A remnant of the former Chicago, North Shore And Milwaukee electric interurban railroad's Skokie Valley Mainline. Wilmette Illinois. July 2010.
Originally uploaded by Eddie from Chicago
The North Shore actually had two routes that served Wilmette.
In the part of town known as Linden Square, the North Shore passed through here along a slower and leisurley route known as The Shore Line Route wich featured in street running. This route featured local stop and go service and passed through tree lined and very scenic residential streets.
The other Chicago, North Shore And Milwaukee Route wich was constructed later on, was the very speedy Skokie Valley Mainline.
This route featured high speed electric interurban trains between Chicago Illinois and Milwaukee Wisconsin.
Shown here is a section of the former Skokie Valley Mainline. We are looking south on West Park Drive , just south of the intersection at Lake Avenue at the western edge of Wilmette. The latice style power line towers to the left, actually hail back to the North Shore days. The modern single mast power poles are from more recent times.
The Chicago, North Shore And Milwaukee went out of business due to heavy bankruptcy on January 21st, 1963. Portions of the old Skokie Valley Mainline became grassy medians and electric high power utility coridors, as well as dirt service roads. Only todays CTA Yellow line wich operates between the Howard Street CTA Red line terminal and Dempster Street in north suburban Skokie Illinois, was preserved as an operating electric railroad on the old Skokie Valley Mainline.
Several Chicago, North Shore And Milwaukee interuraban cars are preserved and occasionally operated today at The Illinois Railway Museum in Union Illinois. www.irm.org
Can You imagine the museum's preserved Chicago, North Shore And Milwaukee restored Electroliner articulated streamliner whipping along this section of mainline back in the day?
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