CENTRAL ELECTRIC RAILFANS' ASSOCIATION

A not-for-profit technical & educational society, established in 1938

Upcoming Programs

What's new at CERA?

CERA Zoom Programs for March

The Metropolitan West Side Elevated Railway

Presented by Bruce Moffat
Friday, March 8, 2024 at 7 p.m. CST

The Chicago Transit Authority's Blue and Plink rapid transit lines had their origins back in 1895 as part of the Metropolitan West Side Elevated Railway.  The Met's four "L" routes blanketed much of the city's west side and adjacent suburban areas.  Long-time CERA member Bruce Moffat will guide us on a look back at the Met's unusually diverse operations, which included funeral trains and even picnic specials to the Fox River Valley.  The program will also take a look at the ensuing decades, operating as part of the Chicago Rapid Transit Company and today's CTA.  Through it all, the former Met lines evolved to meet the changing needs of the nation's "Second City".

This program is open to all—both CERA members and non-members. Go to CERA’s web page at:

www.cera-chicago.org for the link to the program.

This is a repeat of the program first shown three years ago that attracted 320 viewers. If you missed this program the first time around, you’ll want to be on hand for what will be an entertaining and informative evening. 

Not a CERA member? Please join us.  This may be the last free presentation offered to non-members and for the cost of an Active $50 Membership, you can help sustain these fine programs and even receive a rare, limited edition publication for each year of your membership. Go to https://www.cera-chicago.org/join
 

The program is on Zoom only, all are welcome.

tinyurl.com/CERAonZoom

Meeting ID: 814 9251 7167
Passcode: 880028


Traction in the Winter

Presented by Norman Krentel

Friday, March 22, 2024 at 7 p.m. CST In Person/Members Only

 

Norm will present over 300 slides and a brief movie of some spectacular Winter scenes including many images of something we once used to call “Snow”.  We in the Midwest have not seen a lot of the fluffy white stuff this winter but Norm will be showing us pictures of the Mundelein Branch of the North Shore, piles of lake Effect snow along the South Shore, the East Troy Freight line as well as the Milwaukee Road and Cornwall Street Railway.

 

Come join us for an interesting evening in Chicago’s South Loop.

If interested give our new CERA Executive Director, Elmer Haneberg, a call (773) 972-0470 and maybe a few of us can get to the Berghoff for a quick dinner before the meeting !!

 

The program will be held in person at the Clubroom of 899 S. Plymouth Ct., Chicago.

 

Possible, but not likely, it is  being zoomed.

This may be a last minute decsion by the presenter but is unlikely 
tinyurl.com/CERAonZoom
Meeting ID: 814 9251 7167
Passcode: 880028

SEE OUR NEW BOOK

TRANSIT IN THE TRIANGLE VOL. 2

The latest CERA book, Bulletin 152, is now available!


A companion piece to B-145, Transit in the Triangle Volume 2 continues "A Century Look at Pittsburgh Public Transit" covering the Port Authority Years from 1964 to 2014.

It has being shipped as a benefit of membership to all who were members in 2019.

We also have books in hand at our Chicago offices and are ready to send them. Please click on Buy a Book to order.

Take a look in the books section for a special deal on a B-145 and B-152 combination.

JOIN OR RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP TODAY!

It's that time of year again. Please send your 2024 dues renewal in today. And if you're not a member, what are you waiting for?

Since 1938, Central Electric Railfans’ Association has presented programs, published books, and hosted fan trips.

In 2023 CERA continued its successful online programs on Zoom, offering both “open-to-all” Zoom programs and programs marketed exclusively to members and prospective members. We also returned to our in-person programming at a new location and hosted a fan trip to the Fox River Trolley Museum and Illinois Railway Museum as part of our 85th Anniversary Weekend.

We very proudly edited, published and produced the critically received Transit in the Triangle, Volume 2 which was mailed to all of our 2019 Members. Our goal now is to get out two books in the next 16 months to 2020 and 2021 members!! 

We plan on making 2024 even better. Look forward to new things on Zoom and in our in-person programming, news on upcoming CERA-penned books and other featured products in our store and special deals on older titles in our inventory.

Please consider contributing to these efforts by renewing your membership, or becoming a new member. You can pay for your membership by check or credit card and online via our web site: www.cera-chicago.org/join. We accept PayPal.

CERA 2024 members will receive a hardbound book on an electric railway subject as a membership benefit. You can count on our publications to continue a long tradition of excellence in historical and contemporary electric railway research, while also being both informative and entertaining.


Questions? Send us an email at ceraoffice@gmail.com

Remember, CERA's second Friday of the month Zoom programs are open to all.

But we'd still love to have you as a member. If you aren't a member, please consider joining and visit https://cera-chicago.org/join

Or let us know by email if you have questions at:

ceraoffice@gmail.com

For more railfan programming listings, visit:
http://www.railcc.org/events.html





Please consider donating to CERA. Our members and non-members alike help us keep providing monthly programming, annual books, periodic trips and events and more. Simply click on the donate button.

BUY OUR LATEST BOOK:

TRANSIT IN THE TRIANGLE VOL. 2

The latest CERA book, Bulletin 152, is now available!

It has being shipped as a benefit of membership to all who were members in 2019.

We also have books in hand at our Chicago offices and are ready to send them. Please click on Buy a Book to order.

A companion piece to B-145, Transit in the Triangle Volume 2 continues "A Century Look at Pittsburgh Public Transit" covering the Port Authority Years from 1964 to 2014.

Take a look in the books section for a special deal on a B-145 and B-152 combination.

CERA VIDEOS

Select CERA videos hosted on YouTube are now available.

Here is a list, and links, to currently available videos. Click on the date:


July 2021: Cedar Rapids: A Tale of Two Interurbans, presented by Luke Stephens.

September 2020: A visual appreciation of the South Shore Line by John Nicholson.

October 2020: "Hungary for Streetcars? Czech this out!" a travelog of railfanning in Eastern Europe, by Raymond DeGroote, Jr.

November 2020: The Loop: The 'L' Tracks that Shaped and Saved Chicago by Patrick Reardon.

December 2020: Manhattan Transfer, by David Wilson

TROLLEYS TO THE BOARDWALK

Order CERA Bulletin B-151 today!

Trolleys to the Boardwalk is also available. 

We also have books in hand at our Chicago offices and are ready to send them. Please click on Buy a Book to order.

B-151 is a history of Atlantic City Trolleys from 1854 to 1955, written by James J.N. Henwood, who ecounts the story of trolley operation in Atlantic City, from humble horse cars to the modern Brilliners.

Originally conceived of as a seaside shipping port, Atlantic City’s developers realized its potential for summer visitors seeking an escape from crowded cities to the inviting beaches of the Jersey Shore. Resorts and other businesses burgeoned, helped by the crowds brought to the city over three railroads.

Local transportation began with a simple horsecart service as well as a steam dummy operation. It was traction Pioneer Frank J. Sprague who electrified the city railway in 1889. Under the control of the Pennsylvania Railroad, lines were ultimately consolidated into the Atlantic City & Shore Railroad. Over the years AC&S operated the local Atlantic City trolley service and a short interurban—the Shore Fast Line-between Atlantic City and Ocean City. There was also another electric line in the area, the Atlantic City & Suburban, that led a troubled existence and suffered an early demise.

Come on board and ride back with us in time to relive Atlantic City’s colorful trolley era.

 


Copyright 2018 Central Electric Railfans' Association. All Right Reserved 

Central Electric Railfans' Association is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.  P.O. Box 503, Chicago, IL  60690

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