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• Mike’s Upstairs Railroad: The Story of the Lake Street "L"

  • When
    Friday, November 22, 2019
  •  
    7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
  • Location
    University Center, Loop River Room, 525 S. State St., Chicago, IL

  CERA member and author Bruce Moffat will recount the story of Chicago’s Lake Street “L.” Originally promoted by

  legendary Chicago “boss” Michael Cassius McDonald as a steam-powered monorail line, it quickly earned the moniker

  “Mike’s Upstairs Railroad.” Eventually built as a conventional elevated railroad powered by steam, the line was

  soon electrified and was operated with a variety of equipment. Bruce will recount the many facets of the Lake Street

  “L” history—its early development, operations, relocation of the line west of Laramie to the C&NW embankment

  in 1962, and the line as it operates today as part of CTA’s Green Line. Join us for an entertaining and informative program.

  Notice to CERA Members: Anyone attending CERA monthly programs must be a paid member of CERA for 2019. Members will show their cards at the door or their names can be checked in the membership data base. Paid CERA members may bring a guest. Memberships will be sold at the door by credit card or check, no cash, but admission will be restricted to CERA members only.

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• The Metra / IC Electric

  • When
    Friday, December 27, 2019
  •  
    7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
  • Location
    University Center, Loop River Room, 525 S. State St., Chicago, IL

  Join us for an evening of entertainment and exploration as we venture on a journey over a system in CERA’s own “back yard” — the Metra/IC Electric. There will be images of or from each of the stations on the railroad.

  At some locations, all three types of cars can be seen. There will be views of IC cars on the South Shore and

  South Shore cars on the IC (not where they belong). There also will be photos of a few unusual events.

  Tonight’s presenter has an affinity for train operations on Chicago’s South Side. Richard Aaron actively photographed the last decade of service of the venerable “Green Machines” as well as the full life of their replacement, the Highliner Is. The recent introduction of a new fleet of gallery coaches necessitated an ongoing effort to revisit the railroad. Tonight, we will see what 50 years has brought to the cars, infrastructure, and service territory of the Metra/IC Electric. We will clearly see why “The Electric” was and continues to be “Chicago’s Finest Transportation.”

  Notice to CERA Members: Anyone attending CERA monthly programs must be a paid member of CERA for 2019. Members will show their cards at the door or their names can be checked in the membership data base. Paid CERA members may bring a guest. Memberships will be sold at the door by credit card or check, no cash, but admission will be restricted to CERA members only.

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