rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

Fifty-one years ago today, my brother and I took what we later referred to as our "Seond {and last} Annual Trip to Chicago" {there was a first trip one year and ten days earlier}.
https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-659223-1.html

He was then preparing for his Sophomore year of High School and I was then preparing for Grad School. By then, my parents had sold my Mother's two-year old 1966 Dodge Dart {which my Father describe as "only driven by a little old woman grocery shopping"} to me, so this time we drove, with our sister {then preparing for her Sophomore year at Indiana University} and a girl-friend in the back seat. We drove to suburban Westmont, then took a commuter train Eastbound; the girls rode all the way to the Loop for shopping, while we got off at Cicero Ave, and walked along the Burlington's "Clyde Yard" again, then rode a commuter train from Laverne back to the car, and spent the rest of the day driving along the Burlington's commuter line, before picking up the girls again and driving home.

In April, the shutter had failed on my "dear old Instamatic", so in June I had used some graduation gifts to purchase a rangefinder camera at the local drug store; they had apparently realized that people don't buy that sort of cameras at their type of store, because it had cost me only $35. I was still getting used to it, so I took several rolls of PX135 and TX135 for it, and again had several rolls of CX620 for my Kodak "Duaflex" camera. At the end of the day, I had taken nearly 50 pictures; I believe that is still a record for number of pictures I've taken on any one day.

Burlington's "Cicero Ave" station


Tower adjacent to "Cicero Ave" - they have rebuilt the station since then, but the tower was still there when I drove past last year.


Enginehouse at the yard; the enginehouse was still there last year, but the yard has become a 'container' facility - the BNSF now apparently uses former AFSF as their classification yard


SD-9 at the yard


We also saw some MofW equipment at the yard


The "Stone Ave" station has always been my favorite.


We usally boarded the train here - the "Fairview" station was about four blocks from where we were raised; last year it was the only frame station still remaining on this commuter line.


"Zephyr" at the "Enola" 'station' - which is long since gone.


Western end of the commuter line is at "Aurora"; the building was still there last year, but the station is at a new 'transpertation hub'.


Tower at "Aurora" station.

JD750 Loc: SoCal

Great pics! Chicago was a great city, not only a rail center but also know for the architecture of the buildings. I used to go to Chicago occasionally when I lived in Illinois. My last trip back to Chicago was circa 2005. Went to a Cubs game and the Billy-goat cafe. And other things. I have no desire to go there now with all the trouble they are having.

But I love the old film pics. Thank you for sharing!

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

Thank you for your comments.

I go back on occasion - the latest being last year - but since what I remember is life in the suburbs {we lived there 1951-1960}, I tend to spend more time there.

One interesting aspect of these old pictures is the way of life they show - in this case, the cars and the red-and-blue mailbox at the "Aurora" station. I sometimes wonder about the people {accidentally} in them - most of them have probably died since then, but I wonder sometimes what the rest of their lives were like.

JD750 Loc: SoCal

It would be interesting to see pics from last year, to compare with the older pics.

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

I tend to not photograph the same area twice - although I may sometime show, for example, the two or three {four in the case of Westmont} different stations at a particular location.

Jay Pat Loc: Round Rock, Texas, USA

I enjoyed these as well!
Pat

Stephan G

In 1972, it cost me ten cents to ride Burlington from Niles, Il, down to the Loop. Rode in a Pullman commuter coach (vintage!). Remember those days well.

Have you visited the Illinois Transportation Museum in Union, Il ? Great place for photos of rolling stock.

Thank you for ringing memory bits. Great shots.

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

One if the old “green” cars? I hated riding in them as a kid - but by the time I appreciated them they were going.

Yes, but it was a long time ago. I have some photos from there that I couldn’t identify for a while, until I remembered that trip.

Thank you for your comments, BTW.

Stephan G

Yes. One of the green cars. Liked the ability to "drop" off on the curve by the C&NW station. It meant walking a quarter block vs four (city) blocks of running to not miss the outbound C&NW to Lombard. Those were "The Days". The drawback was having to catch the last run back to the Loop. (Long story involving a girlfriend.)

GrayGhost

Ah more history to learn. Many Thanks as I shall probably never see Chicago nor any other metro area these days.
73
GG

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

Thank you for your comments.

Yes, but railroading in the Chicago area has changed much since then, so nothing like my seventy pictures from back then could be repeated now.

Stephan G

Sadly, the case everywhere else in the world.

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

I noticed that the "New York Central Hobby Store" in neighboring Mishawaka closed.
It was within walking distance of the Norfolk Southern { / Conrail / PennCentral / New York Central } mainline.