Our 60th anniversary observance of the abandonment of the North Shore went very well, with constant operation throughout the day and an excellent crowd of visitors and fans. Since I was operating, I didn't get much chance to take pictures, but I'm sure many will be posted, and we welcome submissions!
There were, of course, lots of photographers all over the place. They were camped out at Olson Rd, Seemann Rd, alongside Barn 2, at the creek, you name it. So as I say, we will be glad to post any images you would like to send us.
The Electroliner was not operating, but was on display at 50th Avenue. The train was open for visitors, with several of the restoration crew on hand to explain what's happening.
Another North Shore jewel you don't often see outside is the line car, 604:
And another is the MD car 229, which ran throughout the day, although its passenger-carrying capacity is very limited.
All I can say is...
We have never given up! You can always send a check to IRM (not the Bank of Highland Park!)
(And don't bother writing to Otto Kerner!)
An unadvertised special was the operation of the only surviving North Shore streetcar, 354. It was in service all day around the car line. It hasn't operated for many years, and requires special care and handling, but for this special occasion it was carrying passengers, just like the old days.
One of the most important parts of any special day like this is the people. I met several whom I haven't seen for a long time, and I won't try to list them all. But one of them was Tom Jervan, whom I knew back in the seventies, and who hadn't been out to IRM for about 40 years. He was an employee of the North Shore Line, and was very active back in the old days. Here we see him running the 354:
(L to R: Jon Fenlaciki, Tom, Dan Fenlaciki, John Nicholson)
And while I'm at it, I must say a big word of thanks to all the people who made this operation possible. Those of us on the operating crews had a much easier time of it because of all the help provided by the shop guys and helpers, who did most of the hard work of changing ends and switching cars in and out of the consists. Many of the newer and younger members, who can only come out on weekends, I hardly recognize, but they all seemed to know what they're doing, and that made a big difference. And we even had guys who volunteered to throw switches out in the cold, bleak wilderness of places like Johnson Siding. (Because of the cold, the spring switch dashpots cannot be used, so the switches all had to be hand-thrown. Ugh!) So again, a huge THANK YOU!
Kudos to the Electric Shop getting 354 and 757 out and running. I remember tread wear being a potential challenge for 757, fifty years ago at East Troy. There are a few pictures from Saturday amid a longer meditation here. I conclude recommending people find themselves a preservation railroad and go to it.
ReplyDeleteRandy, what's the problem with the 354? Frame problems like the Milwaukee car had?
ReplyDeleteC Kronenwetter
I did enjoy the show via webcam!
But didn't the 354 operate without issues on the NS mainline to Oklahoma Ave as well as on 5th and Wells st car lines? BTW, is there any movement towards getting the Milwaukee streetcar a new frame for Christma?.
ReplyDeleteYes, but the 354 is now sitting on the trucks and motors from the 966, since it lost its original equipment at North Chicago. At least that's how I remember it. The truck frames are the same, but I'm not sure about the wheels. It's been a long time. I hope somebody can give us more detailed information.
ReplyDeleteThe original trucks are sitting along Bruno Dr. They need a total rebuild and new wheelsets which is why the trucks got swapped out.
DeleteAdding to what Dennis has said, when switching cars with narrow treads, since the standard guardrails wouldn't keep the wheels from picking the frog, we would hopefully prop a spare tieplate against the guardrail to keep the car on the track. Sometimes it even worked.
ReplyDeleteNonetheless, derailments were common -- especially late at night, in the dark. Those were the days, my friend.
And near the bottom of this post I have a good picture of a flange-bearing frog on the St. Charles line in New Orleans, where it's very common:
https://hickscarworks.blogspot.com/2015/01/st-charles-streetcar.html
The farebox on the 354 is an original example from the North Shore Line, one of several that Tom Jervan rescued from being thrown out when he worked at Highwood.
ReplyDelete