420-Series: The Cincinnati Cars

Car 433 and a Pullman sit at the Aurora terminal waiting for the next trip east on April 24, 1957.

Photo by P. Stringham, from the collection of William Raia.

Car 427, a product of the Cincinnati Car Company, in Wheaton Yard. The black smoke seen billowing up from behind the shops is from insulation being burned off of feeder cables for salvage. The young man hanging out of the car is a friend of the photographer.

Photo by Jim Dyer

In this shot we are looking at car 430, another 420-series car (at left) and car 300 in Wheaton Yard. The paint on the cars is badly faded making the long inactivity and lack of maintainence on the cars apparent.

Photo by Jim Dyer

Car 456 and another 450-series car are stored in Wheaton Yard sometime after the shutdown, On the next track ovver is car 427, a product of the Cincinnati Car Company. In the background on the right are the old and new dispatcher’s towers.

Photo by Don Bruno

A two car train led by a Cincinnati is stopped at the westbound platform at Ardmore in 1956 or 1957. The eastern edge of the eastbound platform is visible at the lower right. It was common on the CA&E for the eastbound platform to be situated on the west side of a crossing and the westbound platform to be on the east side.

Photo by Glen Brewer

Car 427 poses with its train crew at the Elgin terminal in March 1938. The rear trolley pole is in position and this car is most likely about to depart on its way to Chicago.

Photo from the collection of Jay Williams

Car 430 is seen on the Batavia branch just north of Batavia Junction on March 28, 1957. This is most likely during rush hour; by this time, rail service over the Batavia branch is only provided during rish hours.

Photo from the collection of Jay Williams

While containing architectural elements common on the rapid transit system—such as the wooden shelter on the westbound platform—the 25th Avenue station is painted in the CA&E’s red and blue-gray scheme that matches the two-car train berthed at the easbound platform. The station’s gooseneck lamps—seen at the far left and in front of the entrance to the headhouse—are a holdover from when this was an “L” stop on the Westchester service.

Photo by Robert Heinlein

An eastbound two-car train rushes past the Garden Home station and the 51st Avenue grade crossing in Hillside.

Photo by Robert Heinlein

A single car from Elgin approaches Wesley Street on its way to Wheaton. Unless the flagstop semaphore has just been lowered, this train will not stop. The incline to bring the Third Rail’s tracks over the Chicago & Northwestern right-of-way is visible in the distance.

Photo by Robert Leffingwell