John F. Bromley writes:

You may be interested in this view I picked off the internet. ID’d as Madison Street circa 1910 but no cross-street given, but it’s by Hotel Brevoort so should be easy to determine, and of course the Loop is in the background.

Thanks… I am sure our eagle-eyed readers will come up with the right answer in short order. -Ed.

Cheers

Nathan Wells writes:

I was hoping you all could help me get the word out to support a campaign I am working on with some members of Charlotte Trolley to save a historic Dallas “Turtleback” streetcar.  McKinney Avenue Transit Authority no longer requires the car and must find a home for it before they clear a lot on which the car is stored.  The lot has been sold to a third party and everything must be cleaned by early September.

The “Turtleback” car we are trying to save is the only known example of a “stretched-Turtleback”  left in the world.  Would you share the following campaign link to your followers in case any would like to support our efforts to have the car moved to Charlotte, NC where we will preserve and restore it:

http://igg.me/at/savetheturtleback

Thank you for any assistance you can provide.

You’re very welcome. I encourage our readers to check out the link and contribute to this worthy cause. -Ed.

Other CERA News

Chicago Streetcar Pictorial Round Table

Tickets are still available for our upcoming Chicago PCC Weekend events this September 26-28. Things get off to a great start on Friday evening, September 26th, with the Chicago Streetcar Pictorial Round Table. Nearly half the tickets for that event, which is free for current CERA Members, have already been distributed.

Then, on Saturday, September 27th, CERA will make a trek to Kenosha, Wisconsin to ride the Chicago Tribute PCC and have a Shops tour. The Kenosha streetcar loop is directly accessible by public transportation from Downtown Chicago, via Metra’s UP North Line trains.

Finally, on Sunday, September 28th, we have a fantrip at the Illinois Railway Museum in Union. CERA is chartering CTA “Green Hornet” PCC streetcar 4391, newly restored Chicago & West Towns car 141, and the Chicago, Aurora & Elgin wood car 36. Metra’s UP Northwest Line will take you to Crystal Lake, where you can make connections with CERA’s chartered bus for the remaining 13 miles to IRM.

You can read more about these events here.

More “Before and After”

This 60-year-old slide shows a tremendous number of scratches in the “Before” image, probably damage caused by slide projectors over the years. The “After” image, the result of many hours’ work in Photoshop, has these defects corrected and shows how the image will appear in our upcoming book Chicago Streetcar Pictorial: the PCC Car Era 1936-1958.

It’s another example of the hard work and dedication we are putting in to make this the most important book about Chicago streetcars to appear in the last 40 years. We will continue to update you with more information as it becomes available.

Summer Vacation

Everyone deserves a break now and then, even the hard-working volunteers at CERA. Therefore, our office will be closed from Tuesday, August 12th through Tuesday, the 19th. All current orders on hand will be filled by the 11th.

-Your CERA Directors

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

This is CERA’s 76th year, and we decided to do something special to show our Members that we still have the “Spirit of ’76.” Therefore, Central Electric Railfans’ Association is proud to announce the availability, starting August 1st, of our first 76 Bulletins plus bonus features on a DVD data disc. You asked for it, and now we’re giving it to you!

Our new “Spirit of 76″ collection brings together in one place, for the very first time, each and every publication from CERA’s first 10 years, covering 1938 through 1947. We intend this to be but the first in a series of such Archives releases, gradually making all out-of-print CERA bulletins available once again. Our publications gradually evolved from just a few pages to the book-length works of today, and the Spirit of 76captures the flavor and excitement of a bygone era, when the world was young and trolley cars were running practically everywhere.

This follows on the heels of our very successful Complete ERHS Collection DVD disc, released a few months ago. Like that disc, this one can be used on any computer that has a DVD drive. Files are in .PDF format, and can be read using Adobe Acrobat Reader, a free download.

The Bonus Features include all the Trolley Sparks publications from our first 10 years that were issued with their own numbering system, separate from other CERA bulletins. We have even managed to track down a few of the 11 issues of Trolley Sparks that were put out by Barney Neuberger in 1944-45, predating its involvement with CERA. You can read more about the early history of Trolley Sparks here.

The “Spirit of 76″ DVD costs just $29.95, which includes shipping within the United States, making it an incredible bargain. International shipping costs just $7.50. You can order a copy online using PayPal or a credit/debit card, or send us a check. Why not reserve your copy today?

Today, more than ever, we all need the “Spirit of ’76!”

-Your CERA Board of Directors

Here is a list of the first 76 CERA Bulletins, topics covered, and the dates they were issued:

B-1	Chicago North Shore and Milwaukee RR	11/38
B-2	Chicago Rapid Transit Co, Metropolitan Division	02/39
B-3	Chicago & West Towns Railways	04/39
B-4	Chicago South Shore and South Bend RR	06/39
B-5	Chicago Aurora & Elgin RR Roster	06/39
B-6	The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Transport Co., Roster	09/39
B-7	Annual Report of CERA for 1939	11/39
B-8	Northern Indiana Railway	12/39
B-9	Windsor, Essex & Lake Shore Cars	01/40
B-10	Texas Interurban Railway Cars	01/40
B-11	Key System Articulated Cars	02/40
B-12	Hudson Valley Railway	03/40
B-13	CNS&M RR, Modernized Car 742	03/40
B-14	Illinois Central RR, Electric Suburban	05/40
B-15	Western Ohio Railway Car 41	05/40
B-16	Des Moines Railway Car 702	06/40
B-17	Indiana Railroad System	09/40
B-18	Indianapolis Railway 100-Series Cars	09/40
B-19	Annual Report of CERA for 1940	11/40
B-20	Cincinnati & Lake Erie Car 202	01/41
B-21	Indiana Railroad RPO Cars 375-377	01/41
B-22	CNS&M RR, Electroliners 801-804	02/41
B-23	An Interurban Goes Modern	03/41
B-24	Trenton-Princeton Traction Co.	05/41
B-25	Columbus, Delaware & Marion Car 500	05/41
B-26	Seashore Electric Railway	06/41
B-27	Chicago Surface Lines Roster	07/41
B-28	Illinois Terminal RR, Class D Locomotive	09/41
B-29	CERA Official Car 300	09/41
B-30	Terre Haute, Indianapolis & Eastern Traction	11/41
B-31	Annual Report of CERA for 1941	11/41
B-32	Map of Traction Lines, Central States	01/42
B-33	Dayton & Western Traction Co, 1931 Timetable	01/42
B-34	Springfield (Ill) Transportation Co.	01/42
B-35	Cincinnati & Lake Erie Cars 110-129	03/42
B-36	Clinton, Davenport & Muscatine Ry	03/42
B-37	Piedmont & Northern Ry. Locomotive 5611	05/42
B-38	Roby & Northern Railroad	06/42
B-39	Pennsylvania Railroad GG-1 Locomotives	06/42
B-40	Jamestown, Westfield & North Western RR	09/42
B-41	Modernization of South Shore Line Car 15	09/42
B-42	Album of Northern Indiana – Southern Michigan Rys.	11/42
B-43	Annual Report of CERA for 1942	11/42
B-44	Interurbans of Western New York State	03/43
B-45	“El Viento”, Los Angeles-Pacific Co.	05/43
B-46	Marion Railways (Indiana)	05/43
B-47	Galveston-Houston Electric Railway	05/43
B-48	Roster of Lehigh Valley Transit Co.	11/43
B-49	Annual Report of CERA for 1943	11/43
B-50	East Erie Commercial RR.	03/44
B-51	Cedar Rapids & Iowa City Ry. Car 120	07/44
B-52	Public Timetable, Lake Shore Electric Railway, 1937	07/44
B-53	Springfield (Ohio) Suburban Railroad	07/44
B-54	Emblems of Electric Railways	07/44
B-55	Album of Illinois Traction Cars 270-271	09/44
B-56	Joint Issue with Interurban New Letter	09/44
B-57	History of Double Deck Electric Ry. Cars	11/44
B-58	Annual Report of CERA for 1944	11/44
B-59	Timetables, Electric Railways of the Central States	01/45
B-60	Album of Springfield, Troy & Piqua Ry.	05/45
B-61	Album of Early Terre Haute Electric Cars	05/45
B-62	Union Traction Company of Indiana	11/45
B-63	Union Traction Company of Indiana Roster	12/45
B-64	Chicago, Aurora and Elgin RR and Its New Cars	08/46
B-65	Aroostook Valley Railroad Co.	11/46
B-66	Air Line Remembrances; Hershey Transit Co.	02/47
B-67	Holiday in Lancaster; Chautauqua Traction Co.	03/47
B-68	Cars of the North Shore Line	04/47
B-69	Texas Electric Ry.; Kewanee & Galva Ry.	04/47
B-70	Indianapolis Traction Terminal: Little Rock, AR	05/47
B-71	Princeton-Bluefield Interurban; The Harmony Route	06/47
B-72	Fort Collins Municipal Ry; Georgia Power Co.	07/47
B-73	PCC Equipment for Chicago “L”	08/47
B-74	Oklahoma Railway Lines	09/47
B-75	Montreal & Southern Counties Ry.	10/47
B-76	The South Shore Line	12/47

To the Family of Ed Tennyson, we at the Central Electric Railfans’ Association wish to express our deepest sympathies upon learning about the passing of Ed on July 14th.  Ed was a loyal member of CERA since he joined our organization on December 11, 1944, and was one of our longest participating members.   Ed had a special place in the hearts of our members, because throughout his life he dedicated his efforts to the preservation and development of electric transit everywhere.  As an outspoken advocate of the modern streetcar in American cities, Ed lead the way by promoting the development of new streetcar systems wherever he could.  For that we will always hold a debt of gratitude.  Words cannot express our sense of appreciation to Ed for his lifelong vigorous support of rail transportation.

Sincerely,

The CERA Board of Directors

Among his other accomplishments in his long career, Mr. Tennyson was one of the last living employees of Speedrail, which made a valiant attempt to continue rapid transit service in Milwaukee during the late 1940s.

You can read more about Edson Tennyson’s life and career here and here.

Mr. Tennyson’s family has posted an obituary here, where you may pay your respects.

 

The 1950s saw the introduction of mobile tape recorders and “High Fidelity” LP records. Since these were also the twilight years of steam locomotives and electric interurbans, it shouldn’t be very surprising that some enterprising individuals documented the sounds of vanishing railroads using this new technology.

In our series of Archives releases, CERA has already issued Interurban Memories on audio CD to much acclaim. Now, we are making 55 minutes of historic audio recordings available on CD for the first time, with our latest release Railroad Record Club Vol. 1.

Mr. William A. Steventon, a farmer near Hawkins, Wisconsin, issued a few dozen 10″ vinyl records in the 1950s and 1960s under the banner of the Railroad Record Club. Most of these featured steam, but there were also a number of traction titles. The club had ads in Trains and some other magazines for several years. We are told Mr. Steventon died in 1993 at age 71.

Our first volume is a “twofer,” combining Railroad Record Club releases 18 and 36. As far as we can tell, both recordings were made around 1956.

Here is a track list:

Chicago, North Shore and Milwaukee (North Shore Line):

Track 1 – Interurban 724 from Mundelein to Deerpath (14:45):

Interurban 724 leaving Mundelein. There are many stops for passengers, and at one point the trolley loses its affinity for the trolley wire, requiring an extra stop to replace it. The lightly ballasted track, wheel clicks and motor hum on this branch line provides a recording of the old time interurbans.

Tracks 2-12 Trackside Scenes (11:08):

Track 2 – Interurban 754 approaching and leaving the Racine, Wisconsin station. A group of children are on hand to bid “Tommy” goodbye.
Track 3 – A southbound interurban at Racine.
Track 4 – A northbound interurban at Racine.
Track 5 – A two-car northbound train and a southbound Electroliner pass a few blocks south of the Racine station.
Track 6 – Interurban at Racine.
Track 7 – Air compressors on car 724 at Mundelein.
Track 8 – 724 and 734 leaving Mundelein.
Track 9 – 716 at Rondout.
Track 10 – 3-car train at Northbrook, Illinois.
Track 11 – 174 and 736 at a country road crossing.
Track 12 – 716 at a railroad crossing on the Mundelein branch.

Track 13 – Chicago, Aurora & Elgin car 413 heading west from DesPlaines Avenue towards Aurora on Saturday, April 28, 1956. 14:48

By April 28, 1956 the Chicago, Aurora and Elgin terminated at DesPlaines Avenue in Forest Park, with passengers riding the elevated to points east. Here car No. 413, a 1923 Pullman product, leaves the terminal and roars westward. We had hardly left the terminal before the motorman had the car really rolling. A number of road crossings gave ample opportunity for the motorman to show his skill with the whistle cord. We were in the forward smoking compartment taking in this fast run and the track and motion noise was excellent. The air horn made odd sounds against buildings as we roared past. At the first stop the crossing warning bell chatters incessantly and the motorman yells at a passing man. The warning bell fades into the distance and the motors hum with 600 volts of DC current. We pause briefly at a second stop and then continue westward with additional whistle play at a crossing.

A third stop, another crossing bell and children playing near the car. Another fast acceleration, crossing whistles and track noise. At the fourth stop the motorman throws several bundles of newspapers off the front platform and we can hear them hitting the ground. A couple of short blasts from the whistle, another fast acceleration and we’re off again. The CA&E was known for its fast acceleration and car 413 upheld that tradition on this trip. At the fifth stop a few more news bundles hit the platform, another whistle blast, a passing crossing bell, and we are headed for Aurora.

Track 14 – Chicago Transit Authority car 4452 heading east from DesPlaines Avenue via the Garfield Park “L” on Saturday, April 28, 1956. 15:08

The Garfield Park line of the Chicago Transit Authority was in full swing on April 28, 1956. Old car No. 4452 hummed through the area with many stops. The side door rattled open and closed as passengers entered or left the car. The peculiar sound of the deceleration of traction motors, which seems to be a trademark of “L” equipment, is noticeable here. At one place a nearby motorist voiced his protest to traffic with a tune on his auto horn. Next time fellow, take the “L”! Some small children in the car were awed by the recording equipment and you can hear them making sounds as they pointed at the revolving wheels. This recording is a trip on the “L”!

Total time: 55:49

This CD costs just $14.95, which includes Domestic shipping. You can order online via our website, using PayPal or credit/debit cards, or send us a check. You can use this form to order by mail.

Interestingly, some of the original illustrations used on these vinyl releases came from Central Electric Railfans’ Association.

-Your CERA Directors

Continuing with our coverage of last week’s 2014 Trolley Pageant at the Illinois Railway Museum, here are the videos we shot that day. We’ve edited them, combined some, brightened them up a bit, and given them image stabilization.

The result is about 18 minutes of IRM in action, and there certainly was a lot of action that day! Enjoy!

-David Sadowski

PS- There are brief descriptions of what you’re seeing if you watch the videos on YouTube, but it’s all pretty self-evident. The grade crossing shots were all taken at Olson Road.

CA&E

2200s

2000s

PCC4391

C&WT141

C&WT141a

229

220sA

CTA30

IC

Freight 

LineCar

SouthShore

We devoted a lot of attention to last year’s Trolley Pageant at the Illinois Railway Museum, and this was one of our more popular posts. This year’s event (July 5th) was a bit different, and in our opinion, more satisfying overall.

In 2013, 60 cars were brought out, but many were just given a quick run by the Depot and went straight back to the barn. This time, visitors were allowed to ride everything that was running, including some work equipment such as the South Shore Line car 1100, the line car that originally ran on the Indiana Railroad.

There were so many consists that we did not have a chance to photograph them all. Somehow we did not get pictures of Illinois Terminal 415 or 101, for example. But we did get enough good pictures to present this photo essay, as the first of two parts. The sequel will feature videos we shot that day.

We hope you had a chance to ride all the equipment you wanted that day, and that you will enjoy these snapshots of a momentous and very enjoyable day at Union.

-David Sadowski

No other museum besides IRM can field both a three-car train of CA&E woods and steels. (David Sadowski Photo)

Wooden Chicago “L” car 1268. (David Sadowski Photo)

CA&E car 36 was built by Stephenson in 1903. (David Sadowski Photo)

CA&E 36 came to IRM from the Trolleyville USA collection in 2009. (David Sadowski Photo)

Car 36 has reversible wicker seats. (David Sadowski Photo)

Vintage advertising in CA&E 36. (David Sadowski Photo)

Randy Hicks at the helm of CA&E 36. (David Sadowski Photo)

Conductor Henry A. Vincent Jr. on CA&E 36. (David Sadowski Photo)

The interior of CA&E 36. (David Sadowski Photo)

The three-car train of CA&E steel cars. (David Sadowski Photo)

The interior of CA&E car 460. (David Sadowski Photo)

Volunteer Brian J. Patterson tells us what it’s all about. (David Sadowski Photo)

CA&E 409 at the 50th Avenue “L” station. (David Sadowski Photo)

In this picture, you can clearly see the difference between CA&E curved-sided car 460 and the 431. (David Sadowski Photo)

CA&E 460 has reversible seats, but they rotate rather than folding over. (Diana Koester Photo)

CA&E 460 has overhead lighting just like a PCC car, which is not surprising, since they are contemporaries. (Diana Koester Photo)

The interior of CA&E 460. MCERA Richard Carlson is shown standing. (Diana Koester Photo)

CNS&M 749. (David Sadowski Photo)

CSL 3142 is on the Trolley Loop, while a two-car train of North Shore Line cars is berthed at the 50th Avenue station. (David Sadowski Photo)

Chicago Rapid Transit car 1024 is undergoing restoration, going back to its original number 24. (David Sadowski Photo)

Newly restored C&WT 141. (David Sadowski Photo)

At the helm of the C&WT 141. (Diana Koester Photo)

The interior of C&WT car 141. In Winter, the coal-fired stove provided heat. (David Sadowski Photo)

Chicago & West Towns 141, a recent addition to the active roster. (David Sadowski Photo)

CSL 144 on the Trolley Loop. (David Sadowski Photo)

CSL 144 is one of the “crown jewels” of IRM’s collection. (David Sadowski Photo)

Chicago Red Pullman car 144, a mainstay of the Illinois Railway Museum for decades. (David Sadowski Photo)

Frank Hicks at the controls of 144. (David Sadowski Photo)

CTA 4391 on the Trolley Loop. (David Sadowski Photo)

A two-car train of Chicago Transit Authority single car units follows the CA&E steels. (David Sadowski Photo)

CTA 30 looking resplendent. (David Sadowski Photo)

The air conditioning in CTA 2153-2154 apparently was not working that day. (David Sadowski Photo)

CTA 2243-2244, new additions to the IRM roster. (David Sadowski Photo)

CTA 2243-2244, now fitted with trolley poles, approaching Olson Road. (David Sadowski Photo)

Steam is alive and well at IRM, in the form of the “Frisco” 1630. (David Sadowski Photo)

The IC pair came out, but there was an equipment problem, so nobody got to ride. (David Sadowski Photo)

Another view of the 1920s Illinois Central suburban cars. (David Sadowski Photo)

The South Shore Line two-car train, headed up by car 34. (David Sadowski Photo)

The 2014 Trolley Pageant was a rare opportunity to ride equipment such as the CSS&SB line car 1100. (David Sadowski Photo)

According to Don’s Rail Photos, “1100 is the ultimate line car. It was built by St. Louis Car in 1926 as combine 376 for the Indiana Service Corp. It became Indiana RR 376 in 1930 and was rebuilt with an RPO compartment in 1935. After abandonment of the IRR, this car, along with 375 and 377 came to the South Shore. The other 2 cars were built into baggage trailers, but the 376 waited until 1947 to be rebuilt into the 1100.” (David Sadowski Photo)

North Shore Line merchandise dispatch car 229 was built by Cincinnati Car Co. in 1922. (David Sadowski Photo)

CNS&M 229, with the CTA 2200s at the rear. (David Sadowski Photo)

The famous North Shore Line logo on car 229. (David Sadowski Photo)

Here is the Illinois Terminal suburban car 101. It broke down west of Olson Road, and had to be towed back by the CNS&M 229. (Eric Bronsky Photo)

Here is our fifth list of used books for sale. We had previously written about the CERA Used Book Exchange here.  Copies of List #5 and an order form have been mailed to all current CERA Members.

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? We thank our donors.

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 items are sold or added, we will update the online version of the list here.

As books are sold, we will cross them out on the online list, like this. You can download and print out a copy of List #5 here.

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.

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.

CERA Used Book Exchange List #5 (Updated as of July 15, 2014)

Stock # Description Publisher Date Cover Cond. Price # Notes

UBE101 Chicago’s Motor Coaches-V1: CTA Rolling Stock 1947-1973 CF 1973 S G $60.00 By Kristopans- worn, but a rare book
UBE102 Electric Railways of Wisconsin CERA 1953 S G $30.00 B-97 1st version (pre-flood)
UBE103 Chicago Surface Lines THP 1979 H EX $40.00 By Lind – Third Edition
UBE104 Faster Than the Limiteds CERA 2004 H EX $30.00 B-137 Like New
UBE105 Street Railways of Trenton COX 1986 S G $15.00 By Gummere
UBE106 Cable Car Carnival GH 1951 H F $20.00 By Beebe and Clegg – DJ worn
UBE107 The “L” (1888-1932) – Bruce Moffat CERA 1995 H EX $40.00 B-131 Like New
UBE108 Houston North Shore CERA 2000 H EX $35.00 B-133 Like New
UBE109 The Lake Line CERA 2011 H EX $50.00 B-144 Like New
UBE110 The Shore Line Electric Railway Company CERA 2007 H EX $40.00 B-139 Like New
UBE111 Electric Railways of Northeastern Ohio CERA 1965 H G $25.00 B-108 No DJ
UBE112 Electric Railways of Indiana III CERA 1960 S G $40.00 B-104 Spiral bound
UBE113 Not Only Passengers CERA 1992 H EX $20.00 B-129 Like New
UBE114 Keystone Traction CERA 2009 H EX $30.00 B-142 Like New
UBE115 The Colorful Streetcars We Rode CERA 1986 H G $25.00 B-125
UBE116 Indiana Railroad – The Magic Interurban CERA 1991 H EX $20.00 B-128 Like New, no DJ
UBE117 40 Feet Below IS 1982 S G $20.00 By Moffat
UBE118 The Electric Railroads of Washington State CERA 1951 S G $20.00 B-95 Spiral bound
UBE119 Chicago’s Rapid Transit v1 Rolling Stock 1892-1947 CERA 1973 H F $20.00 B-113
UBE120 Ride the Big Red Cars (PE) TA 1977 H G $20.00 By Crump
UBE121 Iowa Trolleys CERA 1975 H F $20.00 B-114 DJ worn, otherwise OK
UBE122 The Story of the Cedar Valley Road PF 2007 S G $15.00 WCF&N
UBE123 Lehigh Valley Transit 1934-1953 BR 2001 S EX $20.00 By Rohrbeck – Smaller size, spiral bound
UBE124 Destination Loop SGP 1982 H G $15.00 Signed by author Cudahy
UBE125 Touring Pittsburgh by Trolley QP 1992 S G $15.00 By Smith
UBE126 Pacific Electric in Color V1 MS 1997 H F $40.00 By Copeland
UBE127 Faster Than the Limiteds CERA 2004 H EX $30.00 B-137 Like New
UBE128 The Cable Car Book RH 1987 H G $15.00
UBE129 Buses, Trolleys, and Trams PH 1967 H G $15.00
UBE130 From Railway to Freeway (PE) IP 1984 H G $20.00 By Bail

Announcing the Chicago Streetcar Pictorial Round Table and the Chicago PCC Weekend in September. CERA is pulling out all the stops as we celebrate Chicago’s PCCs this September 26th, 27th, and 28th.

Our next book Chicago Streetcar Pictorial: the PCC Car Era 1936-1958 will be published in August.  To commemorate this, we are inviting all the living photographers who have work in the book to take part in a moderated discussion that will be videotaped for eventual DVD release.  Meet the authors in person and get your copy of B-146 signed at this once-in-a-lifetime “oral history” event.

See rare films and images of Chicago PCC streetcars.  There will be displays of memorabilia and a question-and-answer session as well.

Since we expect the demand for seats to far exceed the supply, we are distributing printed tickets. Be sure to join us for a unique, entertaining and informative slice of Chicago history.  Get your tickets online or by mail before this event is completely “sold out!”

Current (2014) CERA Members can each request one ticket for the Chicago Streetcar Pictorial Round Table event for themselves at no charge.  To request your free member ticket online, simply send a note to: ceraoffice@gmail.com

Additional non-member tickets are $5 each.  Once tickets are sold out, we will establish a waiting list.  If your seat is unclaimed, we reserve the right to give it to someone on the waiting list.

Please note: Due to space limitations, no vendor tables will be available.

Friday, September 26, 2014 1900 hrs / 7:00pm University Center, 525 S State St, Chicago, IL 60605

The famous CSL logo, from the November 1929 Surface Service magazine. (CERA Archives)

A Chicago Surface Lines brochure, circa 1937. (CERA Archives)

Chicago’s first PCCs, shown on the 20-Madison route in 1937. (CERA Archives)

Most of the Kenosha PCC fleet, lined up at the Joseph McCarthy Transit Center. (Diana Koester Photo – CERA Archives)

Kenosha streetcar 4606 is painted in Surface Lines colors, as a tribute to Chicago’s PCCs. (Diana Koester Photo – CERA Archives)

Special Fantrips

On Saturday, September 27^th, we will go to Kenosha, Wisconsin to ride the Chicago Tribute PCC 4606 streetcar and have a Shops Tour.  Kenosha Area Transit operates several vintage PCC streetcars in regular service along a 2-mile loop.

CTA “Green Hornet” PCC 4391 at the Illinois Railway Museum in the mid-1980s. Also visible are CTA trolley coach 9631 and North Shore Line interurban car 160. (David Sadowski Photo – CERA Archives)

Chicago & West Towns Railway car 141 at the Illinois Railway Museum on June 1, 2014. (Jeff Wien Photo – Wien-Criss Archive)

On Sunday, September 28^th, we will visit the Illinois Railway Museum in Union to ride “Green Hornet” CTA PCC 4391, the only surviving postwar Chicago streetcar.  In addition, we will also operate newly restored Chicago and West Towns Railway car 141, which was also used on a CERA fantrip on April 23, 1939.  Chicago, Aurora & Elgin wood car 36, built in 1903 and also newly restored, will operate too.

We encourage the use of public transportation to reach our fantrips.  A Metra weekend pass costs just $7 and can be used on both Saturday and Sunday. Metra’s UP North Line has direct service to the Kenosha streetcar.  Take the train from Downtown at 10:35 am and arrive in Kenosha at 12:15 pm.  The return trip leaves Kenosha at 6:48 pm and arrives Downtown at 8:29 pm.

The following day, take the Metra UP Northwest Line train leaving Downtown at 10:30 am, which arrives in Crystal Lake at 11:51 am. Purchase a Round-Trip Bus Ticket in advance, and we will transport you round-trip between Crystal Lake and Union (a distance of 13 miles each way).  Our bus will leave IRM promptly at 4:15 pm.  The return train trip leaves Crystal Lake at 5:00 pm and arrives Downtown at 6:23 pm.

Tickets for all events can be purchased by mail or online via our web site and are non-refundable.  The Round-Trip Taxicab Ticket does not include the $7 Metra Weekend Pass, which you can purchase yourself at the Ogilvie Transportation Center.  For further information on Metra fares and schedules, go to: http://www.metrarail.com

We look forward to seeing you at this once-in-a-lifetime celebration!

-Your CERA Board of Directors

From the June 1934 Surface Service. (CERA Archives)

The interior of the PCC Model “B,” from the September 1934 Surface Service. (CERA Archives)

From the March 1937 Surface Service magazine. (CERA Archives)

On page 20 of Dr. Harold E. Cox’s classic 1963 book PCC Cars of North America, we find the following statement about Chicago’s PCCs:

“Approximately 12 cars are believed to have been renumbered but renumberings are not known.”

The story we’ve heard goes like this. CTA contracted with the St. Louis Car Company, starting in 1953, to take parts off of 570 postwar PCC streetcars, so they could be used in building an equivalent number of new rapid transit cars. CTA sold the PCCs to St. Louis in numbered blocks, and there were several such contracts.

The original contract, which involved the Pullman-built cars, did not make provisions for substitutions of cars, but later contracts did. Apparently, when the time came to send some of the Pullmans down to St. Louis, CTA discovered that a few cars, which were involved in accidents, could not be moved, since there was either pending litigation or insurance claims that were not yet settled.

Once the contracts permitted such substitutions, CTA simply renumbered another car to take the place of the one that could not be sent immediately. The three photos posted here are documentary evidence of at least one such renumbering, since the “7270” on this car has been stenciled on, in a manner unlike any car seen in service. We are fortunate that the late Bill Hoffman took these photos, and thank the Wien-Criss Archive for sharing them with us.

So, as part of our ongoing “Transit Trivia” series, we will hold a contest for our readers. Which cars were renumbered, and why?

We will award a prize for the best answer received by midnight Chicago time on July 7, 2014. The winner with the best overall answer will receive a copy of our new Complete ERHS Collection on DVD data disc.

The photos do seem to back up the idea that these renumberings involved cars damaged in accidents, since the front end of “7270” has been bashed in.

-The Editor

Renumbered Chicago PCC 7270, as it looked on February 10, 1957 at South Shops. The car is ready for shipment to St. Louis Car Company. (Bill Hoffman Photo – Wien-Criss Archive)

Another view of “new” 7270, loaded on a flatcar on February 10, 1957. (Bill Hoffman Photo – Wien-Criss Archive)

7270 at South Shops on February 10, 1957, surrounded by work equipment. (Bil Hoffman Photo – Wien-Criss Archive)

7/9/2014 Update

We must have stumped everybody, since there were no entries in this contest. So, here is the list of renumbered postwar Chicago PCC cars. The information comes from the files of the late James J. Buckley, and was shared courtesy of Roy Benedict.