Sunday, February 13, 2011





















I found this Chicago Transit Authority photo from 1970, at My link Page Tom's Trolleybus Pictures to the right of Your computer screen. www.trolleybuses.net

I was born in Chicago during 1962, and have many fond Childhood memories of riding the Chicago Transit Authority's electric powered trolleybus routes as a young boy.

This photo was taken looking north on North Cicero Avenue, from the intersection at North Cicero and West Belmont Avenues in Chicago's Cragin neighborhood on the northside of the city of Chicago Illinois.

Trolleybuses, operated at 600 volts DC just like the electric streetcars that preceeded them, and drew their electric power from overhead wires and special work hung over the streets. They were quiet operating, as their electric motors would make a high pitched soft humming sound, and operated pollution free as well.

Chicago's electric trolleybus era began under the pre 1947 predecessor transit company Chicago Surface Lines in 1930, and ended under the CTA in 1973. The CTA Route # 54 Cicero Avenue line, was one of the last lines in operation, as was the CTA Route # 77 Belmont Avenue route. Both were converted to diesel bus operation in early 1973. Belmont Avenue in January of 1973, and Cicero Avenue in March of 1973.

The last two CTA Marmon Harrington elctric troleybuses that operated on the very last day of service Sunday, March 25th, 1973...are preserved and occasionally operated today at The Illinois Railway Museum. www.irm.org

The buileings that are shown in the background along the east side of North Cicero Avenue, are still standing today.

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