Bruce,
Welcome to the forum!
I believe it would've been most likely she would have travelled the Chicago and Northwestern. Look at Table 84 (page 46) of the Northwestern 1939 timetable in the link below. The Northwestern had the most direct route to Chicago (via Harvard, Il).
http://streamlinermemories.info/CNW/C&NW39TT.pdf
This is assuming she travelled from the depot in Beloit. The Milwaukee Road also had service from their Beloit depot, but not direct to Chicago from Beloit. She would've had to change trains on the way. From Rockford, she could've taken the Illinois Central direct to Chicago.
My mom was born in 1924 and lived in Beloit Wisconsin until 1964 when our family moved to Milwaukee. Before she died, she used to tell me that she would occasionally take the train to Chicago with family and friends -- this would have been the mid to late '30s and early '40s. I know both lines served Beloit but I am curious whether she likely would have taken the CNW or the Milwaukee Road and which line? Anyone have some specific insights? Thanks.
-- Bruce
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