This photo of an eastbound South Bend Limited making a station stop in 1954 in East
Chicago is truly representative of the interurban experience. A train capable of doing 80 mph on
open track is trundling down a city street observing the traffic signals at major intersections.
While vehicle traffic remains stopped in the distance the baggage agent moves the shipments he
has received from the motorman to the curb. The train is on Chicago Avenue, the main east-west
street through downtown East Chicago just west of Indianapolis Boulevard.
—William C.
Janssen photo
When Will My Next Issue of First & Fastest Arrive?
Shore Line strives to have issues of First & Fastest to members by the first day of each season. International delivery of print issues may take longer. Here is our schedule for the upcoming year:
The Autumn 2023 issue of First & Fastest includes: Metra to Operate Chicago-Rockford Service
Premium Memberships 2023
From an Interurban to an Electrified Railroad: The South Shore Line 1955–1967 by Norman Carlson All Photos from the Norman Carlson Collection Except as Noted
Bridge Over Deerpath Road by Norman Carlson
The North Shore Line’s Bus Operations: Part 1 – Adapting to the “Rubber Tire” Era by Bruce G. Moffat
North Western and Rock Island Steam: A Photo Essay from the Bill Raia Collection curated by Mike Raia C&NW Caption Research by Jim Lewnard
Illinois Central Freight Trains Under Wire by Norman Carlson All Photos by John F. Humiston, Richard Humiston Collection Unless Otherwise Noted
Cruising Alongside the Mississippi River at 80 mph by Jim Singer and Al Kamm III All Images from the Burlington Route Historical Society Archives
A Day for the Archives by Jim Singer and Paul Swanson
The Ubiquitous 600s: The Milwaukee Streetcar Used in City, Suburban, and Interurban Service by Larry A. Sakar
The Mystique of the North Shore Line: Part 1 by Eric Bronsky Captions by Norman Carlson All Photos by Lee Hastman from the Walter R. Keevil Archive
Metra Office Car Special to Joliet by Gary R. Clark
Hammond, Miller & Bailly: Construction Continues on South Shore Line Projects by Norman Carlson
CA&E in the 1950s: The Photography of James J. Buckley