This past Saturday, we hosted not one, but two major events. The first was a charter with the Central Electric Railfans' Association (CERA), and the second was a performance by the Ballet Folklorico Huehuecoyotl group. Both events were well attended with many happy patrons.
Trolley lines across the USA facilitated many cultural events throughout their years operating. Just in the Chicago region, Ravinia was the brainchild of the A.C. Frost Company to lure Chicagoans to ride its fledgling Chicago and Milwaukee Electric Railroad to a respite in the woods, far from the heat and smells of a city known as the “hog butcher to the world". One hundred and fifteen years later, it is a premier cultural center for all genres of music for people living in the Chicago area.
Today, we still operate car 715, which once carried passengers to Ravinia. We are proud to continue the legacy of the North Shore Line and many other trolley lines that have long since ceased operating by providing rides to a new generation of cultural events.
Newly restored CA&E 458 with Fox River 304, juxtaposed with the vintage bus CERA chartered
Cars 304 and 458 at Blackhawk
CERA members boarding car 458
CERA members posed in front of car 458
Cars 40 and 43 ready to carry passengers down to Blackhawk for the ballet performance
Visitors enjoying the performance
