Damn. I wish I knew about this. I'm somewhat I a living history of the c a and e guy. (I run c a and e cars at old threshers in Mt. Pleasant Iowa, and at the fox river trolley museum in South elgin) and small a small collection of c a and e stuff. I'd love to be here and hang around and talk after.
Wow guys , just found this ! Been following you on the CGW and now I’m getting more interested in the CA&E , again grew up in Villa Park late 60s early 70s Definitely remember the decline of CGW however CA&E was gone , just remember the big hump as Ardmore Ave crossed over the old ROW Great 👍 Job
Just came across this video tonight on YT, I regret not having known about the original presentation at the library----I would have made an effort to attend and ask questions, in particular the speaker's opinion on 'what might have been' had the CA&E continued in operation up through the present day, e.g., the nature of more modernized rolling stock, whether third rail power might have been replaced with overhead wire due to government safety-regulatory changes, and whether Metra would have taken the line under its wing (probably). Been a long-time follower of the CA&E and its history. I wish some mention would have been made/shown during the last segment regarding the Elmhurst station at York Road.
Used Aroura and Elgin from the CHICAGO "LOOP" Terimial to 5th. Avenue Station when MY FATHER was at HINES, ILLINOIS "VA" in the HOSPITAL for TWO MOUNTHS. We didn't own a car. Took the ENGLEWOOD "L" to the "LOOP" by the Subway System in the "LOOP" !!!
I know why the IPP land at Prince Crossing was sold. The IPP used to flood out where it went under the CGW, later CNW railroad. DuPage Highway Department kept trying to raise it by dumping yet more crushed limestone. But heavy rains would wash it away or leave it with 3-4 inches of standing water. When the CGW ROW was acquired by DuPage County and converted, they decided to avoid the issue by redirecting the IPP to the higher CGW ROW and sold the old ROW to the then owners of the old substation. They then fenced it off. Since then the lot was sold to Wheaton Academy.
Another "leftover" building of the CA&E is on Wells Street in Chicago. When the land for the station was sold (now a parking garage) the CTA took over the maintenance shop at street level. Its still there and serves as the "truck shop" where the electric trucks are rebuilt.
I rode the vomit comet SSL from Randolph Street to Sample Street in South Bend many times in early 80s. Found out they would let me off in Lydick IN if I asked the conductors. Those old orange cars were ole war horses of the SSL.
Another tidbit of left behind in CA&E history. When the Congress Expressway was extended, the highway engineers fully expected the CA&E to resume service over the CTA Garfield Line when done. A tunnel was built under the Eisenhower Expressway at Central Avenue so the CA&E could reach the new CTA tracks at Laramie in the median. It was never used and tunnel remains and is used by CTA maintenance trucks to pass through. Also the highway people widened the median of the Congress just before it went below ground at the Dan Ryan. This was so the CA&E could switch over and elevate to their existing platform that took them down Van Buren Street to the Wells Street Station. Finally due to the dire financial situation of the CA&E over the years, they had not paid their trackage rights between Laramie in Forest Park and Polk Street downtown since their bankruptcy was filed in the 1930's. There were a lot of politicians that were not happy about Chicago taxpayers propping up a "weak" interurban.
very good presentation, gels with the prevailing reset narrative of history that this railroad was already there when they say they built it and electricity was in widespread use in the old world and was free for all. historical society history written by the priest class is such a sick joke on the people! ❤
Great video! Glad it was put on UA-cam because I was really bummed I wasn't able to attend that night.
Wanted to say thank you for doing this.
Great presentation. Thank you!
Damn. I wish I knew about this. I'm somewhat I a living history of the c a and e guy. (I run c a and e cars at old threshers in Mt. Pleasant Iowa, and at the fox river trolley museum in South elgin) and small a small collection of c a and e stuff. I'd love to be here and hang around and talk after.
I enjoyed video. Also watched CGW videos and I am looking forward to next edition and west of Byron.
My Grandfather worked on the Elgin branch bridge when it became a path.
Excellent presentation about a fascinating system. A pity there weren't more shots and details about the cars.
It's the kind of infrastructure that really deserves a modern comeback, especially since many American centres grew with them.
Wow guys , just found this ! Been following you on the CGW and now I’m getting more interested in the CA&E , again grew up in Villa Park late 60s early 70s
Definitely remember the decline of CGW however CA&E was gone , just remember the big hump as Ardmore Ave crossed over the old ROW
Great 👍 Job
Just came across this video tonight on YT, I regret not having known about the original presentation at the library----I would have made an effort to attend and ask questions, in particular the speaker's opinion on 'what might have been' had the CA&E continued in operation up through the present day, e.g., the nature of more modernized rolling stock, whether third rail power might have been replaced with overhead wire due to government safety-regulatory changes, and whether Metra would have taken the line under its wing (probably). Been a long-time follower of the CA&E and its history. I wish some mention would have been made/shown during the last segment regarding the Elmhurst station at York Road.
Used Aroura and Elgin from the CHICAGO "LOOP" Terimial to 5th.
Avenue Station when MY FATHER was at HINES, ILLINOIS "VA"
in the HOSPITAL for TWO MOUNTHS. We didn't own a car. Took the ENGLEWOOD "L" to
the "LOOP" by the
Subway System in the
"LOOP" !!!
I know why the IPP land at Prince Crossing was sold. The IPP used to flood out where it went under the CGW, later CNW railroad. DuPage Highway Department kept trying to raise it by dumping yet more crushed limestone. But heavy rains would wash it away or leave it with 3-4 inches of standing water. When the CGW ROW was acquired by DuPage County and converted, they decided to avoid the issue by redirecting the IPP to the higher CGW ROW and sold the old ROW to the then owners of the old substation. They then fenced it off. Since then the lot was sold to Wheaton Academy.
Another "leftover" building of the CA&E is on Wells Street in Chicago. When the land for the station was sold (now a parking garage) the CTA took over the maintenance shop at street level. Its still there and serves as the "truck shop" where the electric trucks are rebuilt.
I rode on it one time with my grandma from Bellwood to Oak Park....I lived on Madison street three doors from where the Mt Carmel spur turned south
Ssl still here
No more street running tho haha
I rode the vomit comet SSL from Randolph Street to Sample Street in South Bend many times in early 80s. Found out they would let me off in Lydick IN if I asked the conductors. Those old orange cars were ole war horses of the SSL.
Another tidbit of left behind in CA&E history. When the Congress Expressway was extended, the highway engineers fully expected the CA&E to resume service over the CTA Garfield Line when done. A tunnel was built under the Eisenhower Expressway at Central Avenue so the CA&E could reach the new CTA tracks at Laramie in the median. It was never used and tunnel remains and is used by CTA maintenance trucks to pass through. Also the highway people widened the median of the Congress just before it went below ground at the Dan Ryan. This was so the CA&E could switch over and elevate to their existing platform that took them down Van Buren Street to the Wells Street Station. Finally due to the dire financial situation of the CA&E over the years, they had not paid their trackage rights between Laramie in Forest Park and Polk Street downtown since their bankruptcy was filed in the 1930's. There were a lot of politicians that were not happy about Chicago taxpayers propping up a "weak" interurban.
Today the Metro North in New York and the Long Island Railroads are extensive 3rd rail lines.
very good presentation, gels with the prevailing reset narrative of history that this railroad was already there when they say they built it and electricity was in widespread use in the old world and was free for all. historical society history written by the priest class is such a sick joke on the people! ❤
if you get a chance to re-edit linger on the pix longer not the people speaking.