Tickets are on sale now by mail and through the CERA web site.
As detailed in our 75th Anniversary brochure, there are special fantrips to ride the Kenosha streetcars and visit both the Illinois Railway Museum and the Fox River Trolley Museum. You can either drive to these events or take our charter bus.
All this will be capped off on Saturday night, Sept. 21st, at our 75th Anniversary Banquet and Program. Each attendee will receive a copy of Trolley Sparks Special #1, a limited-edition retrospective book compiled by CERA Director John Marton, our program host.
Tickets for all events can be purchased by mail or online via our web site.
Finally, CERA has negotiated a special $99 promotional rate with the Chicago Marriott O’Hare. You can make your reservations directly with the hotel using the special promotional code “CERA.”
We look forward to seeing you at this once-in-a-lifetime celebration!
CERA official car 300 as it looked in August, 1942.
CNS&M 150 at the head of a CERA fantrip on the Libertyville-Mundelein branch in late 1962. The drumhead still appears to be in good shape.
CRT/CTA 5004, shown here in 63rd St. Lower Yard, on a 1963 CERA fantrip.
A 2000-series CTA “L” car leads the way on a CERA fantrip.
The CERA drumhead today. (Photo by John Marton)
The five original Kenosha PCCs, all ex-Toronto, lined up outside the carbarn (4606-4609-4616-4615-4610).
4606 looking very shiny in the carbarn.
KENOSHA FANTRIP
FRIDAY SEPT. 20, 2013
Join us on a sojourn to Kenosha, Wisconsin, as we inspect the closest operating streetcar line to Chicago. Ride and photograph all operating cars. Tour the shops.
10:00 A.M. – Buses leave Marriott
3:30 P.M. – Buses depart Kenosha
5:00 P.M. – Buses arrive at Marriott
LUNCH at own expense (why not try the historic Franks Diner?)
Kenosha Fantrip (Includes Charter Bus) – $50
Kenosha Fantrip Only – $30
IRM FANTRIP
SATURDAY SEPT. 21, 2013
We will make a trip to Union, Illinois, to visit the Illinois Railway Museum, the largest operating railroad museum in the US. We have arranged for special consists of North Shore Line, Chicago Rapid Transit, Chicago, Aurora & Elgin and possibly South Shore trains to commemorate the various Chicago-area Insull properties.
9:00 A.M. – Buses leave Marriott
4:30 P.M. – Buses depart Union
5:30 P.M. – Buses arrive at Marriott
LUNCH at own expense
IRM Fantrip (Includes Charter Bus) – $50
IRM – Fantrip Only – $30
75TH ANNIVERSARY BANQUET & PROGRAM
SATURDAY SEPT. 21, 2013
Marriott Chicago O’Hare
Cocktails and Nachos @5:45 (Cash Bar)
7:00-10:00 DINNER with PROGRAM following
Tossed Green Salad
Entrees: Chicken, Salmon, Ravioli or Beef Filet
Mixed Vegetables
Cheesecake
Coffee, Tea, Soft Drinks
Our special retrospective program will be hosted by John Marton. Only those who have purchased a Banquet and Program ticket will be admitted to the program. No exceptions. While we are not requiring a dress code as such, we ask that our members dress appropriately for the occasion.
75th Anniversary Banquet & Program – Chicken Entree – $75
75th Anniversary Banquet & Program – Salmon Entree – $75
75th Anniversary Banquet & Program – Ravioli Entree – $75
75th Anniversary Banquet & Program – Beef Filet Entree – $85
Trolley Sparks Special #1
TROLLEY SPARKS SPECIAL #1
In conjunction with our 75th Anniversary celebrations, CERA will publish Trolley Sparks Special #1, reviving a name used on many of our earliest publications going back to 1944. Everyone who attends our 75th Anniversary Banquet and Program will receive a copy of this special retrospective book edited by John Marton, which will not be part of our regular membership entitlement. A limited number of additional copies are available for $29 each. Like many CERA books, it is sure to become a collector’s item. Books will be distributed at the Banquet.
Additional Copies of Trolley Sparks Special #1 – $29 (Illinois residents pay 9.25% sales tax. Price includes shipping within the United States only.)
CA&E 20 at the Fox River Trolley Museum in the 1980s. It is the oldest operating interurban car in the US. (Photo by David Sadowski)
FOX RIVER FANTRIP
SUNDAY SEPT. 22, 2013
Finally, we will visit South Elgin, Illinois and the Fox River Trolley Museum. At present, we expect to ride the following cars:
CA&E 20
CNS&M 715
AE&FRE 304
CTA 43
CTA 45
9:30 A.M. – Buses leave Marriott
2:30 P.M. – Buses depart South Elgin (for early flights home)
LUNCH at own expense
Fox River Trolley Museum (Includes Charter Bus) – $35
Fox River Trolley Museum – Fantrip Only – $15
The Chicago Marriott O’Hare.
SPECIAL HOTEL RATES
MARRIOTT O’HARE CHICAGO
8535 West Higgins Road
Chicago, IL 60631
773-693-4444
CERA has negotiated a special event rate of $99/Night + Tax, depending upon availability, for reservations made by August 1st.
Parking for Hotel Guests:
$26/DAY Mon-Fri (24 hours)
$11/DAY Sat-Sun (not overnight)
$18/DAY Sat-Sun (overnight)
Handicapped – FREE, but limited
Please contact the Marriott directly to make your reservations. Use reservation code “CERA”
We are mailing out 75th Anniversary Brochures and mail-in forms this week to all CERA Members for 2012 and 2013. If you have not renewed your membership yet for this year, we hope that you will consider rejoining us. New Members are certainly welcome too, as CERA moves forward into its next 75 years!
-Your CERA Board of Directors
