Chicago Aurora and Elgin #316

General

As passenger traffic expanded on the Aurora Elgin and Chicago Railroad, the company needed to expand its fleet of passenger cars.  By 1913 money was getting tighter so only two cars were ordered that year, 316 and 317.  Elegant as they were, they had one improvement over previous cars; three steps compared to just two.  It was found that with the extra step passengers could board faster from low level platforms, which were typical on the two main branches to Aurora and Elgin, than those with only two steps of earlier cars and thus saved running time.  In 1914 the AE&C returned to the Jewett Car Company for four more cars.  But these cars had variations.  318 used external steel sides below the windows.  Cars 319, 320 and 321 returned to full wooden sides but were each equipped with improved control systems and traction motors as test beds.  The results led to this newer equipment being used on the first all steel cars purchased in 1923 by the now reorganized Chicago Aurora and Elgin Railroad.

History

316 served from 1913 until the cessation of passenger service on July 3^rd, 1957.  The car retained its toilet compartment and grand curved “Empire” ceiling design to the end.  The exterior art glass “steamer” windows were eventually removed and replaced with car siding in an effort to make the car look more modern.  Fortunately, the interior arch windows were retained but painted over as were the varnished interior walls with more “modern” colors.  The “advance light” with the large metal flip signs which denoted “Limited”, “Express” and “Local” trains were removed to be replaced with smaller signs in the motorman’s front window.  As the newer steel interurban cars arrived, they took over the longer runs from Chicago to Wheaton where cars were separated to go to either Aurora or Elgin, while the wood cars were coupled in sets of threes, fours and even fives to cover the heavier patronized trips between Chicago and Wheaton.  With the rise of railfan excursions, starting the late 1930’s, this was about the only time wood cars would be seen in either Aurora or Elgin although they would be used on the Batavia shuttle line during the week.

Narrative

While there were attempts to revive passenger service after the 1957 cessation, there were some special excursion trips as freight operation continued until 1959 when the CA&E finally got permission to completely abandon.  As this was all unfolding a small group of young rail enthusiasts formed the Railway Equipment Leasing and Investment Company (RELIC) with the intention of obtaining some cars for potential use on a proposed reincarnation of part of the CA&E Elgin branch as a freight short line from Elgin to Wayne.  They worked out an agreement to purchase three cars, 20, 316 and 317, with the railroad company.  They sold stock to raise funds, while one of their founding members, who was also the night watchman at the Wheaton shops during this time period, which gave him ample opportunity to see that these cars were stored inside and in fact even had time and access to repaint two of the cars, 20 and 316.  After the short line freight proposal failed, and actual salvaging of the CA&E track started, the cars were towed by the scrap dealer’s rented EJ&E diesel locomotive to a temporary connection with the Chicago and North Western Railway in Wheaton where they were transported to and stored inside at the 40^th Street Shops (one of the RELIC stockholders was a C&NW employee).  As negotiations went on to find a site for the cars on the Aurora Elgin and Fox River Electric Company, the cars were moved to the Burnside Shops of the Illinois Central Railroad where once again, they were stored inside (another stockholder was an IC employee) prior to the move to the Coleman, Illinois interchange with the AE&FR and their final home on a hastily constructed siding on some purchased farm property just outside of the Village of South Elgin.  It took some time to move and reconstruct a power substation and re-erect the long-gone trolley wire with the first operation starting on July 4^th, 1966, with car 20 as the star.  As wire was extended south to the end of track, 316 was repainted into the “coffee and cream” paint scheme it wore after the AE&C became the CA&E in 1922 and shared duties with car 20 and was even coupled together to make a two-car train on occasion.  During the winter the cars were covered with heavy tarps until the car barn was constructed in 1984 which finally allowed inside storage.  Unfortunately, time and weather had taken its toll on 316 and efforts were started to restore the car while trying to keep it operable.  After the successful restoration of CTA 4451 in 2022 and steel CA&E car 458 in 2023, full time attention was turned to 316 by the Car Department for a down to the “bones” restoration which has included restoring the exterior art glass arch windows, completely overhauling the two motorman’s controllers, and upgrading the electric heaters.  A bit of original roof canvas was found, and the color has been matched so that the all-new canvas roof is painted in that color.  These are just a few of the aspects of restoring the car to a specific historical period.  316 made its debut Saturday September 27^th, 2025, and the general public will now be able to enjoy the fruits of the Car Department’s efforts, and step back in time to over one hundred years ago.

Author: Joseph Hazinski, Curator