SKU: T15+16/D

The Chicago North Shore & Milwaukee Railroad was one of the most celebrated electric interurban lines in the world. 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 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. In 1941, the railroad introduced a pair of spectacular streamlined Electroliners, among the finest interurban trains ever constructed in the United States. These sleek articulated trains each made five daily round-trips per day, and featured a tavern-lounge section which served the famous (and delicious) North Shore Electroburgers!

THE NORTH SHORE LINE IN THE 1940's presents exciting full-color archive film footage filmed by traction expert Walter Druck. You’ll see extensive coverage of the Shore Line Route (onboard and trackside scenes), plus scenes of the Chicago Loop, NSL Milwaukee streetcars, freight trains, Electroliners, and an equipment primer.

THE NORTH SHORE LINE IN THE 1960's presents vignettes of the Chicago North Shore & Milwaukee Railroad taken during its last years of service filmed by Chicago railfan and photographer Don Idarius. The full-color archive film footage includes a nice variety of action scenes, with trackside and onboard views. Highlights include a rare Electroliner visit to the Mundelein branch, a number of freight train sequences, shots of NSL trains on the Chicago “L”, and scenes taken during a blizzard on the line’s last day of service, January 21, 1963.