CTA Surface System History presented by the Illinois Railway Museum

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These photos are available thanks to the Strahorn Library and Museum Volunteer Joe Stupar's time spent scanning them.

The photo captions are taken from information written on the slides/photos and/or from research and are enhanced by a spreadsheet that contain additional information, provided via Joe Stupar. The numbers preceding the captions are simply inventory numbers and can be ignored.

Due to concerns expressed by some about rampant piracy of photos on the internet, restrictions have been placed on posting photos from the Museum's collection here. The requirements set forth state that they must be low res and watermarked. We apologize to the vast majority of our patrons who only use this site as intended, for personal enjoyment and information gathering.



Section 24 - Advertising Billboards




1-Billboard, America's Fastest to Milwaukee-Racine-Kenosha, possibly with moving train in it. Locations Chicago & Milwaukee - 1932 (NSL Photo)




2-Billboard, Boardwalk and Madison Ave, Atlantic City, steel highways are always open. Train on bridge over traffic. - No Date (NSL Photo)




3-Billboard on building, possibly along Milwaukee street running. "We'll put you on the Century", Eastern Limited, trains for New York, Albany, Worcester, Boston - No Date (NSL Photo)




3a-Closeup of previous photo (#3-Billboard on building, possibly along Milwaukee street running. "We'll put you on the Century", Eastern Limited, trains for New York, Albany, Worcester, Boston) - No Date (NSL Photo)




4-Billboard on building, possibly along Milwaukee street running. 9:55am, NSL train connecting with 20th Century / Broadway Limited. Milwaukee - Grand Ave & Blue Mound Rd, Eighth & Grand Ave. - No Date (NSL Photo)




4a-Closeup of previous photo (#4-Billboard on building, possibly along Milwaukee street running. 9:55a, NSL train connecting with 20th Century / Broadway Limited. Milwaukee - Grand Ave & Blue Mound Rd, Eighth & Grand Ave.) - No Date (NSL Photo)




5-Billboard on building, Ride and Dine to Chicago on North Shore Line - No Date (NSL Photo)




6-Billboard on building, Ride and Dine to Chicago on North Shore Line, Terminal station 1 block south Sixth & Sycamore - No Date (NSL Photo)




7-Billboard on building side, If you like good food, visit North Shore Terminal Restaurant - No Date (NSL Photo)




8-Billboard, Opposite Hein Pier, Atlantic City. Steel Highways are always open - No Date (NSL Photo)




8a-Closeup of previous photo (#8-Billboard, Opposite Hein Pier, Atlantic City. Steel Highways are always open) - No Date (NSL Photo)




9-Billboard, Walk and New Hampshire, Atlantic City, Steel Highways are always open, go carefree way - No Date (NSL Photo)




9a-Closeup of previous photo (#9-Billboard, Walk and New Hampshire, Atlantic City, Steel Highways are always open, go carefree way) - No Date (NSL Photo)




10-Texas and Boardwalk, Atlantic City, steel highways are always open - No Date (NSL Photo)




10a-Closeup of previous photo (#10-Texas and Boardwalk, Atlantic City, steel highways are always open) - No Date (NSL Photo)




11-Opposite Young's Million Dollar Pier (Two Posters) Atlantic City. Steel highways are always open - No Date (NSL Photo)




11a-Closeup of previous photo (#11- Opposite Young's Million Dollar Pier (Two Posters) Atlantic City. Steel highways are always open) - No Date (NSL Photo)




12-Walk and seaside, Atlantic City, steel highways are always open - No Date (NSL Photo)




12a-Closeup of previous photo (#12-Walk and seaside, Atlantic City, steel highways are always open) - No Date (NSL Photo)




13-Opposite steel pier, Atlantic City, steel highways are always open - No Date (NSL Photo)




13a-Closeup of previous photo (#13-Opposite steel pier, Atlantic City, steel highways are always open) - No Date (NSL Photo)




14-Billboard, did you ever travel 80mph? Possibly in Chicago, has address 209 S. Wabash station - No Date (NSL Photo)




15-Merchandise Despatch billboard. MD receiving stations, 4 in Chicago, 2 in Milwaukee. Waukegan & Dundee? McKeon Rd So of Kenosha? - 1923-03 (NSL Photo)




16-Billboard, Chicago/Milwaukee and intermediate points. Milwaukee & Dempster, Sheridan Rd North of Waukegan, Racine North limits - Mar 1923 (NSL Photo)




18-Billboard, 2 hours 10 Min Milwaukee to Chicago - No Date (NSL Photo)




19-Large billboard with train schedules painted on brick side of building, facing Wilson (Uptown) station - No Date (NSL Photo)




20-Billboard, Like a blue streak to Milwaukee. Crawford (Pulaski) & Washington (around 36S Pulaski) - No Date (NSL Photo)




21-Arrow and Bullseye billboard, Direct to Wauk Kenosha Racine Milwaukee. Austin & Wells 'L' - 10/1927 (NSL Photo)




22-Billboard, "I can be there in no time, Milwaukee direct" Crawford (Pulaski) & Washington. Both displays painted - 04/1931 (NSL Photo)




23-Billboard, "Plan your vacation now, 46 trains daily, Lake Geneva and Wisconsin Resorts." - No Date (NSL Photo)




24-Billboard "On Time in any weather" train in storm. Crawford (Pulaski) & Washington - No Date (NSL Photo)




25-Billboard "With the speed of the wind, bird". 541 N. Michigan Chicago - No Date (NSL Photo)




26-Billboard "TUT today would use NSL, King TUT". 541 N. Michigan Chicago, East side of street, View North - No Date (NSL Photo)




27-View of large billboard on brick at Wilson, Uptown - No Date (NSL Photo)




28-Billboard "GO NSL, traffic light". Crawford (Pulaski) & Washington - No Date (NSL Photo)




29-Billboard "Steel highways are always open!" - No Date (NSL Photo)




30-Billboard "You'll make better time on the Electric", SSL cars in snow, all Insull Lines - No Date (NSL Photo)




31-Billboard "Steel highways are always open!" - No Date (NSL Photo)




32-Billboard "Steel highways are always open!", appears to be near West shop building on Met 'L' - No Date (NSL Photo)




33-Billboard "Beautiful Wisconsin Lakes Region & Northern Michigan Resorts" - No Date (NSL Photo)




34-Large billboard with criers "North Gateway to Skokie Valley Route", appears to be along 176-Rockland Rd, inside South Upton Wye - No Date (NSL Photo)




35-Billboards John M Smyth and Gas company. Western & Bro. - 06/11/1928 (NSL Photo)




36-Standard station at Crawford (Pulaski) & Washington, "Chicago to Milwaukee and intermediate points" and "Field Museum by CRT" - No Date (NSL Photo)




36a-Closeup of previous photo (#36-Standard station at Crawford (Pulaski) & Washington, "Chicago to Milwaukee and intermediate points") - No Date (NSL Photo)




37-Billboard, "Every hour, limited trains to Milw, clock." Crawford (Pulaski) & Washington - No Date (NSL Photo)




38-Billboard, "Direct to Waukegan Kenosha Racine Milwaukee." Crawford (Pulaski) & Washington - No Date (NSL Photo)




39-Billboard, "Direct to Milwaukee and Wisconsin Lake Resorts, obs car train". Near West Shops on MET 'L' - No Date (NSL Photo)




40-North Shore train schedule on brick wall, before Skokie Valley Division, trains from 63rd & Dorchester, advertises Motor Coach service - No Date (NSL Photo)




41-Billboard, "Milwaukee invites you, bathing beauty". 541 N. Michigan in Chicago, Summer Paint - 1924 (NSL Photo)




42-Billboard, "NSL to Milwaukee, bow and arrow." 541 N. Michigan in Chicago - No Date (NSL Photo)




43-Billboard, "NSL to Milwaukee, train racing plane." 541 N. Michigan in Chicago - No Date (NSL Photo)




44-Billboard, "Direct to Chicago, Milwaukee, and intermediate points" - No Date (NSL Photo)




45-Billboard on building, "Did you ever travel 80mph." Chicago, has Chicago terminal address - No Date (NSL Photo)




46-Billboard, Direct to Chicago, Milwaukee, obs train going into Bullseye - No Date (NSL Photo)




47-Billboard, Every hour to Milwaukee, steel highways are always open. Moving train in billboard? - No Date (NSL Photo)




48-Billboard, "Skokie Valley Route now open, faster time" and "Fast Reliable CRT". Crawford (Pulaski) & Washington. - No Date (NSL Photo)




48a-Closeup of previous photo (#48-Billboard, "Skokie Valley Route now open, faster time" and "Fast Reliable CRT". Crawford (Pulaski) & Washington) - No Date (NSL Photo)




49-Billboard, Steel Highways are always open - carefree. Crawford (Pulaski) & Washington - No Date (NSL Photo)




50-Billboard, "In a Hurry_anytime. Jack-rabbit". Moving train in billboard? - No Date (NSL Photo)




51-Billboard, "Business Men - Is Milwaukee on your list, use NSL, 46 trains daily." Normal Ave & Rock Island (could be near 75-77th St and RI tracks?) - No Date (NSL Photo)




52-Billboard, "Through the beautiful Skokie Valley", Austin & Wells, repaint - 04/10/1928 (NSL Photo)




53-Ad for modernized cars, includes interior photo - No Date (NSL Photo)




54-Billboard exhibit, mock up of ride/dine to Milwaukee - No Date (NSL Photo)




55-NSL exhibit, with trophy and model train layout - No Date (NSL Photo)




56-Go NSL, modernized cars ad - No Date (NSL Photo)




57-Photo of Electroliner at Milwaukee when new, with people on station platform - 02/1941 (NSL Photo)




58-Building with lit sign near roof, "Welcome Electroliners" - 02/1941 (NSL Photo)




59-Display in front window of Boston Store, Milwaukee, of Electroliners. Four windows - 02/06-09/1941 (NSL Photo)




60-TM Streetcar #760, with ad on dash "Ride electroliners to Chicago". This sign was on 400 Milwaukee streetcars for 2 weeks - 02/08-21/1941 (NSL Photo)




61-Display in front window of JC Penney, smart luggage and Electroliner photos. Two windows - 02/05-09/1941 (NSL Photo)




62-Display in front window of Gimbels, Electroliners - 02/06-09/1941 (NSL Photo)




63-Display in window of McKane-Lins Luggage shop, luggage and Electroliners - 02/06-09/1941 (NSL Photo)




64-Display in luggage dept of Chapmans, electroliner photos - 02/06-12/1941 (NSL Photo)




Go Directly to Section 25 - Howard St (13 photos)

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