Education Through Demonstration

The Passing of Ed Tredup

Edward Tredup and his late wife Helen were not only neighbors to our railway but members of the museum as well.  He constructed an outbuilding which looks like a motorcar shed along our line at a place which he called “Woodcliff” after the street up on the bluff that parallels the Aurora Elgin and Fox River tracks.  He was a very supportive community member and a collector of railroad hardware of all kinds, from switch stands, concrete markers, crossing signals and signs which line the path from the river up to his house.  His mailbox up on Woodcliff Drive is a representation of our CA&E car 20.  We assisted him in getting a motorcar and a push car, the latter which he converted into a picnic table.  He always decorated the shed area at Halloween and Christmas and was very kind in letting our “Rails to Victory” World War II re-enactors stage scenes at Woodcliff.  Our conductors always point out his yard as our trolleys head down to Blackhawk station in the Jon Duerr Forest Preserve and should we catch him outside we would always exchange waves.  My personal fondest memory was being able to show he and Helen our AE&FR car 304 shortly after it arrived at the museum and not long before she passed away.  Until I read his death notice I did not know that he was born in Dundee about the time 304 was being assembled by the St. Louis Car Company.  Perhaps he rode our line as a young boy which may account in part for his interest in all things historic.  May he rest in peace and we will always cherish his support and encouragement of our endeavors along the Fox River.

Edward Tredup Memory

Joseph Hazinski – Curator   Fox River Trolley Museum

Opening Day