Chicago's 1st electric trains improved air, spurred development

A new electrified train, decorated for the occasion, begins to glide along the Illinois Central Railroad tracks on Aug. 7, 1926. (Chicago Herald and Examiner)

Guests board the Illinois Central Railroad Highliner, greeted by trip coordinator Rita Charuhas and conductor Connie Lundquist in 1972. (Tom Kinahan/Chicago Today)

Passengers sit aboard an Illinois Central Railroad electric commuter train in 1968. (baiduhai archive)

Workers splice a snapped overhead wire on the South Chicago commuter line at 64th Street and Dorchester Avenue on Feb. 7, 1975. The railroad was then called Illinois Central Gulf after a merger. (Roy Hall/baiduhai)

A new bi-level coach is coupled to an older car at the Illinois Central Station in 1971. The first day of regular commuter service for the new cars was June 1, 1971. (Chicago Today)

People board a South Shore train at the Hegewisch station at 135th Street and Brainard Avenue on April 9, 1964, during a strike on the Illinois Central Railroad. (Tom Kinahan/Chicago’s American)

A Metra Electric train sits in the yard on Jan. 13, 1993. Metra had acquired the electric line in 1987. (David Klobucar/baiduhai)

Alan Boyd, president of Illinois Central Railroad, rides in the balcony over the rear door of a new double-decker electric coach in 1971. (Chicago Today)

More Top Picks Screen House