Route of the Electroliners – CERA Bulletin 107 is about the construction of the Skokie Valley Route and the history of the Chicago & North Shore Railroad from 1926 to its abandonment in 1963.  It is the definitive book on the history of the line.  The book is professionally written with maps, schematics and pictures.  The companion book “Interurban to Milwaukee” outlines the story about the line before 1926.

Service ended, early on the frigid morning of January 21, 1963. Route of the Electroliners – CERA Bulletin 107 tells the story of the railroad’s continued customary and excellent services as operator of the mass transportation link providing the most frequent service between Chicago and Milwaukee.  It was the only railroad that provided service from downtown Chicago’s commercial district to downtown Milwaukee’s commercial district.  The route included mile after mile of straight double track using 100-pound rail and think ballast.  Some of the main line was hilly street running in Milwaukee.  The line blended old, new and rebuilt interurban cars.  The most famous interurban equipment was the two 4 car streamliner type Electroliners. 

The publisher of the Route of the Electroliners – CERA Bulletin 107 is the Central Electric Railfan’s Association (CERA) was formed 1938. The CERA encourages the study of the history, equipment, and operations of urban, suburban, interurban and main line electric railways. This book is the 107th “Bulletin” published by the organization. A number of those publications are available on this site. Meetings are also held monthly by the organization in Chicago, IL. More information about the CERA and membership in the organization is available at www.cera-chicago.org/.

Route of the Electroliners – CERA Bulletin 107 is the history of the Skokie Valley Route of the Chicago and North Shore Railroad from its construction in 1926 to its demise in 1963.  If you are a railfan, interurban fan or Chicago area historical buff, you will love this book.