General
This 1926 product of the Cincinnati Car Company was placed in service on May 10th, by the Chicago North Shore & Milwaukee Railroad less than a month before the new “Skokie Valley Route” was opened on June 5th which speeded up long distance service between Chicago and Milwaukee.
As newer rolling stock was purchased for Chicago-Milwaukee trains; as rider ship declined due to the Depression of the 1930’s; and older wooden cars used for commuter service were retired, 715 and others of its class were reassigned to suburban service from Waukegan via the original “Shore Line” route and from Mundelein to Chicago. During this period the fleet colors changed from the Pullman green 715 was delivered in, to orange and maroon to match the newest rolling stock.
Historical
Starting with car 714, 715 and its higher numbered Cincinnati sisters were given the “Shore Line” modernization at the Highwood Shops in 1940. With new forced air ventilation, improved interior lighting, removal of its lavatory which increased the seating capacity from 52 to 56 with reupholstered seating, brought the cars up to the standards of recently rebuilt mainline cars and foreshadowed the arrival of the two Electroliner trains in 1941. The exterior paint scheme went from the old orange with maroon trim to one of dark green, a light green band through the windows and red trim while the now out-of-date varnished interior was painted over with a then popular pastel color.
After heavy use during World War II, 715 was cycled through the Highwood paint shop and received the simple green and red scheme that is remembered by many today. After service was abandoned on the original Shore Line route in 1955, car 715 continued in rush hour service between the Loop and Mundelein or was uncoupled from thru Milwaukee trains at Edison Court station in Waukegan to serve the mainline commuters and added on to trains bound at the same station for the Windy City until the North Shore was totally abandoned. 715 and its non-lavatory sisters would make it to Milwaukee, usually on weekends, most likely on sailor specials from the Great Lakes Naval Training Center, and also for monthly inspections at the Harrison Avenue shops. 715 was also on the last Southbound train to leave Milwaukee on January 21st, 1963.
Narrative
The Mid-Continent Railway Museum in North Freedom, Wisconsin purchased the car after abandonment with the idea of a short trolley line from its museum depot into North Freedom proper. This never happened so 715 and Milwaukee streetcar 978 became some of the first elements of The Wisconsin Electric Railway Historical Society’s collection which eventually became the East Troy Trolley Museum. When TWERHS went into bankruptcy in 1989 the Fox River Trolley Museum in South Elgin was able to purchase the car and have the railroads move it on its own wheels to the Illinois Central, Coleman interchange with the AE&FRE. The car arrived in a faded orange and maroon paint scheme which was updated to the simple green and red colors it now wears. In 2010 funds were raised and work was done to reupholster the seats with a green plush and in 2019 the car was again repainted in the red and green colors with more durable modern paint.
While the car holds down a regular spot in our demonstration trip service, once there are more cars in the operating pool, there is a list of many projects that can be done to improve its appearance, utility, and operational capability to “train” with our other North Shore car 756 which is awaiting heavy restoration.
Author: Joseph Hazinski, Curator