BusTalk

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

(SEE PREVIOUS POST/LINK)

The CA&E in Cleveland..........

After CA&E passenger service ended in 1957, a group of 10 steel cars were to be sold to Cleveland, for use on a proposed airport extension of one of the rapid transit lines.

Sadly, the extension was delayed until 1969; the group of handsome, still-serviceable CA&E cars were scrapped..........

"NYO"

["CHICAGO-LIMITED"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Had the CA&E survived......

It is interesting to ponder what car builder might have provided new rolling stock to the CA&E; recall, a good chunk of the roster was made up of elderly cars over 50 years old.

ST. LOUIS?

ACF?

PULLMAN?

BUDD?

Perhaps the cars would have been similar to the new MUs then in service on the NYC and NH, running out of GCT in New York........

"NYO"

["WHEATON EXPRESS"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

The wooden open platform "L" cars in Chicago were especially long-lived; the last were not retired until 1957, with most cars then being over 50 years old.

These venerable cars were virtually identical to those used in New York; however, the Chicago cars did not have roof-mounted markers (as seen here) and used steel coil tension springs between cars, another practice not followed on NY's elevateds......

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?14818

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["EVANSTON"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Interesting to note that the CRT's wooden "L" cars (those with enclosed ends and railroad roofs) closely resembled the big interurban cars that then served Chicago via the "L".........

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?14815

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["CHICAGO RAPID TRANSIT TRANSIT"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Until 1953, trains of the CA&E terminated in the Loop, at the Wells Street terminal.

After 1953, service was cutback to Desplains Avenue (Forest Park) where a transfer point was established where CA&E commuters could transfer to the CTA "L" for the remainder of the trip into the Loop.

This arrangement lasted until 1957, when the CA&E abruptly abandoned all passenger service.

This facility has been modernized/rebuilt several times over the decades, and is totally unrecognizable from what it was when the CA&E called here.........

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?56249

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?56253

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?56252

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forest_Park_station

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["WHEATON EXPRESS"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Also of interest.........

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garfield_Park_branch

https://collections.trolleymuseum.org/items/142

['THERE'S MORE ROOM ON THE 'L'"

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

OUTSTANDING collection color and b/w photos of historic Chicago-area rail operations ("L" lines, interurbans, streetcars, etc.)

The tremendous variety of both rolling stock and operations could never be matched today...........

https://thetrolleydodger.com/tag/cae/

["CHICAGO LIMITED"]

["A LAKE"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

On this day in 1963..........

The trains of great Midwest interurban, the proud and prestigious "North Shore" (CNS&M),made their final runs in the biting, frigid cold of the wee hours, between The Loop and Milwaukee.

Had Federal subsidies then been available, there us the chance that this high-speed, heavy-duty electric railroad might have survived until the present day.

IMHO, it was sheer waste to dismantle this great electric railway, which still had much potential.

Of course, this legendary interurban was famous for its sleek, futuristic "ELECTROLINER" articulated train sets; thankfully, both of these unique trains survive today............

"NYO"

["ELECTROLINER"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Detailed, in-depth page )w/maps, photos, etc) on the old "North Shore"........

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_North_Shore_and_Milwaukee_Railroad

["EXPRESS"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Outstanding and exhaustive collection of rare historic Chicago-area photos (interurbans, rapid transit, streetcars)

The sheer variety and diversity of the rolling stock then in service, as well as the complex operations themselves, the likes of which will never be seen again........

https://thetrolleydodger.com/tag/north-shore-line/

["SKOKIE"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Grandly recalling the proud, glorious days of a long-ago era............

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?56197

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?56246

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["MILWAUKEE LIMITED"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Since 1964, the CTA's "SKOKIE SWIFT" has been utilizing a short stretch of the former CNS&M.

Until the early 2000s, the line was operated with overhead wires; today, it operates via third rail.

However, many of the former North Shore catenary towers still remain.

This page has much on history, operations, rolling stock. etc............

https://www.nycsubway.org/wiki/CTA_Yellow_Line

["SKOKIE SWIFT"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Note the colorful and interesting variety of rolling stock used on the "Swift", back in the days when overhead wires were still in use on the former CNS&M line.........

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?14611

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?141658

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?151971

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?30598

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["CTA]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Historical note.........

It is interesting to note that the CNS&M continued to serve the Loop via the "L" until the end of all passenger service in 1963.

The CA&E, on the other hand, was cut back to Forest Park/Desplaines Avenue in 1953, forcing commuters to transfer to the "L" for the reminder of the trip into the Loop.

The ailing electric railway lost half of its passenger traffic overnight, due to this service cutback.

Until the end of passenger service in 1957, "L" trains heading for a CA&E connection at Forest Park carried a metal sign on the front of the lead car, denoting the time of departure of the connecting CA&E train at Forest Park..........

"NYO"

["AURORA-BATAVIA"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Also.......

In an interesting (and unusual) historical note, long ago, I had read of proposals to replace all of the original CA&E cars with surplus CTA PCCs; the car would have been revamped for high-speed, MU operation.

By this late date of course, CA&E service had already been cut back to the CTA transfer station at Forest Park, and no longer used the "L" to run directly into the Loop.............

"NYO"

["AURORA EXPRESS"]