In Memoriam - Charlie King

We're sad to say that IRM's longest-serving member, Charlie King, died last week at the age of 84. We will all miss him; he always had great stories about his days at the CTA and was always an outgoing and friendly presence whenever he was on the property. He had done just about everything you could do at the CTA, I think - at one time or another he drove trolley buses and (I think?) motor buses, ran 'L' trains, served as a tower operator, and I think he worked at Skokie Shop for a time as well.

He was also an early member of IRM - the photo at top shows him on the right, with a couple of others, working on track at North Chicago around 1960 give or take - having joined in March 1956. I recall him saying that he had joined at the end of March 1956, just a few weeks after Bob Bruneau. He was also a volunteer (though not a full voting member) of the Electric Railway Historical Society in Downers Grove, and helped that organization acquire its collection of streetcars and build its barn. When Charlie had the opportunity to purchase CSL 84 in 1960 before it was scrapped, he bought it and it went to Downers Grove to become part of the ERHS collection. It was conveyed, along with the other equipment, to IRM in 1973.

Charlie's health had been declining for a while but he was able to come out and visit on Members Day this past year. Richard brought out CSL 84, the trolley bus that Charlie was personally responsible for saving and today one of the jewels of the trolley bus collection, and took Charlie for a last ride or two.

Obituary information can be found here. Visitation will be on Saturday at Tezak Funeral Home in Joliet.

Top photo: Ed Mizerocki. Bottom photo: Richard Schauer, 2008