rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

A century ago, the Midwestern region of the U.S. was criss-crossed by what were known as Interurban Railroads; like trolley cars, these drew power from overhead wires, but they were built to steam railroad {"heavy rail"} standards rather than to trolley {"light rail"} standards, and as their name implied they went between cities. By the time my family moved to South Bend IN in 1960, the CSS&SB was generally recognized as the last interurban still in business.

Picture #1 dates to 1971, when the South Shore's infrastructure was essentially unchanged from fifty years earlier. I was standing in front of the line's South Bend depot, which was a store-front affair, as a train came up from the yard across the river {you can see an orange blob on the far right} and crossed Michigan St. {the main street in town}. After the train left this depot, it would go down city streets until it reached the west edge of town.

In the next few years, a new depot was built on the west edge of town, and all track east of there was abandoned, making the city very happy. Picture #2, taken in 1973, shows a chartered train loading passengers at the new depot. Comparing this picture with picture #1, a railfan would notice that the cars in #1 have a smooth roof-line and wide sealed windows, while the cars in this picture have a dip in the roof-line and narrow windows more like what you would find in a house. The difference is that cars used in regular runs had been "modernized", while the cars used for this charter had never received A/C.

During the following decade, a Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District was formed to help fund passenger traffic on the South Shore. Picture #3, taken in 1985, shows one of the new Japanese-built cars NICTD purchased for the South Shore. A railfan would notice that the railroad maintained a connection to their past by continuing to use their traditional orange and maroon colors.

Over the following years, railroad operations were split. The South Shore company, now called "South Shore Freight Railroad" continued to run freight operations, now using diesel instead of their ancient electric locomotives, while NICTD assumed full responsibility for running passenger service. The depot was moved again; now the South Bend depot is a wing on the east side of the airport terminal building. The old freight spur runs along the east edge of the airport, so now trains run east to the spur, then south {including some street running} to the mainline, before finally heading west to Chicago. Picture #4, taken in 2014, shows a modern train traveling east on airport property just after leaving the depot. A railfan would notice that the "South Shore" nameplate has the removed from above the windows, and the pain scheme on the sides and ends has been simplified.

The railroad is aware that they would be more attractive if they could reduce their running time between South Bend and Chicago {currently one can drive on the Toll Road just about as fast as the train trip is}. They are currently re-arranging track in, and between, Michigan City {mid-point} and Gary to eliminate most of their remaining street running. Their hope is to someday move the South Bend depot yet again - this time to the west side of the airport terminal building - and then lay tracks directly west and south to the mainline, thereby removing their indirect path out of South Bend and the last of their street running ... but at age 68, I don't have much confidence that I will live long enough to add another picture to this sequence.

1971 - traditional car entering downtown South Bend depot {taken with Yashica rangefinder camera}

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1973 - traditional cars @ West Wahington St. depot {taken with Canon rangefinder camera}

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1985 - modern car @ West Washington St. depot {taken with Pentax SLR}

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2014 - modern cars leaving E. Airport Terminal {taken with Canon DSLR}

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Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Super-interesting story and photos, rehess. Thanks so much for taking the time to compile and share.

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

As I've said several times, I feel some reluctance to become too involved in discussions here, because I know that I'm not an artist; I've learned things over the years, but I typically approach a subject with the heart of an historian. Part of my reason for posting these was to help people here understand this approach to photography.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

I think the eclectic interests and varying levels of experience in FYC makes it a particularly appealing place to hang out

rockdog Loc: Berkeley, Ca.

[quote=rehess]A century ago, the Midwestern region of the U.S. was criss-crossed by what were known as Interurban Railroads ... but at age 68, I don't have much confidence that I will live long enough to add another picture to this sequence.[/quote


Thank you for this post rehess. This is a very informative narrative. The Interurban Railroad history is interesting and your photos are well done and good documentation. And I love the fact that you know which camera was used for each shot. I think this is a perfectly appropriate topic. We are all just sharing our interests here.
Regards, Phil

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

Thank you for your comments. I began photographing railroads in 1967; at first, the only notes I had were on scraps of paper. In 1972, I started a series of notebooks to which I copied notes about RR pictures, so any RR photo since then {with the exception of about 18 months starting Jan 1976 - I managed to misplace a notebook} I know at minimum the when, where, which camera, and what film about a RR photo. {I guess I should have mentioned that each of the first three pictures was taken with the then-current version of Kodachrome 25}

rockdog Loc: Berkeley, Ca.

Even with digital format embedded metadata, notebooks are a great aid to thoughtful photography.

RichardTaylor Loc: Sydney, Australia

Good to see that it is still in operation.

ebrunner Loc: New Jersey Shore

[quote=rehess]A century ago, the Midwestern region of the U.S. was criss-crossed by what were known as Interurban Railroads; like trolley cars, these drew power from overhead wires, but they were built to steam railroad {"heavy rail"} standards rather than to trolley {"light rail"} standards, and as their name implied they went between cities. By the time my family moved to South Bend IN in 1960, the CSS&SB was generally recognized as the last interurban still in business.

I really enjoyed this series, and I loved the history and information. I'm a big fan of public transportation. I did not realize that this train line was still operative. Thanks for the post. Very informative and interesting. Photos bring the prose alive. Well done.
Erich

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

I guess I'm consistent. In my Spicer Lake series, I documented being left behind multiple times because I was still looking for the perspective I wanted while everyone else was ready to move on down the trail.

NJFrank Loc: New Jersey

I used to work with a guy who was a big train buff. He would have loved this series of shots. I am sure he would have also loved the accompanying story as well.

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

Incidentally, picture #2 is the kind of thing I do that I describe as "being like street photography". The picture would have a different feel if some of the visible people were waving at the camera, or even if they were just pointing at it.

cambriaman Loc: Central CA Coast

Southern Californians will recognize this class of rail being embodied in "The Big Red Cars" operated by Pacific Electric RR from an underground terminal in downtown Los Angeles out to Long Beach, Huntington Breach, Santa Monica and San Bernardino and points between. They were big with a couple pf high steps up to get on. I always looked forward to a ride with my Grandmother when she would take me out for a day to keep out of trouble. Those were the Days, My Friends! If you are interested in what they were and why they disappeared here is a very interesting link: http://www.uncanny.net/~wetzel/pedemise.htm. The Henry E. Huntington mentioned in the link was a friend of my Grandfather's who I remember going to visit him at his home in San Marino which is now the Huntington Library.

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

Thank you. That is quite an article - I may have to read it on the installment plan!

Incidentally, according to Wikipedia, Henry E. Huntington was a nephew of Collis P. Huntington, one of the "Big Four" who built the Central Pacific Railroad, which was the western partner in the first Transcontinental Railroad, completed in the famous "golden spike" ceremony {another of the "Big Four" was Leland Stanford Sr, who founded a now-prominent university named for his son, who died prematurely}
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_E._Huntington

cambriaman Loc: Central CA Coast

[quote=rehess]Thank you. That is quite an article - I may have to read it on the installment plan!
I am pleased that you liked my post of The Big Red Cars.
Thanks for the link to Henry E. I'll enjoy reading it.