CTA- Trolley Bus, Last Final Months (1972).

I found this absolutely wonderful silent home movie from the Chicago Transit Authority by accident yesterday on You Tube.

Many times when I am posting those occasional "Bus Day Editions" of Eddie's Railfan Page, I mention the fact that I was born in 1962, and grew up watching and observing the Chicago Transit Authority's 1951 vintage Marmon Harrington electric trolleybuses, during their final years of operation on Chicago city streets.

This You Tube video made from possibly an old Super 8 MM home movie, was photographed during the spring and fall of 1972 on the north side of Chicago.

I absolutely loved this video, as this is how I remember how Chicago was like prior to 1973, before the end of all Chicago Transit Authority electric trolleybus operations in March of 1973.

For those watching this "Treasure" who grew up in Chicago like myself during the 1960's and 70's era...
or perhaps even earlier, You will love seeing the many neighborhood scenes of business districts with storefronts and not strip malls. Many business establishments featured old neon signs back then as well.

CTA's electric trolleybuses were gradually being phased out  begining in 1959 with the CTA Route # 51 / 51st Street line, the Rt # 47 /47th Street line in June of 1965, the Rt # 73 Armitage Street line in November of 1966, the Rt # 66 Chicago Avenue line in March of 1967, the Rt # 52 Kedzie / California line in March of 1969, the Rt # 81 Lawrence Avenue line in December of 1969, and the Rt # 85 Cemntral Avenue line in January of 1970.

This film photographed in 1972, was made during the final full year of the remaining CTA electric trolleybus operations. The soon to be retired 1950's era Flxible Twiin Coach Company propane buses are shown here, as are the newer 1960's era Flxible fishbowl windshield buses. The now long gone CTA North Avenue Garage is also shown here as well.

Here is some more good news! The last two CTA Marmon Harrington trolleybuses that operated on the last day in March of 1973, are preserved and occasionally operated at the Illinois Railway Museum in Union Illinois. www.irm.org

This video brought back many happy memories for Me, as I was 10 years old when this was photographed.
THIS is the Chicago I fondly remember growing up in.

Whoever took this now historic silent home movie....THANK YOU!

Eddie K.