What a great video. I had no idea a trolley line would run for 86 miles and at the speeds indicated in the narrative. Must have been a great way to travel.
In the 1940s, my father and his siblings rode the North Shore from the suburb of Highland Park to a stop for St. George High School in Evanston. He had a deep seated love of trains.
@@royzug2847 This was the fastest Interurban of the country! It's speeds of around 90 miles an hour up in the Wisconsin countryside sure makes the South Shore Line cars look as though they're standing still by comparison in speeds!!!
@@wence25games89 The crossing gates usually came down well in advance of the train's approaching the crossings. Then at speeds of no less than 70 miles an hour when running non-stop.
I loved this video! I "came of age" years after the North Shore Line was gone, but I can re live the system through books and DVDs. I wish this railroad was still in service!
I came along long after the North Shore Line was gone, too. And I also relive the system through books and DVDs. There's also HO scale brass models of the North Shore Line. HO brass models are my favorite way of keeping the memories of the NSL alive. 🚎
@@trainsupporter9088 You can ride North Shore Line trains at the ILLINOIS RAILROAD MUSEUM in Union ILLINOIS. It's just south of Route 176 and it's on Olson Road.
I grew up at 12th and Washington streets in Milwaukee, 6 blocks from the line. We rode our bikes down there to see the trains ofthen. I have a penny that was flattened by a train. Also remeber the private right of way that carried the trains from 6th Street onto 5th Street. I later was just learning to drive (in traffic, with the trains), while the line was still operating.
@@lacking2010 Imagine if the line survived it most likely look and sound like today's SOUTH SHORE LINE with identical looking single cars and the exact same sounds.
At the 19:17 mark it looks like a train was pulling out of a storage track to pull up to the Mundelein station for eventual loading. The man alighting from the lead car looks like an experienced trainman. He could have been going a few hundred feet to the gas station on the corner or the Jewel Foods Store across Hawley Street for a candy snack. There was also a chocolate milk machine on the left just out of view of the camera. I grew up 4 blocks down the street (Prospect) to the right.
The former North Shore ROW, which is mostly paths now, would make a perfect HSR line between Chicago and Milwaukee. Lack of foresight seems to be the bane of alternative transportation in this country. Auto manufactures, politicians and airlines marginalized the the most reliable mode of transport in this nation. It's irritating to consider.
@J3scribe: The right of way would be great to have a railroad very much like the SOUTH SHORE LINE. Also very much like the SEPTA REGIONAL ELECTRIC RAILROADS in and around Philadelphia. There are parallel abandoned CNW right of ways that could also be utilized and the NORTH SHORE LINE could have its own right of way and have a terminal somewhere in Streeterville in Chicago just north of the Olgalvie METRA Transportation Terminal. The North Shore Line wouldn't have conform to CTA's car restrictions and dimensions if it had its own right of way.
Slider shoes. And wire frogs were almost completely avoided. At switches, the pole would be manually jumped. Or parallel wirs used such as the single track in South Milwaukee. Wire switches were used at South Upton Junction.
I can just only imagine today if this railroad survived and were running today it would look very much the same as today's SOUTH SHORE LINE with identical looking single level cars and would sound exactly the same as the South Shore Line cars horns and bells. The street running would be relocated along I-94 and perhaps have it's terminal at Milwaukee's Mitchell Airport.
I was born in 1960 and never traveled on this train, yet oddly I have dreams about riding this train before I saw the video and knew of it's existence.
@@Areyoutalkingtome-q1s You can ride North Shore Line trains today at the ILLINOIS RAILROAD MUSEUM in Union ILLINOIS. Take Rt.176 and there's signs directing you to where to turn South . It's on Olson Road.
A childhood friend and myself lived just a few blocks from the North Shore Line in the south side of Milwaukee. We watched the trains come and go. Lots on memories. Great video.
I live in the Philadelphia suburbs and never visited Chicago till long after the North Shore ended service. I did get to ride the last remanent of it on CTA’s Skokie Swift. I also got to experience some of the old railroad when my suburban transit company bought the two electro liners and ran them on their Norristown grade separated line. When I went to college I got a job that required me to ride part of the Norristown line. Ocassionaly I got to experience the high speed running of the Liberty Liners as Red Arrow called them. They also did keep limited food and beverage service where the North Shore had food service. I turned 21 and even hosted a party to celebrate and have my first alcoholic drink on board. I am glad to know both sets are now preserved at museums and are operated on occasion.
The Red Arrow opted for a "rolling tavern" ambience, took out a Liquor License, and made the 'liners profitable that way. The bobsled course that was the Norristown line prevented operators from exploiting the full speed potential of the trains, nevertheless they were a pleasure to ride. One operator tried to show off for me, and got a 'liner up to 80 MPH for all of one second, between Bryn Mawr, Haverford, and Ardmore Ave., then had to slow right down for the Ardmore Avenue curve.
The track crossing the bridge is not a gantlett track. If it were, the two sets of rails would have been visible. One set only, plus guard rails, can be seen.
My grandfather Paul Kerpan lived at north Chicago was in charge of a crew building the north shore
What a great video. I had no idea a trolley line would run for 86 miles and at the speeds indicated in the narrative. Must have been a great way to travel.
In the 1940s, my father and his siblings rode the North Shore from the suburb of Highland Park to a stop for St. George High School in Evanston.
He had a deep seated love of trains.
Heard they ran even faster, but reduced speed limit because the crossing gates were too slow lol
@@royzug2847 This was the fastest Interurban of the country! It's speeds of around 90 miles an hour up in the Wisconsin countryside sure makes the South Shore Line cars look as though they're standing still by comparison in speeds!!!
@@andrewpetik2034 Your father no doubt would also like today's SOUTH SHORE LINE too.
@@wence25games89 The crossing gates usually came down well in advance of the train's approaching the crossings. Then at speeds of no less than 70 miles an hour when running non-stop.
I loved this video! I "came of age" years after the North Shore Line was gone, but I can re live the system through books and DVDs. I wish this railroad was still in service!
Great to relive the old days, thanks for watching!
I came along long after the North Shore Line was gone, too. And I also relive the system through books and DVDs. There's also HO scale brass models of the North Shore Line. HO brass models are my favorite way of keeping the memories of the NSL alive. 🚎
@@trainsupporter9088 Me too!!!
@@trainsupporter9088 If you go to the ILLINOIS RAILROAD MUSEUM in Union ILLINOIS you can ride North Shore Line trains and other trolley
@@trainsupporter9088 You can ride North Shore Line trains at the ILLINOIS RAILROAD MUSEUM in Union ILLINOIS. It's just south of Route 176 and it's on Olson Road.
I grew up at 12th and Washington streets in Milwaukee, 6 blocks from the line. We rode our bikes down there to see the trains ofthen. I have a penny that was flattened by a train. Also remeber the private right of way that carried the trains from 6th Street onto 5th Street. I later was just learning to drive (in traffic, with the trains), while the line was still operating.
I grew up in Waukegan, Ill in the 1950's - the tracks were right behind my house, and these scenes were an everyday occurrence.
@@lacking2010 Imagine if the line survived it most likely look and sound like today's SOUTH SHORE LINE with identical looking single cars and the exact same sounds.
Marvellous!
The North Shore Line trains were far faster than today's South Shore Line trains traveling at 90 plus miles an hour.
At the 19:17 mark it looks like a train was pulling out of a storage track to pull up to the Mundelein station for eventual loading. The man alighting from the lead car looks like an experienced trainman. He could have been going a few hundred feet to the gas station on the corner or the Jewel Foods Store across Hawley Street for a candy snack. There was also a chocolate milk machine on the left just out of view of the camera. I grew up 4 blocks down the street (Prospect) to the right.
The former North Shore ROW, which is mostly paths now, would make a perfect HSR line between Chicago and Milwaukee. Lack of foresight seems to be the bane of alternative transportation in this country. Auto manufactures, politicians and airlines marginalized the the most reliable mode of transport in this nation. It's irritating to consider.
@J3scribe: The right of way would be great to have a railroad very much like the SOUTH SHORE LINE. Also very much like the SEPTA REGIONAL ELECTRIC RAILROADS in and around Philadelphia. There are parallel abandoned CNW right of ways that could also be utilized and the NORTH SHORE LINE could have its own right of way and have a terminal somewhere in Streeterville in Chicago just north of the Olgalvie METRA Transportation Terminal. The North Shore Line wouldn't have conform to CTA's car restrictions and dimensions if it had its own right of way.
The voice of this is asmr quality and calming. Love that
Interesting article 👍
Really cool. Just out of curiosity did the trolley poles have slider shoes or trolley wheels to go that fast?
Slider shoes. And wire frogs were almost completely avoided. At switches, the pole would be manually jumped. Or parallel wirs used such as the single track in South Milwaukee. Wire switches were used at South Upton Junction.
I can just only imagine today if this railroad survived and were running today it would look very much the same as today's SOUTH SHORE LINE with identical looking single level cars and would sound exactly the same as the South Shore Line cars horns and bells. The street running would be relocated along I-94 and perhaps have it's terminal at Milwaukee's Mitchell Airport.
I was born in 1960 and never traveled on this train, yet oddly I have dreams about riding this train before I saw the video and knew of it's existence.
@@Areyoutalkingtome-q1s You can ride North Shore Line trains today at the ILLINOIS RAILROAD MUSEUM in Union ILLINOIS. Take Rt.176 and there's signs directing you to where to turn South . It's on Olson Road.
A childhood friend and myself lived just a few blocks from the North Shore Line in the south side of Milwaukee. We watched the trains come and go. Lots on memories. Great video.
Loved this!
I live in the Philadelphia suburbs and never visited Chicago till long after the North Shore ended service. I did get to ride the last remanent of it on CTA’s Skokie Swift. I also got to experience some of the old railroad when my suburban transit company bought the two electro liners and ran them on their Norristown grade separated line. When I went to college I got a job that required me to ride part of the Norristown line. Ocassionaly I got to experience the high speed running of the Liberty Liners as Red Arrow called them. They also did keep limited food and beverage service where the North Shore had food service. I turned 21 and even hosted a party to celebrate and have my first alcoholic drink on board. I am glad to know both sets are now preserved at museums and are operated on occasion.
The Red Arrow opted for a "rolling tavern" ambience, took out a Liquor License, and made the 'liners profitable that way. The bobsled course that was the Norristown line prevented operators from exploiting the full speed potential of the trains, nevertheless they were a pleasure to ride.
One operator tried to show off for me, and got a 'liner up to 80 MPH for all of one second, between Bryn Mawr, Haverford, and Ardmore Ave., then had to slow right down for the Ardmore Avenue curve.
Wonderful video, thanks for presentation, from Germany
Jewett Car Co was out of Newark, OH.
The track crossing the bridge is not a gantlett track. If it were, the two sets of rails would have been visible. One set only, plus guard rails, can be seen.