Quality isn't all that great, but it seemed to be an amazing, fast and frequent system. Wonder what it could be, if it had been modernised and reached our time ...
watch?v=27GwxWis 2g
North Shore lasted relatively late (01/21/1963) but lost out to the automobile and paralleling suburban routes for the short haul and to autos, buses and C&NW/MILW for the Chicago-Milwaukee haul. Freight service was minimal so lots of red ink on the ledger sheets precluded any real modernization beyond the Electroliners and Silverliners.
The North Shore, one of the greats. Rest in peace. Thanks for posting.
The North Shore Line lasted until January 1963. By 1963, the expressways had been built, but suburban population hadn't grown to the point where traffic to downtown Chicago was intolerable. Which meant that traffic had fallen to the point that the North Shore Line couldn't stay in business.
The North Shore needed capital to replace and modernize equipment. In 1963, the newest regular service cars (excluding the Electroliners) were 33 years old. The oldest regular service cars were 48 years old. There were enough cars on hand to ensure that cars weren't used intensely.
If the North Shore survived another 2 to 3 years, there would have been a good chance of a government sponsored capital infusion.
I was under the impression that the street running right of way on S.5th Street in Milwaukee North from Howard Avenue was lost to freeway construction sometime after the Northshore abandonment. I remember that I 94 was only built from Chicago to an area near Mitchell Field and was not finished into Downtown Milwaukee in 1963. I noticed in 2007, when I was in Milwaukee, that the private right of way South of Howard Avenue has had housing built on the right of way.
cbq9911a The North Shore Line lasted until January 1963. By 1963, the expressways had been built, but suburban population hadn't grown to the point where traffic to downtown Chicago was intolerable. Which meant that traffic had fallen to the point that the North Shore Line couldn't stay in business. The North Shore needed capital to replace and modernize equipment. In 1963, the newest regular service cars (excluding the Electroliners) were 33 years old. The oldest regular service cars were 48 years old. There were enough cars on hand to ensure that cars weren't used intensely. If the North Shore survived another 2 to 3 years, there would have been a good chance of a government sponsored capital infusion.
There was a lot of discussion by various political leaders at the time. As you correctly point out, the money just wasn't there. The oil embargo a few years later could have also produced a different outcome.
John Timm
desertdog cbq9911a The North Shore Line lasted until January 1963. By 1963, the expressways had been built, but suburban population hadn't grown to the point where traffic to downtown Chicago was intolerable. Which meant that traffic had fallen to the point that the North Shore Line couldn't stay in business. The North Shore needed capital to replace and modernize equipment. In 1963, the newest regular service cars (excluding the Electroliners) were 33 years old. The oldest regular service cars were 48 years old. There were enough cars on hand to ensure that cars weren't used intensely. If the North Shore survived another 2 to 3 years, there would have been a good chance of a government sponsored capital infusion. There was a lot of discussion by various political leaders at the time. As you correctly point out, the money just wasn't there. The oil embargo a few years later could have also produced a different outcome. John Timm
The OPEC 'Gas Crunch' occurred in the 1973-74 era - the North Shore would have had to hang on for another decade to have benefited.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
When the North Shore quit, a number of their riders climbed aboard the C&NW. There was not enough business for both lines. The CSS&SB probably survived because it had no commuter rail competition.
Many riders had switched to the Northwestern when the Shore Line route quite some seven years earlier. leaving only the Skokie Valley Route. Others went to the Winetka CTA Evanston Line terminal.
MidlandMike When the North Shore quit, a number of their riders climbed aboard the C&NW. There was not enough business for both lines. The CSS&SB probably survived because it had no commuter rail competition.
South Shore survived because it was the only Chicago "interurban" that was built to steam railroad standards and consequently had a substantial freight service to cover its passenger losses.
CSSHEGEWISCH South Shore survived because it was the only Chicago "interurban" that was built to steam railroad standards and consequently had a substantial freight service to cover its passenger losses.
I guess I was just thinking of the passenger side, which didn't have to compete with other commuter lines.
daveklepper Many riders had switched to the Northwestern when the Shore Line route quite some seven years earlier. leaving only the Skokie Valley Route. Others went to the Winetka CTA Evanston Line terminal.
True, but that would have been Wilmette on the CTA. The same thing happened when the CA&E quit. Its riders could use the parallel C&NW Galena Division line or those in Aurora switch to the Q, those in Elgin switch to the Milwaukee Road.
C&NW, CA&E, MILW, CGW and IC fan
Sorry, got my W's confused. Wilmette, of course, with its Shore Line street running on Greenleaf Ave,, as shown in the video. Winetka had the beutifully-done C&NW-CNS&M grade-seperation.
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