June 22, 1958 - A Weekend to Remember: The end of streetcar operation in Illinois and the beginning of a new era in Chicago’s Rapid Transit

 June at CERA

June 22, 1958

A Weekend to Remember:

The end of streetcar operation in Illinois and the beginning of a new era in Chicago’s Rapid Transit

Friday, June 22, 2018, at 7 p.m. CDT

University Center

Loop River Room

525 S. State Street, Chicago, IL

(Located between Congress Parkway and Harrison Street)

The Loop River Room is located on the second floor. After entering the lobby, go through the glass doors on your left for stair and elevator access to the area. Doors open at 6 p.m.

At 6 a.m. on June 21, 1958, a century of streetcar operation ended when Green Hornet 7213 completed its run on Chicago’s only remaining streetcar line. Downstate, Illinois Terminal PCC 457 completed its last run at 2 a.m. on June 22 thus bringing down the curtain on IT’s last electric passenger operation between St. Louis and Granite City and the end of the very last streetcar operation in Illinois.

Later on that same day, Garfield “L” service came to an end as CTA inaugurated its new Congress line with trains operating down the middle of the Congress Expressway in what was to be a new era in rapid transit.

Ray DeGroote and John Nicholson will recount the events of this historical weekend through the photo collections of Ray, Bernie Rossbach, Ken Spengler, and CERA archives. Be sure to attend this most enjoyable evening!