Sunday, April 26, 2026

Simms Collection - Fox River Electric

The Fox River collection has a good number of photos of cars in operation during the last year or two, plus a variety of pictures along the line, taken just before abandonment on March 31, 1935.  Ed Frank took many of the pictures, including the ones taken on the last day.  Several views are not labeled.


THE  ROUTE


Aurora, Main & Broadway   3/28/35
CA&E 434,  AE&FR 302


Fox and Water St.
"Aurora-bound car about to make the Aurora loop"


Southbound car on Lake St. in Aurora
Ed Frank's ubiquitous bicycle on left.
RR sign with flasher on the right may indicate that the track shifts over to the right side of the road heading north, so northbound traffic will be crossing the track.


306 (L) and 301 at Exposition Park   May '34


Car 305 northbound near Exposition Park   May '34


Stop 22 south of Batavia, looking north along Rt. 31   3/31/35


Looking south toward Batavia   3/31/35
(probably from near Campana Road, south of Stop 31)


Same location in the winter.


Geneva station   3/31/35

Wheeler's Siding on Anderson Blvd. in Geneva
CA&E 419 in distance


Bridge over Norton Creek north of St. Charles
Stop 43 in the distance


Not labeled -- probably near Fox River Hts.


Fox River Heights   3/31/35


Five Islands Bridge looking north
Stop 49 ahead on left


Coleman Grove, Stop 49   3/31/35

The sign says:
COLEMAN GROVE
FISHING           BOATS FOR RENT
PICNIC PLATES    SPRING WATER
REFRESHMENTS     PARKING 25c


Coleman Yard, Stop 50   3/31/35


Coleman IC station


Coleman interchange


Not labeled -- I'm going to guess Stop 56
Bridge St., South Elgin


North of S. Elgin looking south    2/22/38



Car 300 and locomotive 23 at Kerber's, Stop 62   2/27/35


CERA fan trip on locomotive 23, 9/2/40
Probably at Asylum powerhouse



CARS AND WORK EQUIPMENT


Box motor #1 OOS at Aurora, 3/28/35


106 at Aurora   May '34

106 at Aurora
"1933    Aurora Shops
Car in front was used between Elgin &
Carpentersville abandoned in
1933 because tornado tore the
trolley line down"


A 200 series at Aurora     2/14/34
(RH: Several older cars such as this were rebuilt for one-man service with
folding doors and step wells.)
 

"202 at Aurora   May '34   Orange and yellow     Photo by Ed Frank Jr."


Car 204 at Elgin,  Aug. '33


Car 300 at Elgin    May '34


Car 303, flat car A, line car 4 at Elgin   Apr '34

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