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.
Photo by P. Stringham, from the collection of William Raia
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 and those hanging off of the end of car 414.
Photo from the collection of William Raia
Car 412 makes a stop at Berkeley on April 11, 1948.
Photo from the collection of Richard Allerman
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.
Photo by GM Andersen, from the Krambles-Peterson Archive
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 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.
Photo from the collection of Jay Williams
The Wells Street Terminal looking west circa 1923. 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.
Photo by AF Scholz, from the Krambles-Peterson Archive
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.
Photo by RV Mehlenbeck, from the Krambles-Peterson Archive
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.
Photo by TH Desnoyers, from the Krambles-Peterson Archive
Photo by GM Andersen, from the Krambles-Peterson Archive
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."
Photo from the Van Dusen Collection
Photo No. ILL-15, IRM
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.
Photo from the Van Dusen Collection
Photo No. ILL-409, IRM.
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.
Photo by Jim Dyer
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.
Photo by Jim Dyer
A 400 series car, along with several wooden cars, sits stored in Wheaton Yard during the scrapping of the railroad.
Photo by Jim Dyer
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.
Photo by Jim Dyer
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.
Photo by Jim Dyer.
Operating as a single, car 406 heads west at Villa Park on September 4, 1954.
Photo by C Scholes
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.
Unknown, C Scholes
Car 416 sits at Batavia during 1954. Given the number of people on the right-of-way, this was probably part of a railfan excursion.
Ed O'Meara, C Scholes
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.
Unknown, C Scholes
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.
Unknown, C Scholes
On its way to Forest Park, the eastern terminal of the railroad at this point in time, this two car train leaves Ardmore in Villa Park. A Leyden bus heading south on Ardmore Avenue waits at the crossing gates for the train to pass. The car at the rear of the train is a Pullman product built in 1923.
Photo by Glen Brewer
We catch a two car train consisting of a Pullman and a Cincinnati in a relaxing moment as the pair waits along the bank of the Fox River at the Elgin terminal on June 21, 1942. Both trolley poles appear to be locked down leaving the state of this train rather ambigouous. Has this train just come from Wells Street or is it ready and waiting for the next trip to Wheaton and downtown Chicago?
Bob Crockett, C Scholes
An eastbound train composed of cars 456 and 422 meets a westbound train from Forest Park at Wheaton on March 14, 1957. Depending on the time of day, the westbound train could be about to be cut. In this situation car 402 will be sent to Aurora while car 426 (mostly obscured behind 402 and the utility pole) will be headed to Elgin. If not, both cars will be sent into Wheaton Yard.
Photo from the collection of Jay Williams
Although unusual for an “L” station, the arrangement of the platforms at 11th Avenue was common on the Chicago Aurora and Elgin. The westbound platform (seen here being passed by a two car train on the opposite track) was located on the east side of the street while the eastbound platform (behind the photographer) was on the west side.
Photo by Robert Heinlein
The sun is setting on the Chicago Aurora & Elgin as this two car train leaves Spring Road on its way to Forest Park. In 1957, 407 will get repainted into the red and blue-gray scheme that the car ahead of it already has and that the brick passenger shelter mimics.
Photo by William Higginbotham, from the collection of Curt Clifford
Wearing the dusty Washington Blue paint scheme it will carry to the end, 403 makes a stop at Spring Road on its way to Forest Park in the 1950s. The smokestack for the Ovaltine plant looms in distance.
Photo by Robert Heinlein
The 17th Avenue station was rebuilt in the 1910s and recieved the high level platforms seen here. These later enabled “L” trains to serve the station as part of the Westchester service. The hinged sections of the platforms (seen clearly on the eastbound platform, at right) folded up and down to permit passage of trains of varying width. Freight trains were of standard railroad width and required the platform edges to be folded up and out of the way. Passenger trains like 410 and its follower, seen heading west, were significantly narrower and berthed with the platform edges down.
Photo by Robert Heinlein
407 and 403 are seen between eastbound and westbound runs at Forest Park. This two car train has just passed over the entrance to the park-and-ride lot and is on its way around the curve to the westbound platform.
