Press Release
Event Date:
July 9, 2018
For further information contact Mary Chrastil, 260-982-0672
nmhistory@cinergymetro.net
South Shore Railroad Featured at NM Historical
Society
The North Manchester Historical Society’s July program presents the video
Riding the Rails of History:
The Story of the South Shore Line.
The 2016 video was produced by the Lake County Historical Society and
has been shown on Public Television stations in Northwest Indiana.
The program will be held in the Assembly Room at Timbercrest Retirement Center,
2201 East Street, at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, July 9.
NM Historical Society President Mary Chrastil suggests that “Everyone has
either ridden the South Shore to Chicago, or always wanted to ride it.”
Chrastil grew up in Lake County and remembers taking the South Shore to
see the Christmas window displays at Marshall Field’s and to visit the Field
Museum, the Museum of Science and Industry, and the Chicago Aquarium.
Today, Cubs fans fill the cars on home game days.
The South Shore is America’s last electric interurban
railroad. It has survived the
challenges such as the advent of the automobile that devastated once-popular
interurban lines. It remains an
important economic engine to communities from Chicago to South Bend, serving
thousands of commuters daily. It
has transported Indiana workers and shoppers to the Loop, and brings Chicago
residents to popular Indiana attractions such as the Indiana Dunes and Notre
Dame football games. The railroad
has experienced renewed popularity with environmentalists as a railroad powered
by renewable energy.
Although successful today, the South Shore had numerous
challenges and many times barely survived.
Its story is one of vision, luck, and community support.
The program is open to the public at no cost and will be enjoyable for
audiences of all ages. Come to see
this quality production and learn the fascinating story of a truly unique
enterprise that has earned a special place in the hearts of all railroad fans
and the people it serves.