FILE PHOTO
The Chicago Aurora & Elgin 20, built in 1902,
at the Fox River Trolley Museum in South Elgin.
BY DAVE PARRO
For more than 50 years, the Chicago, Aurora & Elgin electric interurban railroad shuttled commuters to and from those three cities in a loop, stopping at dozens of other towns along the way. Then one day it just stopped.
Next week marks the 50th anniversary of its shutdown, which comes at a time when the CTA and Pace are mulling cuts of their own. On July 3, 1957, the demise of the "third rail" signified the end of the rail era in the Chicago region and the dawn of the automobile as the main mode of transportation.
If only we could go back and save the CA&E.
With the region ranked near the bottom nationally when it comes to traffic congestion and mobility, light rail could be making a comeback. Just look at Metra's plans for the STAR line.
It's a shame that it's taken half a century to realize what we had. Hopefully the 50th anniversary of the CA&E shutdown will draw more attention to the urgency of transportation needs in the Chicago region.
That infamous day when 6,000 commuters were stranded when CA&E operations suddenly ceased will be commemorated this weekend by both the Fox River Trolley Museum in South Elgin and the Illinois Railway Museum in Union.
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