Car 26 leads a four car train at Villa Park during a westbound run on July 10, 1952. Unlike the three cars following it, car 26 has yet to be repainted and is still in the Washington blue scheme. Click here for a larger version.
Photo by George Krambles, from the Krambles-Peterson Archive

Operating as a single, car 406 heads west at Villa Park on September 4, 1954. Click here for a larger version.
Photo by C Scholes

The back side of the Villa Park station seen looking northwest across Park Boulevard and Villa Avenue on July 18, 1961. It should be noted that the station still has its crossing gates even though a train hasn't operated here in over two years. By comparison, the Glen Ellyn station had its gates removed by 1959. Click here for a larger version.
Photo by Glen Brewer

The end for the CA&E is already in sight. Car 453 leads a three car train chartered by the Central Electric Railfans' Association seen here heading west past Villa Park on October 26, 1958. Time will show that there will only be two more chartered trips over the Roarin' Elgin before its complete demise. Click here for a larger version.
Photo by Glen Brewer

A caboose passes the passenger shelter on the westbound platform at Villa Park. Click here for a larger version.
Photo by Glen Brewer

The end has truly come. It's June 17, 1959, and the CA&E has sent out its last functioning locomotives to retieve the freight cars that remained on the line. At 11:45 AM locomotives 2002 and 2001 head the cleanup train as it passes through Villa Park. Click here for a larger version.
Photo by Glen Brewer

The westbound platform and passenger shelter at Villa Park. Ovaltine siding begins just beyond the east end of the platform. Click here for a larger version.
Photo by Glen Brewer

We're looking west down the westbound track near Villa Avenue in spring of 1962. Ovaltine siding is at right and the Villa Park station is seen in the distance. Ovaltine siding had a capacity for ten 42-foot cars. Click here for a larger version.
Photo by Glen Brewer

The sign still hangs above the door at the Villa Park station on July 18, 1961. The easbound platform is ready for waiting passengers heading to Chicago although no train will be coming around the bend. Weeds are growing up between the ties and the rails have rusted over. It won't be long before the tracks are torn up. Click here for a larger version.
Photo by Glen Brewer

The westbound platform and passenger shelter seen during July of 1960. By now, tall weeds have sprouted up through cracks in the platform and vegetation has almost entirely obscured the right of way. Click here for a larger version.
Photo by Glen Brewer