These images from negatives are available thanks to Art Peterson. He is the curator of the Krambles-Peterson Archive which contains a wealth of historical photos from Chicago transit. Art has generously allowed us to share some of the images from the archive. When available, he has also provided dates, locations, photographers, background/historical information on the photos. Thanks so much Art!!
Some background on the images in this section: Chicago Surface Lines' practice was for each carbarn clerk to have a camera and film on hand to record cars that were involved in accidents/incidents. These could have been very minor incidents, so there would be no apparent damage to the car.
Unfortunately, many of these negatives (the bulk are 4x5 negs, though there were some barns that had smaller format cameras at one time or another) were shot and developed without receiving any back-up data on them (why or when the photo was taken). Another limitation is that not every clerk was skilled at shooting these images, so there were some that were taken under less-than-ideal conditions.
Due to the massive volume of these negatives, retention of them by Chicago Transit Authority was out of the question. Knowing that George Krambles and Bill Janssen were fans, they were alerted to when disposals were scheduled at West Shops. CTA had the foresight to let them take what they wanted prior to disposal.
KPp0097 - Chicago Surface Lines #3220 - East end of Washington Street Tunnel - 05/08/1932
On Sunday, May 8, 1932, Bob Mehlenbeck caught #3220 at the end of its climb out of the east end of the Washington Street tunnel. This east grade was a sustained 10% over a distance of 607 feet. Waiting for the light to change at Franklin Street, the structure behind the car is the Market Street Stub.
KPp0098 - Chicago Surface Lines #3224 - Armitage near Stave - Undated
Those handsome MU cars - the clerk has photographed #3224 sitting on the Armitage Avenue tracks near Stave. Around the time of this photo, Armitage was putting out 105 MU cars for Milwaukee Avenue rush hour service. Received and placed in service on November 8, 1924, #3224 went to scrap on January 7, 1952.
KPp0099 - Chicago Surface Lines #3238 - Cottage Grove - c1934
An interesting combination of shade and light are captured in this view of #3238 (one of the Lightweight-Noiseless-built MU cars) sitting on the track fronting on Cottage Grove circa 1934. Operation of the 43rd-Root line using one-man cars had begun on August 7, 1932. As of 1934, the line required eight cars to meet schedule requirements.
KPp0100 - Chicago Surface Lines #3241 - Milwaukee & Imlay Loop - 03/28/1930
Milwaukee Avenue extension cars began using the Imlay terminal from September 1927. This operation was superseded by the through-routing of the "mainline" Milwaukee Avenue service to/from Imlay on October 1, 1927. Bob Mehlenbeck photographed #3241 in the terminal on Friday, March 28, 1930.
KPp0101 - Chicago Surface Lines #3317 - Eastbound on 71st at Western - c1933
In another of the great scenes recorded by CSL using a tower truck, the photographer has focused on the Cummings-built #3317 pausing eastbound on 71st at Western circa 1933. Use of one-man cars on the 67th-69th-71st line had commenced August 14, 1932. Twenty-five cars (from 69th barn) were required to meet schedule requirements on this line.
KPp0102 - Chicago Surface Lines #3320 - Lincoln Carhouse - c04/1928
During 1928 CSL arranged with the artisans in the Silverware Manufacturing Division of Marshall Field's to build a 1/16th-scale sterling silver MU car to serve as the Accident Prevention Champion's Trophy. Field's required 10 weeks to finish the highly-detailed model, including working with a New Jersey-based firm to supply the 2,000 sterling silver rivets required for the model. Lincoln Barn was the first winner of the trophy, having posted the lowest accident rate for all 12 months of 1927.