Central Electric Railfans Association upcoming events

CERA's 4th Friday, October 23, 2026 7:00 pm CT In Person and Zoom: William Shapotkin: "South Shore Line - America's MODERN Interurban" (Friday, October 23, 2026)

Sat, 24 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT

CERA In Person and Zoom Meeting

4^th Friday, October 23, 2026 7:00 pm CT

In Person and Zoom Presentation

400 E. Randolph St., 7th Floor Hospitality Room, Chicago, IL

In Person and

Easy Link to ZOOM Here

https://tinyurl.com/4thFridayCERA

Older longer link to Zoom

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84655931559?pwd=CJDX4VulLCzaLufaL7cEvQiZ6d8EXQ.1

Zoom meeting Number 846 5593 1559 Passcode 214592

WILLIAM SHAPOTKIN

"South Shore Line -- America's MODERN Interurban"

"South Shore Line -- America's Modern Interurban," by William Shapotkin. It has been 100 years since the re-electrification of the South Shore Line from an AC-powered operation to 1,500 Volt DC operation and extension of thru trains into Chicago. In the intervening years, street operations thru East Chicago, Michigan City and South have been eliminated. The railroad has been double-tracked as far east as Michigan Blvd in Michigan City and the east end-of-line has been changed to serve South Bend Airport. Additionally, we will look at the short-lived streetcar operations to Indiana Harbor and Tolleston -- as well as thru train-bus service to Benton Harbor and Detroit, MI.

Join us as we take a look at the changes have happened along "The Little Orange Railroad," as it transformed itself from a country interurban into a modern suburban operation -- including bi-level equipment and the creation of the "Monon Corridor" to serve Dyer, IN.

This program will also be presented on Zoom (CERA members only) for those members unable to attend the meeting in person.

If you have not yet paid your 2026 CERA Membership dues please do soon or contact me

for more information: Elmer Haneberg

ceraoffice@gmail.com

(773) 972-0470

CERA's 2nd Friday, November 13, 2026 7:00 pm CT Zoom Presentation: Harvey Laner: Riding VIA Rail Canada's, 'The Canadian' (Friday, November 13, 2026)

Sat, 14 Nov 2026 01:00:00 GMT

CERA 2nd Friday Zoom Presentation

CERA’s November 13, 2026 Zoom Presentation

7:00 pm CT

Newer Short Link to Zoom

https://tinyurl.com/2ndFridayCERA

Link to Zoom Meeting

HARVEY LANER

Riding VIA Rail Canada's, 'The Canadian'

In late May and early June 2026, Harvey Laner rode VIA Rail Canada’s

1950s-era streamliner, The Canadian, from Toronto to Vancouver. Hearing

plans to replace the classic Budd-built equipment were underway, he

booked Prestige Class nearly a year in advance in hopes of experiencing

the classic train while it was still in service.

The Canadian is a 20-car train offering five classes of service: Economy,

three sleeper classes, and Prestige Class. It also operates as a flag-stop

train, with 71 locations across Canada where passengers, with prior

arrangements can board or detrain.

Prestige Class service is first-rate, with first class meals prepared on board

by the Dining Car chefs. The full trip covers four days and four nights

through some of Canada’s most memorable landscapes: Ontario’s remote

lake country, Manitoba and Saskatchewan’s fertile farmland, Alberta’s

magnificent Canadian Rockies, and British Columbia’s exciting Fraser and

Thompson River Canyons.

The program covers the route in considerable detail and explains the

importance of Canadian National’s freight network and the challenges CN

and VIA Rail Canada face while moving two twice weekly transcontinental

passenger trains across a very busy, mostly single-track railroad.

The program opens with a comprehensive transit update for the streetcars

and subways of Toronto and closes with an overview of Vancouver’s Skytrain.

Run Time: 1h23m

Older Longer Link to Zoom:

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88929318526?pwd=ICg6ZpFwsa6fpHIQ7PDvgowdyzD1HV.1

Meeting Number 889 2931 8526 Passcode 022656

There will also be a short In The News program preceding the regular program.

This program is open to all CERA members, their guests and the public.

Mark this date on your calendar!

If you have not yet paid your 2026 CERA Membership dues please do soon or contact me

for more information: Elmer Haneberg

elmer@corpevent.com

(773) 972-0470

CERA's 4th Friday, November 27, 2026 Thanksgiving: No Meeting: Combining with December 11 Holiday Meeting (Friday, November 27, 2026)

Fri, 27 Nov 2026 06:00:00 GMT

CERA In Person and Zoom Meeting

4^th Friday, November 27, 2026 7:00 pm CT

Thanksgiving: No Meeting

Combining with December 11th

Holiday In Person Meeting

If you have not yet paid your 2027 CERA Membership dues please do soon or contact me

for more information: Elmer Haneberg

ceraoffice@gmail.com

(773) 972-0470

CERA's 2nd Friday, December 11, 2026 7:00 pm CT Zoom Presentation/Holiday Party In Person Meeting: Andrew Ludasi: Europe and The South Shore Explored (Friday, December 11, 2026)

Sat, 12 Dec 2026 01:00:00 GMT

CERA 2nd Friday Zoom Presentation

CERA’s December 11, 2026 Zoom Presentation

Holiday Party In Person Meeting

Free.Food and Beverages will be provided

7:00 pm CT

Newer Short Link to Zoom

https://tinyurl.com/2ndFridayCERA

Link to Zoom Meeting

ANDEW LUDASI

Europe and The South Shore Explored

Veteran photographer and CERA member, Andrew Ludasi, returns and gives us a reprise of his recent ERA presentation featuring a panorama of unique photos and videos. He continues his domestic and world travels, this past December attending the ATTS (Associazione Torinese Tram Storici = Torinese Friend of Historic Trams) conference which concluded with a historic tram parade of about 20 vehicles. His presentation includes a brief showing of other developments in Milano, Lyon, Paris, and more recently in 2026, Montreal, Toronto, and on the South Shore in Indiana. The show will conclude with a short set of historic non-electric surprises for the semi-quincentennial.

Andrew Ludasi is a longtime member of both the CERA and ERA. Four years ago he retired from full time work as a transportation engineer but continues to consult currently on projects including the upcoming NJ Freight Plan 2027 update and to make New Jersey's rail GIS network accessible via a user friendly web interface.

Older Longer Link to Zoom:

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88929318526?pwd=ICg6ZpFwsa6fpHIQ7PDvgowdyzD1HV.1

Meeting Number 889 2931 8526 Passcode 022656

There will also be a short In The News program preceding the regular program.

This program is open to all CERA members, their guests and the public.

Mark this date on your calendar!

If you have not yet paid your 2026 CERA Membership dues please do soon or contact me

for more information: Elmer Haneberg

elmer@corpevent.com

(773) 972-0470