SKU: T16

This program presents vignettes of the Chicago North Shore & Milwaukee Railroad taken during its last years of service filmed by Chicago railfan and photographer Don Idarius.

Connecting the Chicago loop with downtown Milwaukee, this legendary railroad began as a modest Waukegan trolley line in the early 1890s. Under the direction of Chicago utility tycoon Samuel Insull, the North Shore Line grew into what could be called the ?standard interurban? railroad, providing excellent service until it was abandoned in 1963.

The line operated a fleet of more than 250 heavy, powerful steel passenger cars and two streamlined Electroliners which operated between the two cities at speeds up to 85 mph, winning it honors as America?s fastest interurban. In addition, the NSL pioneered a number of innovations in freight service, including the operation of some of the first mechanical refrigerator cars and trailer-on-flatcar piggyback cars.

The full-color archive film footage includes scenes of both passenger and freight service, with trackside and onboard scenes. Highlights include a rare Electroliner visit to the Mundelein branch, a number of freight train sequences, views of NSL trains on the Chicago ?L?, and scenes taken duirng a blizzard on the line?s last day of service, January 21, 1963.