Thursday, 11 March 2010

Early IRM Photos from Glenn Andersen

Art Peterson kindly sent us these photos from the Glenn M. Andersen collection of photos from North Chicago and Downers Grove. These provide a fascinating look at the very beginning of our Museum and the ERHS. Our thanks to Art on behalf of the Krambles-Peterson Archive.

Notes: Most of the North Chicago photos appear to be about 1956. The dates for the others are generally noted. I have shrunk them by a factor of 4 from Art's scans, which are about 5200 x 3500. The Westport photo was brightened.

These photos are copyrighted by the Krambles-Peterson Archive.
Do not reproduce without permission!

Singer #1

This early electric locomotive was built by GE in 1898 for Singer, and was in use until 1955. It was at North Chicago briefly before being sold to IMOTAC. It is now preserved at Noblesville, Ind.

The baggage cars behind it are probably some of the ones which were acquired by IRM and moved to Union.



IR 65

Glenn took a picture of one of the 65's Commonwealth trucks while it was out from under the car.








CSL 144

It's January, 1959. The 144 has just arrived at North Chicago on a flat car, and it's time to figure out how to unload it.


















North Shore 202

The body of this combine evidently got some care while it was at North Chicago. It was moved to Union, but deteriorated badly and was scrapped in 1974.







North Shore 250

This picture was taken at Westport, Indiana, when the 250 and 228 belonged to the Indiana Railroad Museum. Both later went to East Troy; MD car 228 is still there. The 250 later came to Union in bad shape and was scrapped in 1995.






IT 277

Still in the blue paint scheme it had at the end of service. To its left is the 101, to the right is the body of North Shore sweeper #3, which served as the Museum's workshop at North Chicago, and was scrapped when the Museum moved to Union.






CA&E 318

This photo is at Westport, Indiana, not North Chicago, and dated 1965. The 318 was acquired by the Indiana Railroad Museum and pulled by this saddle-tanker. In 1971 it was sold to East Troy, but badly damaged in a wreck while it was being shipped on its own wheels. IRM finally bought the car and scrapped it for parts in 1977. Behind it is North Shore 250, which was also eventually scrapped by IRM.



North Shore 354

Six cars from this series were purchased by Frank Sherwin when they were taken out of service; the 354 was not scrapped, but saved for use as a storage shed. It was at North Chicago before IERM was founded, and passed into the Museum's possession. Here the 65 is behind it.





IT 415

Newly arrived at North Chicago, still on its flat car.









The workhorse of the Museum; next to it is the 65 under a tarp.









CRT 1268

This was one of the Museum's earlier acquisitions, and was in the first train to the Union site in 1968.

To the left is an MD car, I believe, and behind it is the 354.







In this photo it's next to the 65.









CTA 9192











Union

Something seems to be missing in this picture of the trestle over Boot Creek, but I just can't put my finger on it.








The Glenn Andersen trolley bus barn under construction in 1972, looking north. Beyond it you can see the 251 and 253 head to head.







ERHS Pictures
C&WT 141












CSL 1374

At Downers Grove, Dec. 1958, shortly after delivery. Only a few poles for the barn have yet been installed.








CSL 1467

Oct. 1958 at Downers Grove. This was the first car acquired by ERHS.








CSL 2846

Newly arrived. It was numbered AA-98 while in salt service.









CTA 4391

The PCC after arrival in Feb. 1960, still on its trailer.









CTA 9193


The driver of this CTA trolleybus made a wrong turn at Central and Ogden, and wound up stuck in the middle of a field near Downers Grove. After failing a sobriety test, he was promoted to the job of alderman. This occurred in Feb. 1960.






Fortunately, the owners of a nearby barn were able to give the bus a good home.








Some of the neighbors, however, were very superstitious. They hoped that if they put up a "Bus Stop" sign in a nearby field, regular bus service would magically appear. They're still waiting.






Here's the ERHS track gang building one of the barn tracks. From left to right, unknown, Charlie King, and Glenn Andersen.








The barn is still under construction in this view.









The ERHS barn in April, 1964. For a full history of the Electric Railway Historical Society, go here.







In Service

Art
also sent us these photos from the Andersen collection of in-service photos featuring cars now in the IRM collection. Our thanks to Art on behalf of the Krambles-Peterson Archive.


The 144 going east across the Roosevelt Rd. viaduct over the IC main, with Twelfth Street Station in the background.









The 309 on the rear of a westbound local at Ovaltine.









The 321 westbound at Marshfield.









3142 westbound on Ogden c. 1951.









4021 at South Shops in 1958, after it was withdrawn from service. This is, of course, the only Chicago pre-war PCC to be preserved. It was part of the CTA's historical collection until 1985, when the collection was given to IRM.





















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