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Here we are looking west across Main Street at the second Wheaton station. Waiting in the station is car 402. According to the roller curtains 402 leads a "Chicago" local, though this is actually somewhat of a misnomer. At this point in time, trains only go as far as Forest Park where passengers have to transfer to a Garfield Park "L" train. The date is June 4, 1957, less than a month before the railroad will suddenly end passenger service. Click here for a larger version. |
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A freight train led by locomotives 3003 and 3004, is heading east through the Wheaton station while car 414 sits on the westbound track. Note the jumpers draped over the fencing between tracks. We have wonder about the jumpers hanging off of the end of car 414. Click here for a larger version. |
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It's July 4, 1956, almost exactly one year to the day before the CA&E will suddenly end service. We're looking south along Mannheim Road as car 403 brings up the rear of a two car fantrip train on the Cook County branch. Click here for a larger version. |
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Car 433 and a Pullman sit at the Aurora terminal waiting for the next trip east on April 24, 1957. Click here for a larger version. |
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Car 411, the only half-motor Pullman and the only one that had Baldwin trucks, sits in Wheaton Yard on March 14, 1957. Behind it is ex-Washington Baltimore & Annapolis combine 700. Click here for a larger version. |
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The Wells Street Terminal looking west circa 1922. Even though the terminal was shared with the Metropolitan "L," all four tracks are occupied by CA&E trains. Car 408 is seen on the southernmost track. Next to it is another Pullman, an unidentified wood, and car 203. Click here for a larger version. |
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A westbound three car train led by a Pullman approaches 5th Avenue/Maywood as seen looking east from the eastbound platform, circa 1952. The edges of the platforms were designed to be flipped up to permit the passage of freight cars which were wider than the passenger cars. Click here for a larger version. |
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Car 402 leads a two car train at Ardmore Avenue as it loads passengers for the trip east to Forest Park on March 23, 1957. In less than four months this scene would happen for the last time. Click here for a larger version. |
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Car 402 is at Prince Crossing on the Elgin branch on August 23, 1953. Click here for a larger version. |
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Car 415, seen decked out in a paint scheme proclaiming "Buy War Bonds," is at Wheaton on April 13, 1946. 415 was one of two cars on the CA&E to recive patriotic war-time liveries. The other was car 416, which carried the message "Fly for Navy." Click here for a larger version. |
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Bringing up the rear of a two car train leaving York Street is car 410, seen here heading east on a trip bound for Chicago. The curved sign atop the shelter and clay tile roofing would both end up being replaced with less ornamental substitutes. The Chicago Great Western depot is seen at left. Click here for a larger version. |
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A scene in Wheaton Yard looking northwest after the start of scrapping. A 400-series car (still in the second-to-last paint scheme) is stored with a pair of flatcars in front of it. An assortment of steel cars (including the 420 and 450-series) is also visible, as is the shops building in the background. Click here for a larger version. |
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A 400-series car (what appears to be car 412) is seen in Wheaton Yard with a pair of flatcars after the start of scrapping. Click here for a larger version. |
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A 400-series car, along with several wooden cars, sits stored in Wheaton Yard during the scrapping of the railroad. Click here for a larger version. |
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Cars 407 and 314 sit stored end to end in Wheaton Yard after the shutdown of service. These cars were mechanically and electrically incompatible with each other. Click here for a larger version. |
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Looking down the length of a servicecar in Wheaton Yard during scraping. The front end of a 400-series car (almost certainly the same car in both this and this photo) is visible ahead. Click here for a larger version. |
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Operating as a single, car 406 heads west at Villa Park on September 4, 1954. Click here for a larger version. |
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A five car train bound for Wells Street is led by a Pullman at York Street in 1948. This view looks west from the westbound platform. Note the two men walking down the westbound track. They are either track or signal maintainers. A third man with a Fairmont motorcar stands nearby at the crossing. Click here for a larger version. |
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It's a busy time at Batavia Junction on July 3, 1949. On the track closest to the photographer, car 410 leads a two car train bound for Aurora. The motorman leans out of the window. On the opposite side of the station another car—what appears to be a Cincinnati—is serving as the Batavia shuttle. In the distance is yet a third train, probably a railfan excursion given the crowd of people wandering about the tracks. Click here for a larger version. |
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Car 417 is on the Batavia branch at Batavia Junction on April 2, 1957. At this point in time, rail service over the branch is confined to the morning and evening rush. In another three months it won't matter; all passenger service will cease. Click here for a larger version. |
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