Monday, January 23, 2012

A Saturday Morning Drive




On Saturday, June 28th 1958, a local Lake Forest man is out for a morning drive in his 1955 Chevrolet Bel-Air. As he drives west on Old Elm Road, he approaches the right of way of the Chicago North Shore and Milwaukee Railroad. Suddenly, the wig wag signal guarding Old Elm Road swings into action and an air horn can be heard in the distance. As the man stops a blur of silver and red bursts out from behind the Sheridan Elms station, and charges past. The man takes note of a particularly clean car on the end of the train as it disappears into a trail of dust. The wig wag stops swinging, and the man continues on his drive into the quietness of Saturday morning.

The man saw car 768, built by Standard Car Company in 1930. It was rebuilt as a Silverliner by  the CNS&M’s Highwood Shops and released into traffic the previous Tuesday, June 24th 1958. It would be the final of 31 cars rebuilt as Silverliners by the North Shore in the 1950’s. Also in the train is car 750, rebuilt as a Silverliner in December 1952 and looking a little worse for wear. It would be repainted in 1959.

Until Next Time,
Zach

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