The 1923 “Insull Trophy”

At our June 18th meeting, your CERA Directors presented Jeff Wien with a token of our appreciation for his 26 years of continuous service as a Board member.  We do not know all the details behind the 1923 “Insull Trophy,” pictured below, but it was inscribed to C. H. McCormick as part of a construction team.

The original medal is about the size of a quarter, and has both a ribbon and a watch fob.  We assume the “E” stands for excellence, always a hallmark of the Samuel Insull empire, which at one time owned all three major Chicago interurbans, plus the rapid transit system, Commonwealth Edison, and that’s just locally.  There is also a horseshoe, which we presume is there for good luck.

If anyone can shed any additional light on the story behind this medal, please contact us at:

cerablog1@gmail.com

Thanks.

The newly restored Chicago & West Towns car 141 at its dedication ceremony at IRM on June 1, 2014. (Diana Koester Photo – CERA Archives)

Driehaus Preservation Award Nomination

Each year, Landmarks Illinois presents its’ annual Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Preservation Awards. This year, CERA has joined with others in nominating Frank Sirinek and the Illinois Railway Museum for the 2014 award. Here is a copy of our nomination letter:

Central Electric Railfans’ Association, founded in 1938, is an educational, technical not-for-profit organization incorporated in the State of Illinois. We have published 145 bulletins about the history of electric railways, and host 10 programs each year. We have also held more than 200 fantrips worldwide.

While not directly involved in the preservation of railroad equipment, CERA is very supportive of “sister” organizations like the Illinois Railway Museum that are on the forefront of these efforts. And at IRM, Frank Sirinek has been a leader for more than 40 years, working to preserve unique examples of historical equipment such as the Chicago & West Towns Railway car 141, and the Chicago Transit Authority “Green Hornet” streetcar 4391.

C&WT car 141 was used by CERA on a fantrip that took place on April 23, 1939, over 75 years ago. After the West Towns discontinued rail service in 1948, the 141 became the sole survivor of the fleet, and even then, was in a very dilapidated and incomplete condition. The idea that it might ever run again seemed far-fetched. Practically no one but Frank Sirinek thought it could be possible.

After the 141 came to IRM in 1973, Frank took charge of the project. Authentic parts for the car were sought and obtained from all over the world.

Due to Mr. Sirinek’s steadfastness and dedication, 40 years later, the project reached a successful conclusion. This beautiful 1920s streetcar, now fully and faithfully restored to its former glory, was formally dedicated at IRM on June 1, 2014. It now serves as a living example of the early 20th century history of Chicago’s western suburbs, where the car once ran in towns like Oak Park, Forest Park, Berwyn, Cicero, LaGrange, Riverside, and Brookfield. People can now ride the car at IRM, as they once did to the old Western Electric plant, or to the Brookfield Zoo.

The Illinois Railway Museum, founded in 1953, also deserves special honor as the largest and most extensive institution of its type in the entire United States. The restoration of car 141 is but one of many such success stories at the museum.

For all these reasons, and many more we do not have space to provide, I nominate Frank Sirinek and the Illinois Railway Museum for the Driehaus Preservation Award on behalf of CERA. I cannot think of anyone more deserving of such an honor.

Sincerely,

-David Sadowski
President

When you hear talk of 99 years nowadays, it’s usually in the context of something like Chicago giving a private operator a 99-year lease to run the City’s parking meters.  But today, we have something else in mind.

The 1964 book by James D. Johnson called it “A Century of Chicago Streetcars,” but it was really 99 years, since the first horsecar ran on April 25, 1859, and the last PCC on June 21, 1958.  Last weekend was the 56th anniversary of the latter event, which means you would have to be at least 60 years old to remember much about Chicago streetcars.

It was a double anniversary, in fact, since the Illinois Terminal abandoned its suburban line between St. Louis and Granite City on June 21, 1958 as well, marking the end of street railway service in Illinois, just about 12 hours after Chicago.

At its peak, Chicago had the largest street railway system in the world, and what took 90 years to build up, took only about 10 years to dismantle.  In the opinion of this author, the nation “threw out the baby with the bath water,” and now has to spend large sums of money to bring back a miniscule portion of the transit network we once had, and could have kept, if there had been the public will.

Today, the IT line between St. Louis and Granite City would be considered “light rail,” and would be a cherished asset if it had survived.  Streetcar service ended in St. Louis in 1966, but by 1993, the MetroLink light rail system began serving the area, and now covers 46 miles of trackage.  So, what goes around sometimes does come around.

Chicago did flirt with light rail a few times, most notably with the aborted plan to build a Downtown“Circulator” in the 1980s and 1990s, but for the foreseeable future, it seems that local transit will either be commuter rail, rapid transit, or bus.

We will celebrate Chicago’s iconic red streetcars this Friday at the June CERA meeting hosted by longtime member Bernard Rossbach.  We hope you can join us.

In a short time, CERA will release Bulletin 146, Chicago Streetcar Pictorial The PCC Car Era 1936-1958.  Copies are available now for pre-order.

Illinois Terminal was the subject of our January program given by Robert Heinlein, with additional material by Ray DeGroote.

Until then, we pay tribute to Chicago streetcars and the Illinois Terminal Railroad with this photo essay.

-David Sadowski

In CTA colors, pre-war PCC 4047 prepares to leave the turnback loop at Cottage Grove and 72nd in this June 1955 photo, just before the end of streetcar service on route 4. (Richard C. Cerne Photo – CERA Archives)

PS- From the 1937 Chicago Surface Lines Rules for Conductors, Motormen and Operators:

Providing efficient transportation for a great city is a most essential industry. Those engaged in it are performing a public service second to none.

This fact should be uppermost in the mind of each street railway employee.

He should never forget that he is a public servant, responsible for the safety and comfort of those who use street cars and buses and whose fares pay his wages.

If he is a good public servant he will be courteous, neat in appearance, careful in the performance of his duties and always on the alert for an opportunity to render an extra measure of service.

The trainman’s work is exacting. It calls for patience and resourcefulness. Demonstration of these qualities is essential to success in street car and bus operation.

The rules given in this book are the result of years of experience and the best judgment of practical men. It is necessary that trainmen familiarize themselves with them and adhere to them consistently.

-GUY A. RICHARDSON
President.

The famous CSL logo, from the 1937 rule book.

The caption reads “Sunbeam,” ex-party car. (R. J. Anderson Photo – CERA Archives)

Cook County #1 was used by the Surface Lines to transport mental patients to the institution called Dunning on the city’s northwest side. (R. J. Anderson Photo – CERA Archives)

City car 2802 on a “Railfan Special.” (R. J. Anderson Photo – CERA Archives)

One-man city car 1416. Note the classic gas pumps at right. (R. J. Anderson Photo – CERA Archives)

CSL city car 2802. (R. J. Anderson Photo – CERA Archives)

One-man car 3098. (R. J. Anderson Photo – CERA Archives)

CSL city car 2808. (Slyford Photo – CERA Archives)

CSL 6069 on the Elston route. (R. J. Anderson Photo – CERA Archives)

Pullman-built experimental pre-PCC car 4001 at South shops in the late 1930s. (R. J. Anderson Photo – CERA Archives)

Experimental CSL pre-PCC 7001 at Clark and Schreiber by the Devon Station (carbarn) in the late 1930s. (R. J. Anderson Photo – CERA Archives)

Pre-war PCC 7021 at Madison and Austin circa 1940. (R. J. Anderson Photo – CERA Archives)

CTA streetcars 4015 and 4029 are part of the same 1936 CSL order for 83 cars, yet look much different. 4015 is still in its CSL “tiger stripes,” meant to alert motorists that these cars were wider than previous ones, while 4029 is in the newer CTA green and creme. This picture was probably taken early in 1952. The scene is 63rd and Narragansett, the west end of the line.

Pre-war PCC 4012 heads east at 63rd and Harvard in this June 1950 view.

CTA 3167, the regular service car, prepares to go out ahead of 473 and 479, the fantrip cars, in this May 16, 1954 scene at the west end of the route 21 Cermak line. The famous Western Electric plant is at left. These cars looked much better in CSL red than they did in CTA green.

At the south end of the long 36-Broadway-State line, Pullman-built PCC 4067 prepares to make the turn at 120th and Halsted on March 21, 1954. Tracks of the former Chicago and Interurban Traction Company are in the foreground.

CTA 4027 and a lineup of pre-war PCCs at Devon Station (car barn) in January 1956. These cars were used on route 49-Western from June 18, 1955 to June 17, 1956.

Car 7180, northbound at Clark and Wells on route 22, discharges passengers near Lincoln Park in the mid-1950s.

Car 4169 crosses the PRR Panhandle at Halsted and 119th, while the conductor acts as flagman, in this 1950s view.

Post-war PCC 7195 on the wye at 81st and Halsted. Chicago’s PCCs were unique in having three sets of doors, which allowed them to scoop up lots of passengers. The conductor would then collect fares while the car was moving.

Post-war PCC 4321 negotiates shoo-fly trackage on Halsted, related to construction of the Congress Expressway, in this 1952 scene.

CTA pre-war PCC 7016 on Cottage Grove looking north toward 95th street. The car will enter private right-of-way paralleling the roadway just behind the photographer.

Some cities commemorated the end of trolley service with parades, ceremonies, pomp and circumstance. An example is Lehigh Valley Transit’s car 912, the “last car” in service in Allentown PA on June 8, 1953. Chicago took no special note of the end of streetcar service five years later. (Charles Houser Photo – CERA Archives)

It’s September 10, 1959, and there has been no Chicago streetcar service for more than a year, yet a few forlorn cars remain on the property at South Shops. Visible are cars 7001 (the experimental 1934 Brill pre-PCC), a post-war car, 4021, and at least one additional prewar car. (Clark Frazier Photo – CERA Archives)

Barely two years after the last streetcar ran on State Street, the urban landscape has changed so much that you would hardly know there ever was such a thing as a streetcar. The “preying mantis” street lights, apparently ready to defend the city against giant caterpillars, are a prominent feature in this December 1959 view.

State Street at night in December 1959.

Illinois Terminal 453 at North Market and Broadway in October 1953. Today, we would consider this “light rail.”

Illinois Terminal double-end PCC 452 at 12th and Washington in St. Louis, leaving the short subway on its way to Granite City on October 12, 1952.

IT 456 is St. Louis-bound in this October 12, 1956 photo taken in Granite City. Hundley Pontiac, seen at left, was a fixture of the city for many years.

PCC 4391 in service at Union in the mid-1980s. (David Sadowski Photo – CERA Archives)

Editor’s Note- Today’s guest columnist is Jeffrey L. Wien, longtime MCERAand an active railfan since the mid-1950s.  Jeff has been a CERA Directorsince 1988 and is also one of the authors of our Chicago Streetcar Pictorial: The PCC Car Era 1936-1958, to be published in August as Bulletin 146.  Jeff has presented many fine CERA programs throughout the years, and is also well-known for the Wien-Criss Archive. 2014 photos are by Bradley Criss.

The Insull-era North Shore Line station at Dempster in Skokie is still with us, although it has been moved about 100 feet to the east and is now aStarbucks.  But at least you can still board a train there, although it’s now theCTA’s Yellow Line instead of the North Shore Line.

Pictured are a series of photographs of the Chicago North Shore and Milwaukee ticket cabinet from theDempster Street, Skokie Station which I purchased in mid-March 2014.  To me, this ticket cabinet has a special meaning because it is virtually the same type I used as a North Shore Line ticket seller from June 12 to mid-September 1961.  During that period of time, I was on summer break in college, and took a job with the North Shore Line working as ticket seller relief at Adams and Wabash, North Chicago Junction, and Edison Court, Waukegan.

The majority of my time with the North Shore Line was spent at the Adams and Wabash Station, where I either worked the telephone, answering questions regarding North Shore Line services, or I worked the ticket counter.  As a railfan, this job was really a lot of fun. I knew the North Shore Line services like the back of my hand, so I was able to answer almost any kind of questions presented to me simply because of my knowledge about the railroad and its history.

I recall being impressed with the Navy uniforms worn by the guys going to Great Lakes from Adams and Wabash and ultimately joined the Naval Reserve in August 1961.  As an aside, I took the North Shore Line to Great Lakes in December 1961 when I went to boot camp there.  During the Summer of 1961, the jukebox at Adams and Wabash was playing virtually non-stop and the top song of the day was “Runaway“by Del Shannon.  I learned the words by heart!

Getting back to the ticket cabinet from Skokie, the various tickets bring back a lot of memories of the days when I sold tickets to the various destinations.  I have been told that not many of these have survived.  I know of one in Milwaukee, and have been told that similar cabinets from Waukegan and North Chicagohave been preserved by a former North Shore Line employee.  I have also been told that others were given to museums in Kenosha and several communities along the line, although I am not aware of their existence today.  It is reported that the Illinois Railway Museum also has a North Shore ticket cabinet.

The Skokie ticket cabinet is unique, because of course the station building has been preserved and one can still go by rail from the Chicago Loop, Belmont, Wilson and Howard to Skokie!  An audit of the tickets has disclosed that there are no Skokie-Kenosha roundtrip tickets included, although similar tickets are in the cabinet to Great Lakes, Waukegan, Racine and Milwaukee.  There are also no one-way or round-trip tickets between Skokie and Libertyville or Mundelein.

For the most part, the tickets in the ticket cabinet are about as complete as one might hope some 51 years after the line closed.  Of special interest is the brass padlock inscribed with the letters C.N.S. & M.R.R.  That in itself is a collectors’ item.

To me, this bit of North Shore memorabilia is indeed a rare find!

-Jeff Wien

A view of the Dempster station as it looked in October 1961, with just over a year of North Shore Line service remaining. To the south of the Insull-era building, you can see the remnants of the high-level platform that would have been used for CRT Niles Center service. These were removed by CTA and a new, very basic platform was built for Swift service. (CERA Archives)

Used Book Exchange List #5

FYI, our next used used book list will be mailed on July 1st, and uploaded to our blog one week later. This will provide more of a level playing field between our “snail mail” types and the Internet-savvy crowd.

Our latest list will include mainly CERA books, but also a smattering from other publishers, and also some original ERHS bulletins.

IRM 2014 Trolley Pageant

This just in from IRM President Joe Stupar:

Following on the heels of last year’s 60 cars for 60 years event, the Illinois Railway Museum is proud to announce the first all-day trolley parade event ever! On Saturday, July 5th, starting with the 10:30 AM departure, all parade equipment will operate in revenue service with passengers on board. That’s right: each consist will enter the main depot and board passengers. You might say, “Thats going to take all day…” And you may be right. If there is something unique that you always wanted ride but couldn’t, this is the day. In addition to the main line, several streetcars will also be operating on the streetcar loop.

This timetable is for informational purposes only. The usual disclaimers apply: This event is subject to weather, mechanical condition of equipment, and anything else that may happen between now and then.

10:30 AM CA&E 36-308-309
10:45 AM CRT 1797-1268
11:00 AM Coach Train #1
11:30 AM CA&E 409-431-460
11:45 AM CNS&M 714-160
12:00 PM CNS&M 229
12:15 PM IT 101
12:30 PM CTA 4290-4412
12:45 PM TM D13
1:00 PM Coach Train #2
1:30 PM CNS&M 251-749
1:45 PM CTA 41-30
2:00 PM CTA 2153-2154
2:15 PM CTA 2200s
2:25 PM Demonstration Freight Train
2:45 PM CA&E 409-431-460
3:00 PM Coach Train #3
3:15 PM CSS&SB 1100
3:45 PM CSS&SB 34-40
4:15 PM IC 1380-1198
5:00 PM Coach Train #4

Second Chance Program

Our January program on the Illinois Terminal Railroad was very well received, but due to the cold weather, there were several CERA members who were unable to attend. We are pleased to report that everyone will have a second chance to see the program, thanks to the Railroad Club and Shortlines Society of Chicago:

Illinois Terminal
by Robert Heinlein and Ray Piesczuk, with additional material by Ray DeGroote

7:30 pm, Friday, June 20, 2014

Railroad & Shortlines Club of Chicago

RSCC presents an Illinois Terminal program. This program was presented last winter at CERA, but weather discouraged some people from attending. There will be additional material on freight service after the end of passenger service.

We meet at
Chicago Union Station
500 W. Jackson Blvd., Room 107A
Chicago, Illinois

Please enter at 500 W Jackson Blvd between Clinton and Canal. Main waiting room may be closed for a private party.
Call 312 725-0432 during meeting for assistance.

Phone number for program announcements: 312 725-0432

For program announcements by email, send a blank message to:
schs-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

For more information about Railroad & Shortlines Club of Chicago
http://rscc.dhke.com/
shortlinechicagoHS@hotmail.com
—
posted by Adam Kerman, Club president

Interurban Memories
Available for the first time on Audio CD
From the CERA Archives

Interurban Memories, recorded in 1960 and 1961, features Hi-Fi stereo recordings of two of the last three Interurbans in the US- Pacific Electric and the Chicago, North Shore & Milwaukee, aka the North Shore Line. First issued on LP in 1961, Interurban Memories has been out of print and almost impossible to find for decades. Now, Central Electric Railfans’ Association has digitally remastered these historic recordings, and they sound better than ever.

Hear the sounds of these fabled electric railways in their twilight years. With the original liner notes by Ira Swett.

Order online or order by mail

B-146 Update

We are now putting the finishing touches on our next book Chicago Streetcar Pictorial: The PCC Car Era 1936-1958 before sending it off to be printed. The good news is CERA has decided to go “all in” and the book has been expanded another 16 pages, to a total of 448- fully twice the number of B-145.

However, in order to add these extra pages, and make the approximately 700 images in the book look as good as they can be, we simply need a bit more time to finish the job. As of the moment, we expect that the book will ship in August. This will give our talented designer the additional time he needs to remove the imperfections from 60-year-old images, and match colors from shot to shot.

We know our members will be very understanding, since B-146 has to stand the test of time, as the most important book about Chicago streetcars to appear in the last 40 years.

 This book is a two-year entitlement for those who were CERA members in both 2012 and 2013. We gave those who were members in only one of the two years a chance to “step up” and make up for the missing year so they could receive the book. Many of you did so, and the deadline for this was June 1^st.

Those who were members in only one of the two years will receive copies of How the Medal Was Wonand A Rainbow of Traction as their entitlement- in other words, two books for the one year. By the time you read this, all those books will have been shipped.

Our pre-order for B-146 has also been quite successful, and as a result, fully 2/3rds of the entire expanded print run has already been spoken for. Like many CERA books, we expect this one will sell out in a short period of time, and will quickly become a collector’s item that will increase in value over the years. Don’t miss out! Reserve your copy today, if you have not already done so.

Chicago Streetcar Pictorial Round Table

CERA plans something truly spectacular for our September 26^th program- the Chicago Streetcar Pictorial Round Table. We are inviting all the living photographers who are represented in B-146 to take part in amoderated discussion about their work and their interest in documenting Chicago streetcars. We will showcase their images and there will be a question-and-answer session as well.

This will be a unique, once-in-a-lifetime “oral history” event that will be videotaped for future release. Since we expect this program to be completely “sold out,” we will give our current members (and others who have pre-ordered B-146) first crack at attending. More information will follow soon by mail on how to get your tickets. Get to meet these legendary photographers in person, talk to them and ask them questions.

ERHS Collection Update

The demand for AR-1, our Complete ERHS Collection DVD, has been very strong, and to date, we have sold nearly 200 copies. This collection features all 49 bulletins from the Electric Railway Historical Society on a single data disc that can be viewed on a computer. In addition to the 1,826 pages in these bulletins, there is an additional 113 pages of bonus material- an incredible bargain!

It has taken us time to get caught up with the demand, but by the time you read this, all current orders will have been shipped. So far, we have received reports of just five defective discs, all of which were promptly replaced. We thank you for your patience.

-Your CERA Directors

A Farewell Fantrip on Chicago’s Red Streetcars by Bernard Rossbach

On May 30, 1954, 60 years ago, Chicago’s iconic red streetcars were retired from regular service, and simultaneously, trolley service ended on five CTA routes. To commemorate the occasion, CERA ran a red car fantrip two weeks earlier on these lines. This was the first of its kind, and longtime CERA MemberBernard Rossbach organized it. For our June program, Bernie will revisit that celebrated sojourn in detail.

There were other later red car fantrips to be sure, up to just a few weeks before the end of streetcar service in Chicago in June 1958, but this one was special since it used the cars for one last time on the final routes where they ran in regular service. Be sure to join us for an entertaining and informative slice of Chicago history.

Admission is free for current CERA members. There will be a $5.00 Admission charge for non-members.

Friday, June 27, 2014
University Center
525 S State St
Chicago, IL 60605
1900 hrs / 7:00pm

Bernie Rossbach hangs out of the 479 on 38th Place west of Halsted. (Ray DeGroote Photo)

A CTA #80 trolley bus, running on parallel wire, passes the fantrip cars on Irving Park Road just west of the North side “L”. There were very few sections of shared wire between streetcars and trolley coaches on the CTA system. Note the grade crossing underneath the “L”, leading to Buena Yard. (Bill Hoffman Photo – Wien-Criss Archive)

A photo stop on Irving Park Road near Graceland Cemetery. (Bill Hoffman Photo – Wien-Criss Archive)

The 473 at Cermak and Kenton, the end of Route 21. Just a few years earlier, passengers would transfer from Chicago Surface Lines streetcars to those of the Chicago & West Towns Railways. Since the abandonment of West Towns trolley service in 1948, the area behind the red Pullman has been paved as a bus loading/unloading area. (Bill Hoffman Photo – Wien-Criss Archive)

A photo stop at around 2000 S. Clark. Fans climb up a railroad embankment for a better shot. (Bill Hoffman Photo – Wien-Criss Archive)

The famous CERA drumhead. (Bill Hoffman Photo – Wien-Criss Archive)

PCC 4113 passes the fantrip cars at Clark and Cermak. (Richard C. Cerne Photo – CERA Archives)

473 at 79th Place and Emerald. (Richard C. Cerne Photo – CERA Archives)

At 38th Place west of Halsted, fans ride a piece of work equipment in the background. This is the same location as the photo at the top of our post. (Richard C. Cerne Photo – CERA Archives)

CTA snowplow E50 at 38th Station. (Richard C. Cerne Photo – CERA Archives)

“Special trackage north of Chicago Avenue at Montgomery Ward.” (Richard C. Cerne Photo – CERA Archives)

Another work car, the CTA EE10. (Richard C. Cerne Photo – CERA Archives)

473 on the fantrip, location unknown. (CERA Archives)

473 northbound on Western, approaching 31st. (CERA Archives)

479, at Cermak and Kenton, lets the regular service car go out ahead of it. The Western Electric plant is in the background. (CERA Archives)

473 on the fantrip, at an unknown location. (CERA Archives)

On Sunday, June 1st, newly restored Chicago & West Towns Railways car 141 was formally dedicated at the Illinois Railway Museum.

We previously featured the West Towns in a two-part series here and here. In addition, CERA published the definitive book on the railway in 2006, by the late James J. Buckley, and edited by Richard W. Aaron. It’s still in print.

Finally, we recently issued The Complete ERHS Collection on DVD, which includes a 1952 short book on the Chicago & West Towns written by the late Robert W. Gibson.

There are historical connections to car 141 that bring together CERA, ERHS, and the Illinois Railway Museum. The car was used on an early CERA fantrip in 1939. Later, after the West Towns had converted to buses in 1948, car 141 became a storage shed, minus its running gear. It was saved from destruction in 1959 by the Electric Railway Historical Society, and was hauled to the ERHS site in Downers Grove, where it remained until 1973.

Then, it became part of the IRM collection. The long process of restoration started in 1997 and continued until 2013, under the direction of longtime volunteer Frank Sirinek. You can read more about that processhere. Although the journey was long, the results are magnificent and speak wonders about the tireless dedication of the museum’s volunteers.

C&WT 141, ready for dedication.

IRM did things up right on Sunday to honor Mr. Sirinek and formally introduce the West Towns car, the only survivor of its fleet, into revenue service. The event took place at the 50th Avenue “L” station, which came from Cicero, in West Towns territory.

A 1944 Ford motor bus, which although not from the West Towns has been restored as number “343,” one number higher than the actual sequence, was on hand to greet the trolley. A sharp-looking 1948 Chrysler was also on hand. After a few brief speeches, Frank Sirinek took the controls and began taking passengers around the IRM trolley loop. An accordion player added musical accompaniment onboard the train.

IRM volunteers passed out souvenir flyers, reproduced below, along with reproduction transfers. Car 141 is also featured in the latest issue of Rail and Wire, the museum’s magazine.

You can sample the flavor of the event in the photos posted below. In addition, we have three videos for your enjoyment:

DSCF0279

DSCF0285

DSCF0298

-David Sadowski

PS- All 2014 photos by David Sadowski

Chicago & West Towns Railways 141 on a CERA fantrip, April 23, 1939. (Lamar M. Kelley Photo)

141 as it appeared in September, 1959. (Charles L. Tauscher Photo)

Perhaps CSL streetcar 3142, also out on the trolley loop, used to meet up with C&WT 141 at Cermak and Kenton.

A 1948 Chrysler parked outside the IRM Diner.

Montebello Municipal Lines 17, repainted as the Chicago and West Towns 343, was built by Ford in 1944.

The dedication ceremony, fittingly, took place at 50th Avenue “L” station, which was transplanted to IRM from Cicero.

Although not an actual C&WT bus, the “343” is the closest possible recreation of the real thing, and was spotted at the 50th Avenue station for the event.

The C&WT logo on the “343.”

The sign on 343 harkens back to the signage West Towns used on streetcars and buses in 1948, when trolley service ended.

A rear view of the 1944 Ford bus.

Wooden “L” car 1797, awaiting the arrival of C&WT 141 at 50th Avenue.

Along with the Ford bus, a 1948 Chrysler added to the history of the occasion.

From left: IRM President Joe Stupar, Frank Sirinek, Barbara Lanphier.

From left: Frank Sirinek, Barbara Lanphier, Gwen Stupar, Joe Stupar.

George Kanary with car 141, representing the Electric Railway Historical Society.

Car 141, ready for its close-up.

A nice view of the motorman’s stool in the 141.

C&WT 141 meets the 1944 Ford bus at 50th Avenue.

The 1948 Chrysler sedan, complete with optional sun visor.

C&WT 141 has been beautifully restored.

Fans board the 141 for its first trip in revenue service since 1948.

Enthusiastic fans aboard 141. Note the stove, used to heat the car in winter.

Fans on 141 were serenaded by an accordion player.

141, ready to head out on its first official trip in IRM service.

Car 141 is fittingly decorated with period photos and signage.

A close-up view of the stove aboard 141.

141, signed for La Grange.

The West Towns served Brookfield Zoo, which opened on July 1, 1934.

Frank Sirinek at the controls of 141. He spearheaded the decades-long restoration of the car.

Passengers disembark from 141 after completing its first trip after the dedication.

A side view of the 1948 Chrysler parked in front of the IRM Diner.

Red Chicago Streetcars- 60 Years Gone

May 30, 2014 marks 60 years since the end of Red streetcar service in Chicago, thus closing a chapter of local history. CERA ran a fantrip on the five lines that were being converted to buses just two weeks before this. There were 102 people on that trip, and of these, perhaps only a dozen or so are still living.

CTA Red Pullmans 479 and 473 on the May 16, 1954 farewell fantrip. (CERA Archives)

Longtime CERA Member Bernard Rossbach organized this fantrip, which was the first of its kind for the CTA. We are honored that Mr. Rossbach will help us commemorate the anniversary on June 27th, when he will present a program about that historic fantrip. We will post more information about that program closer to the event.

Street railway service began in Chicago in 1859, with horsecars. Over the next 90 years, the Chicago system was gradually built up into arguably the greatest in the world. Unfortunately, it took only 10 years to dismantle that system, and the last Chicago streetcar, a PCC, ran on June 21, 1958.

2014 also marks the 100th anniversary of the creation of the Chicago Surface Lines. We will pay tribute to CSL in upcoming posts during June.

ERHS Update

FYI, there was a delay of approximately three weeks in shipping our new release, the Complete ERHS Collection on DVD. This had originally been scheduled for shipment on May 1st.

We had originally been under the impression that there were perhaps 600-700 pages of material in the 49 bulletins issued by the Electric Railway Historical Society between 1952 and 1967. Ultimately, there were 1,826 pages, and to this we have added an additional 113 pages of bonus material for a grand total of 1,939.

This makes the collection an even greater bargain than ever at a total cost to you of just $29.95, including domestic shipping.

Apparently, many people agree with us, since we have received about 165 orders for the DVDs in little more than a month, a very encouraging response. We have been shipping discs all this week, and it will take us about one more week to get completely caught up on all the orders.

We thank you for your patience and hope you will be pleased with the results. We thought we might sell a few of these, and have been pleasantly surprised that the initial demand has exceeded all expectations.

The DVD cover art is designed to resemble those of the ERHS bulletins, and we are producing them in a variety of colors, just like the original publications.

We looked for cover photos that would tie ERHS and CERA together, and were fortunate to find some. ERHS bulletin #3 offers a history of the Chicago and West Towns Railway, and the organization preserved car 141 between 1959 and 1973.

Car 141 was also used on a CERA fantrip on April 23, 1939, just over 75 years ago. Our cover photos show that car in use on that excursion.

Interestingly, now that C&WT 141 has been restored to operating condition at its current home, the Illinois Railway Museum, it will be formally dedicated at an event this Sunday (June 1st) at 1:00 pm. We hope to see you there.

-Your CERA Directors

Chicago and West Towns 141 on an April 23, 1939 CERA fantrip. (Lamar M. Kelley Photo – CERA Archives)

Our Next Program:

Transit in Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia by Ray DeGroote

CERA goes international for our May program. Our resident world traveler and raconteur Ray DeGrootehas been giving his passport a workout lately, and hopes to expand your horizons as well.

Five light rail lines opened in North Africa in the last three years: Rabat and Casablanca in Morocco andAlgiers; Oran and Constantine in Algeria. In addition Algiers opened a metro line, the second in all of Africa (Cairo was first.) The Tunis, Tunisia light rail system has been in service almost 30 years and new cars are now being delivered. In addition, Tunis has two suburban lines.

CERA members Ray DeGroote and Bruce Moffat visited Morocco last October, and Ray just returned from a trip to Tunisia, Algiers, and France. The May program will include views from all of these places, some historical notes, and even perhaps a word or two in Arabic. Be sure to join us for an entertaining and informative evening.

Admission is free for current CERA members. There will be a $5.00 Admission charge for non-members. Passports are optional, but we do take Visa.

Friday, May 23, 2014
University Center
525 S State St
Chicago, IL 60605
1900 hrs / 7:00pm

Please note that CERA programs are always held on the fourth Friday of the month. There are five Fridays this May.

At Place 1 Novembre in Oran on March 22, 2014. (Ray DeGroote Photo)

Caroubier Depot in Algiers on March 23, 2014. (Ray DeGroote Photo)

At Poly Clinique in Algiers on March 20, 2014. (Ray DeGroote Photo)

At the depot in Algiers on March 20, 2014. (Ray DeGroote Photo)

At Gare in Oran on March 22, 2014. (Ray DeGroote Photo)

At Ben Abdelmalek in Constantine on March 18, 2014. (Ray DeGroote Photo)

Near Mentouri in Constantine on March 18, 2014. (Ray DeGroote Photo)

At Erriadh, Tunisia, on March 17, 2014. (Ray DeGroote Photo)

Tunisian light rail at Au De Paris on March 15, 2014. (Ray DeGroote Photo)

SNT/TGM cars 1-44-12 in Tunis at La Corniche on July 26, 1976. (Ray DeGroote Photo)

This month, our used book list is entirely made up of original Electric Railway Historical Societypublications, printed between 1952 and 1967. We are selling the extra copies we accumulated while working on the Complete ERHS Collection DVD project.

These have been sorted out, based on quality. If we have more than one of a certain title in that quality grade, it is noted. Not all titles are available.

Titles are referred to by their number. When placing your order, use ERHS as a prefix, followed by the publication number, and the grade, as in “ERHS49EX.” It would be helpful to indicate on your form whether substitutions of other quality grades are OK, if the item you desire is no longer available.

Copies of this list were sent to all current CERA Members at the beginning of this month. While the list is dated May 1st, we waited a week before posting it to the Internet. This gave the “snail mail” people more of an even chance to get their orders in. We thank our Members for their contributions.

Used books, donated by our members, are being sold to raise money to help fund CERA programs and services. Since we are a 501(c)(3) organization, such donations may be tax deductible. Do you have used traction books that you no longer need? If so, why not donate them to the CERA Used Book Exchange?

HOW TO ORDER – You can pay by check through the mail using this form, or online using PayPal or acredit/debit card. Please do not send your credit card information through the mail. As books are sold, we will cross them out on the online list, like this.

You can also contact the CERA Office by telephone at 312-987-4391. If we are not available, leave a message and we will get back to you. We are generally in the office on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons at the very least, and other days as needed.

To order books online, drop us a line at ceraoffice@gmail.com and CERA will e-mail you back an invoice that you can pay using PayPal or a debit/credit card.

All sales are final. Used books are sold without warranty or guarantee. No haggling or quantity discounts- the items here are priced to move. Please do not ask us to put items on “hold” for you. Books will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis.

Current (2014) CERA Members in the United States get FREE SHIPPING. Other Domestic buyers pay $5 Shipping and Handling per book. International shipping is available by special request. Contact us and we will work up a quote based on actual cost.

Books are graded as Excellent, Good, Fair, or Poor. Significant damage is noted, where observed. Some amount of normal wear is to be expected in books that are “of a certain age.”

When using the mail-in form, in the unlikely event of an overpayment, if a book you want is no longer available, please indicate whether you would prefer a refund, or a credit that can be applied to a future purchase. If you send your order by mail, keep a copy of the form for your records.

Please note: Illinois residents must include 9.25% sales tax with payment.

A Complete List of All 49 ERHS Buletins:

#1 – Lightweight Interurban Cars (1952)
#2 – Chicago City Railway Co. Book of Standard Cars (1952)
#3 – Chicago & West Towns Railways (Story and Research by Robert W. Gibson) (1952)
#4 – Brill Magazine, May 1927 (1952)
#5 – Westinghouse Cars and Car Equipment (1952)
#6 – The Northern Indiana Railways by George K. Bradley (1953)
#7 – Brill Magazine, August 1916 (1953)
#8 – The Hammond Whiting and East Chicago Ry. by James J. Buckley (1953)
#9 – Car Plans of the Perley A. Thomas Car Company, High Point, N.C. (1953)
#10 – Cable Railways of Chicago by George W. Hilton (1954)
#11 – Brill Magazine, July 1915 (1954)
#12 – A Granite State Interurban: The Story of the Concord and Manchester Electric Branch of the Boston and Maine Railroad by O. R. Cummings (1954)
#13 – Car Plans of the Chicago Railways Company 1911 (1954)
#14 – Cars of the McGuire-Cummings Mfg. Co. 1911 (1954)
#15 – Brill Magazine, December 1914 (1954)
#16 – The St. Joseph Valley Railway by Joseph A. Galloway and James J. Buckley (1955)
#17 – Interurban Trolley Guide 1915 (Chicago to New York by Trolley) (1955)
#18 – Cars of the St. Louis Car Company 1927 (1955)
#19 – The Biddeford and Saco Railroad by O. R. Cummings (1956)
#20 – Brill Magazine, March 1913 (1956)
#21 – Cars of the Rockford and Interurban Railway (1956)
#22 – The Rockford and Interurban Railway by Philip L. Keister (1956)
#23 – Baldwin Westinghouse Electric Locomotives 1912 (1957)
#24 – Baldwin Westinghouse Electric Locomotives 1925 (1957)
#25 – The Blue Hill Street Railway by O. R. Cummings (1957)
#26 – Brill Magazine, April 1924 (1957)
#27 – Electric Railway Journal 1912 Convention Issue (1957)
#28 – The Evanston Railway Co. by James J. Buckley (1958)
#29 – The Niles Car and Manufacturing Co. 1910 (1958)
#30 – Niles Cars 1914 (1958)
#31 – Thomas Built Cars (1959)
#32 – The Lafayette Street Railway by David W. Chambers (1958)
#33 – Modern Lightweight Cars (1959)
#34 – Brill Magazine, September 1911 (1959)
#35 – The Manchester Street Railway by O. R. Cummings (1960)
#36 – The Safety Car (1960)
#37 – Brill Magazine, January 1917 (1961)
#38 – Car Plans of the Chicago Surface Lines (1962)
#39 – Railway Equipments and Locomotives in the Far West (1962)
#40 – The Sterling, Dixon, and Eastern Electric Railway by Philip L. Keister (1963)
#41 – Brill Magazine, May 1925 (1963)
#42 – The Toledo, Port Clinton and Lakeside Railway by George W. Hilton (1964)
#43 – Brill Magazine, October 1912 (1964)
#44 – St. Louis Cable Railways by Berl Katz (1965)
#45 – Historic Trolley Guide to Suburban Electric Lines of the New York Metropolitan Area, within a 50-mile radius of New York City, as of 1914 (1965)
#46 – 76 Years of Peoria Street Cars by Paul Stringham (1965)
#47 – Light-Weight Cars (1965)
#48 – The Lee County Central Electric Railway by Philip L. Keister (1967)
#49 – Metropolitan Subway and Elevated Systems (1967)

Used Book List #4, May 1, 2014 (Updated as of May 9):

ERHS Available Titles

EXCELLENT ($23ea.)
1, 3, 11, 12, 13(2), 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28(2), 29, 30, 31(2), 33(2), 34, 37, 38(2), 39, 40, 43, 45, 47(2), 48, 49

GOOD ($18ea.)
1, 4, 8, 12, 18, 19, 26, 28, 29, 32, 35, 36, 39, 42, 46, 48

FAIR ($13ea.)
1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 9, 13, 15, 22, 27, 30, 40, 48

POOR ($10):
6