CTA Surface System History presented by the Illinois Railway Museum

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IRM has been the recipient of many large collections of photos and slides. One of the largest collections we have received was the late Steve Scalzo's, graciously donated by his wife Kimberly. Her wish to have them available for everyone to enjoy dovetails with the goal of this website nicely. Mr. Scalzo was pretty detailed in his labeling of the slides, so there will be dates and locations on most of the photos.

The CSL and NSL photos from the Strahorn Library Collection are available thanks to the incredible amount of organizing and scanning time put in by Museum volunteer and former President Joe Stupar.

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.

This section of the website will constantly be added to as the Museum's collection contains an incredible number of photos and slides. As more slides and photographs are scanned, donwsized and watermarked, they will be posted here.

The photo captions are taken from information written on the slides/photos and/or from research. The numbers preceding the captions are simply inventory numbers and can be ignored. There may be duplicates since we are using the section designations, order and numbering system as it was when the photos were donated to us. When we notice a duplicate, we remove it.

PLEASE NOTE: The Museum has been the recipient of generous donations of many thousands of photos & slides. We realize that not every single one is diligently marked. When provided on the photo/slide, we will give credit to the photographer and/or previous owner. If the photo is marked "Reproduction Prohibited", we will not post it. We have always asked that you respect the documents/photos in our collection, we fully intend to do the same and will not proliferate the unauthorized sharing of photographs. Every photo on this site has been properly donated to the Museum. If by chance an unauthorized copy of a photo appears on this site, please let us know and we will remove it as soon as possible. Thank you for your understanding.



Photos from the Steve Scalzo Collection (from slides)

  • Steve Scalzo Photo Collection. CSL/CTA Streetcars - Page 1 (40 photos)
  • Steve Scalzo Photo Collection. CSL/CTA Streetcars - Page 2 (39 photos)
  • Steve Scalzo Photo Collection. CSL/CTA Streetcars - Page 3 (40 photos)
  • Steve Scalzo Photo Collection. CSL/CTA Streetcars - Page 4 (40 photos)
  • Steve Scalzo Photo Collection. CSL/CTA Streetcars - Page 5 (40 photos)

  • Steve Scalzo Photo Collection. CSL/CTA Streetcars - Page 6 (40 photos)
  • Steve Scalzo Photo Collection. CSL/CTA Streetcars - Page 7 (40 photos)
  • Steve Scalzo Photo Collection. CSL/CTA Streetcars - Page 8 (40 photos)
  • Steve Scalzo Photo Collection. CSL/CTA Streetcars & Rapid Transit - Page 9 (38 photos)
  • Steve Scalzo Photo Collection. CTA Rapid Transit - Page 10 (40 photos - Singles/1-50)

  • Steve Scalzo Photo Collection. CTA Rapid Transit - Page 11 (40 photos - Singles/1-50)
  • Steve Scalzo Photo Collection. CTA Rapid Transit - Page 12 (40 photos - Singles/1-50 & 5000s/51-54)
  • Steve Scalzo Photo Collection. CTA Rapid Transit - Page 13 (40 photos - 5000s/51-54 & 2000s)
  • Steve Scalzo Photo Collection. CTA Rapid Transit - Page 14 (40 photos - 2000s)
  • Steve Scalzo Photo Collection. CTA Rapid Transit - Page 15 (40 photos - 2000s)

  • Steve Scalzo Photo Collection. CTA Rapid Transit - Page 16 (40 photos - 2000s & 2200s)
  • Steve Scalzo Photo Collection. CTA Rapid Transit - Page 17 (30 photos - 2200s & 2400s)
  • Steve Scalzo Photo Collection. CTA Rapid Transit - Page 18 (39 photos - 2400s, 2600s & 4000s)
  • Steve Scalzo Photo Collection. CTA Rapid Transit - Page 19 (40 photos - 4000s)
  • Steve Scalzo Photo Collection. CTA Rapid Transit - Page 20 (40 photos - 4000s)

  • Steve Scalzo Photo Collection. CTA Rapid Transit - Page 21 (40 photos - 4000s)
  • Steve Scalzo Photo Collection. CTA Rapid Transit - Page 22 (40 photos - 4000s & 6000s)
  • Steve Scalzo Photo Collection. CTA Rapid Transit - Page 23 (40 photos - 6000s)
  • Steve Scalzo Photo Collection. CTA Rapid Transit - Page 24 (40 photos - 6000s)
  • Steve Scalzo Photo Collection. CTA Rapid Transit - Page 25 (40 photos - 6000s)

  • Steve Scalzo Photo Collection. CTA Rapid Transit - Page 26 (40 photos - 6000s, SOAC & Work Equipment)
  • Steve Scalzo Photo Collection. CTA Rapid Transit - Page 27 (40 photos - Work Equipment)
  • Steve Scalzo Photo Collection. CTA Rapid Transit & Trolley Buses - Page 28 (40 photos - RT Work Equipment & TB Brills)
  • Steve Scalzo Photo Collection. CTA Trolley Buses - Page 29 (40 photos - Brills)
  • Steve Scalzo Photo Collection. CTA Trolley Buses - Page 30 (40 photos - Brills, Pullmans, St. Louies)

  • Steve Scalzo Photo Collection. CTA Trolley Buses - Page 31 (40 photos - St. Louies)
  • Steve Scalzo Photo Collection. CTA Trolley Buses - Page 32 (39 photos - St. Louies, Marmons)
  • Steve Scalzo Photo Collection. CTA Trolley Buses - Page 33 (40 photos - Marmons)
  • Steve Scalzo Photo Collection. CTA Trolley Buses - Page 34 (40 photos - Marmons)
  • Steve Scalzo Photo Collection. CTA Trolley Buses - Page 35 (40 photos - Marmons)


  • Photos from the Steve Scalzo Collection (from photographs)

  • Steve Scalzo Photo Collection. CTA Trolley Buses - Page 1 (40 photos)
  • Steve Scalzo Photo Collection. CTA Trolley Buses - Page 2 (40 photos)
  • Steve Scalzo Photo Collection. CTA Trolley Buses - Page 3 (40 photos)
  • Steve Scalzo Photo Collection. CTA Trolley Buses - Page 4 (40 photos)
  • Steve Scalzo Photo Collection. CTA Trolley Buses - Page 5 (14 photos)


  • CTA Trolley Bus Photos from the R. Hill Collection

  • CTA Trolley Buses - Page 1 (40 photos)
  • CTA Trolley Buses - Page 2 (40 photos)
  • CTA Trolley Buses - Page 3 (40 photos)

  • CTA Trolley Buses - Page 4 (40 photos)
  • CTA Trolley Buses - Page 5 (40 photos)
  • CTA Trolley Buses - Page 6 (40 photos)


  • CSL Photos from the Museum's Collection

  • CSL Motor Buses (26 photos)
  • CSL Trolley Buses (10 photos)

  • CSL Streetcars - Roster Shots (65 photos)

  • CSL Streetcars - Heavy Passenger Loading Points (48 photos)

  • CSL Car Houses (47 photos)

  • CSL Substations (15 photos)

  • CSL Work Equipment - Part 1 (46 photos)
  • CSL Work Equipment - Part 2 (46 photos)

  • CSL Support Equipment - Part 1 (38 photos)
  • CSL Support Equipment - Part 2 (38 photos)


  • "CTA Photo Collection" from the Museum's Collection

  • Streetcars - 101-700 Big Pullman (50 photos)
  • Streetcars - 701-750 Pressed Steel (10 photos)
  • Streetcars - 751-1100 Small Pullman (74 photos)
  • Streetcars - 1101-1423 St. Louis Car Co (35 photos)

  • Streetcars - 1424-28 & 4625-29 (1903) Brill (3 photos)
  • Streetcars - 1429-1505 (1899-1900) Chicago Union Traction (2 photos)
  • Streetcars - 1506-1720 (1911-12) Chicago Railways Co (22 photos)
  • Streetcars - 1721-1785 & 6155-6158 (1923) (16 photos)

  • CMC Rolling Stock Photos - Part 1 (46 photos)
  • CMC Rolling Stock Photos - Part 2 (40 photos)
  • CMC Rolling Stock Photos - Part 3 (32 photos)

  • CTA Trolley Bus Rolling Stock - Part 1 (32 photos)
  • CTA Trolley Bus Rolling Stock - Part 2 (40 photos)
  • CTA Trolley Bus Rolling Stock - Part 3 (33 photos)
  • CTA Trolley Bus Rolling Stock - Part 4 (31 photos)

  • CTA Trolley Bus Rolling Stock - Part 5 (30 photos)
  • CTA Trolley Bus Rolling Stock - Part 6 (41 photos)
  • CTA Trolley Bus Rolling Stock - Part 7 (14 photos)

  • CTA Motor Bus Rolling Stock - Part 1 (33 photos)
  • CTA Motor Bus Rolling Stock - Part 2 (40 photos)
  • CTA Motor Bus Rolling Stock - Part 3 (39 photos)


  • CTA Aerial Photographs of Rapid Transit System - 1992

  • Book 1 - North-South Route (138 pages)
  • Book 2 - West-Northwest Route (156 pages)
  • Book 3 - West-South/Ravenswood/Southwest Routes (186 pages)
  • Book 4 - Extensions (64 pages)
  • Book 5 - Facilities (54 pages)


  • NSL Photos from the Museum's Collection

  • NSL Photos from Glass Plates (51 photos)

  • NSL Skokie Valley Photos - Part 1a, Various Equipment/Buildings (64 photos)
  • NSL Skokie Valley Photos - Part 1b (58 photos)
  • NSL Skokie Valley Photos - Part 2a (50 photos)
  • NSL Skokie Valley Photos - Part 2b (50 photos)

  • NSL Skokie Valley Photos - Part 3a (50 photos)
  • NSL Skokie Valley Photos - Part 3b (50 photos)
  • NSL Skokie Valley Photos - Part 3c (45 photos)

  • NSL Skokie Valley Photos - Part 4a (49 photos)
  • NSL Skokie Valley Photos - Part 4b (49 photos)
  • NSL Skokie Valley Photos - Part 5a (44 photos)
  • NSL Skokie Valley Photos - Part 5b (44 photos)
  • NSL Skokie Valley Photos - Part 5c (43 photos)

  • NSL Skokie Valley Photos - Part 6a (45 photos)
  • NSL Skokie Valley Photos - Part 6b (45 photos)
  • NSL Skokie Valley Photos - Part 6c (45 photos)

  • NSL Skokie Valley Photos - Part 7a (50 photos)
  • NSL Skokie Valley Photos - Part 7b (50 photos)
  • NSL Skokie Valley Photos - Part 7c (48 photos)

  • NSL Skokie Valley Photos - Part 8a, Substations (50 photos)
  • NSL Skokie Valley Photos - Part 8b, Substations (45 photos)
  • NSL Skokie Valley Photos - Part 8c, Substations (45 photos)

  • North Shore Line Photos - Various Topics
    (Some Numbers are Skipped - Just the way the Storage File Structure is set up)

  • 01 - Miscellaneous Part 1 (22 photos)
  • 02 - Highwood Work (36 photos)
  • 03 - MD Stations (29 photos)
  • 04 - Eucharistic Congress (34 photos)

  • 05 - Safety Photos (46 photos)
  • 06 - Telephone Equipment (14 photos)
  • 07 - Miscellaneous Views of Fox Lake (12 photos)
  • 09 - Company Offices (13 photos)

  • 10 - Control Tower (4 photos)
  • 11 - Inaugural Air Service (13 photos)
  • 12 - War Activities (10 photos)
  • 13 - Evanston (9 photos)

  • 15 - Miscellaneous Lake Geneva Photos (6 photos)
  • 16 - Freight Locomotives (11 photos)
  • 17 - Lantern Slides (11 photos)
  • 19 - Car Washing Equipment (6 photos)

  • 21 - Concessions (17 photos)
  • 22 - Racine (19 photos)
  • 23 - Miscellaneous Part 2 (52 photos)
  • 24 - Advertising Billboards (73 photos)

  • 25 - Howard St (13 photos)
  • 26 - Wilson/Uptown Station (16 photos)
  • 27 - North Shore Views (7 photos)
  • 28 - Modernized Car Equipment (11 photos)

  • 29 - Interior-Exterior Mod Cars (15 photos)
  • 30 - Advertising, Photos & Displays (69 photos)
  • 31 - Miscellaneous Part 3 (53 photos)
  • 32 - Advertising Exhibits (40 photos)

  • 33 - Sky Harbor (4 photos)
  • 34 - Bridges (2 photos)
  • 35 - Roadbed Equipment (7 photos)
  • 36 - Electroliner Inaugural (21 photos)

  • 37 - Old Standard Equipment (17 photos)
  • 38 - Service Resumption Publicity (14 photos)
  • 39 - Electroliner Mechanical Equipment (7 photos)
  • 40 - Employees (59 photos)

  • 41 - Employee Activities (23 photos)
  • 42 - Miscellaneous Part 4 (46 photos)
  • 43 - Miscellaneous Part 5 (46 photos)
  • 44 - 1933 Report Photos (25 photos)

  • 46 - Industrial Organization (21 photos)
  • 47 - Electroliner Interior (21 photos)
  • 48 - Skokie Valley Opening (6 photos)
  • 49 - Howard-Dempster Line (23 photos)

  • 50 - Miscellaneous Construction Photos (15 photos)
  • 51 - Howard-Dempster Construction (18 photos)
  • 52 - Freight Service/Ferry Truck (24 photos)
  • 53 - Electroliner Exterior Photos (26 photos)

  • 54 - Merchandise Dispatch (10 photos)
  • 55 - Orin Schmidt Photos (39 photos)
  • 56 - Dempster Station (6 photos)
  • 57 - Freight Cars (6 photos)

  • 58/59/62 - Skokie Valley Construction (28 photos)
  • 60 - Glenayre (4 photos)
  • 61 - Niles Center Views (10 photos)
  • 63 - Electroliner Display Signs (10 photos)

  • 64 - Electroliner Advertising Material (7 photos)
  • 65 - Construction (3 photos)
  • 66 - Howard-Dempster Construction (6 photos)
  • 67 - Milwaukee Shelters (31 photos)
  • 69 - Miscellaneous Part 6 (2 photos)



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