Thursday, April 12, 2012


Hi everyone!
This is Eddie K, Your host and photographer here at Eddie's Railfan Page.

I found this photo at My Link page Tom's Trollybus Pictures, located to the right of Your computer screen at http://www.trolleybuses.net/

I was born in the city of Chicago Illinois in the year of 1962, and I have happy memories of growing up in Chicago as a kid during the 1960's and early 1970's era. One of My favorite memories from that time, was actually seeing and riding the old 1950's era  (And earlier.) buses from the Chicago Transit Authority's early years that were still in daily operation.

The Chicago Transit Authority began operations on October 1st, 1947, and several of the CTA's first generation buses rolled around in daily service in to the early 1970's, and maintenance work bus service for a decade or so after the fact.

A model of transit bus I frequently rode with My family during the mid to late 1960's in Chicago, were the old late 1940's era and mid 1950's era propane powered transit buses from the Twin Coach Company of Kent Ohio, and post 1953 succesor company Flxible Twin Coach Comapny.

These buses featured small high mounted side windows, soft medium green vinyl seats, two tone green interiors, and individual incadescent interior lights. While propane fuel was an economical choice for fuel during the CTA's early days, propane technology was eventually prone to breakdowns and other maintenance headaches. These buses suffered from slow acceleration, and had a tendency to idle rough.
The CTA began to "Clean House" during the early 1970's, and the propane buses were all retired by 1973.

This photograph was taken at the CTA Jefferson Park terminal on North Milwaukee Avenue, just north of West Lawrence Avenue in Chicago's Jefferson Park neighborhood in 1970.

Thanks.
Eddie K.

No comments: