History of the Chicago, Aurora & Elgin Railway

[@wowmaster97]

Great video! Glad it was put on KZbin because I was really bummed I wasn't able to attend that night.

[@JR-playlists]

1:23:08 Sadly no longer exists due to short-sighted vision of the Fox Valley Park District. Would have been nice to add a park bench there to commemorate the CA&E history.

[@michaelminetti4484]

I enjoyed video. Also watched CGW videos and I am looking forward to next edition and west of Byron.

[@solidarityrail2551]

Damn. I wish I knew about this. I'm somewhat I a living history of the c a and e guy. (I run c a and e cars at old threshers in Mt. Pleasant Iowa, and at the fox river trolley museum in South elgin) and small a small collection of c a and e stuff. I'd love to be here and hang around and talk after.

[@WaltANelsonPHD]

Great presentation. Thank you!

[@albertcarello619]

Today the Metro North in New York and the Long Island Railroads are extensive 3rd rail lines.

[@jvonfurstle7025]

if you get a chance to re-edit linger on the pix longer not the people speaking.

[@Soulseeologia]

very good presentation, gels with the prevailing reset narrative of history that this railroad was already there when they say they built it and electricity was in widespread use in the old world and was free for all. historical society history written by the priest class is such a sick joke on the people! ❤

[@williamsullivan1346]

Used Aroura and Elgin from the CHICAGO "LOOP" Terimial to 5th. Avenue Station when MY FATHER was at HINES, ILLINOIS "VA" in the HOSPITAL for TWO MOUNTHS. We didn't own a car. Took the ENGLEWOOD "L" to the "LOOP" by the Subway System in the "LOOP" !!!

[@3292Dan]

Wanted to say thank you for doing this.

[@saraxaos11]

My Grandfather worked on the Elgin branch bridge when it became a path.

[@TheSonic10160]

It's the kind of infrastructure that really deserves a modern comeback, especially since many American centres grew with them.

[@spuwho]

Another tidbit of left behind in CA&E history. When the Congress Expressway was extended, the highway engineers fully expected the CA&E to resume service over the CTA Garfield Line when done. A tunnel was built under the Eisenhower Expressway at Central Avenue so the CA&E could reach the new CTA tracks at Laramie in the median. It was never used and tunnel remains and is used by CTA maintenance trucks to pass through. Also the highway people widened the median of the Congress just before it went below ground at the Dan Ryan. This was so the CA&E could switch over and elevate to their existing platform that took them down Van Buren Street to the Wells Street Station. Finally due to the dire financial situation of the CA&E over the years, they had not paid their trackage rights between Laramie in Forest Park and Polk Street downtown since their bankruptcy was filed in the 1930's. There were a lot of politicians that were not happy about Chicago taxpayers propping up a "weak" interurban.

[@JR-playlists]

1:22:02 The Terminal building has been refurbished into residential lofts. They are hoping for a dinner to occupy the ground floor.

[@jeffreysmith206]

Wow guys , just found this ! Been following you on the CGW and now I’m getting more interested in the CA&E , again grew up in Villa Park late 60s early 70s Definitely remember the decline of CGW however CA&E was gone , just remember the big hump as Ardmore Ave crossed over the old ROW Great 👍 Job

[@spuwho]

I know why the IPP land at Prince Crossing was sold. The IPP used to flood out where it went under the CGW, later CNW railroad. DuPage Highway Department kept trying to raise it by dumping yet more crushed limestone. But heavy rains would wash it away or leave it with 3-4 inches of standing water. When the CGW ROW was acquired by DuPage County and converted, they decided to avoid the issue by redirecting the IPP to the higher CGW ROW and sold the old ROW to the then owners of the old substation. They then fenced it off. Since then the lot was sold to Wheaton Academy.

[@jeffreysmith85]

Ssl still here

[@solidarityrail2551]

No more street running tho haha

[@southsidetom]

I rode the vomit comet SSL from Randolph Street to Sample Street in South Bend many times in early 80s. Found out they would let me off in Lydick IN if I asked the conductors. Those old orange cars were ole war horses of the SSL.

[@spuwho]

Another "leftover" building of the CA&E is on Wells Street in Chicago. When the land for the station was sold (now a parking garage) the CTA took over the maintenance shop at street level. Its still there and serves as the "truck shop" where the electric trucks are rebuilt.

[@HRHolm-bi6zu]

Just came across this video tonight on YT, I regret not having known about the original presentation at the library----I would have made an effort to attend and ask questions, in particular the speaker's opinion on 'what might have been' had the CA&E continued in operation up through the present day, e.g., the nature of more modernized rolling stock, whether third rail power might have been replaced with overhead wire due to government safety-regulatory changes, and whether Metra would have taken the line under its wing (probably). Been a long-time follower of the CA&E and its history. I wish some mention would have been made/shown during the last segment regarding the Elmhurst station at York Road.

[@harri2626]

Excellent presentation about a fascinating system. A pity there weren't more shots and details about the cars.

[@daleshenuk581]

I rode on it one time with my grandma from Bellwood to Oak Park....I lived on Madison street three doors from where the Mt Carmel spur turned south