Chicago, North Shore and Milwaukee Railroad Co. - 1935 dated Illinois Railway Stock Certificate

Orange. Western Bank Note & Eng. Co. Rare!

The Chicago, North Shore and Milwaukee Railroad, often remembered as the “North Shore Line,” was the premier interurban electric railway of the American Midwest. Originally established in the 1890s to connect the northern suburbs of Chicago, it underwent a significant expansion under the leadership of utility tycoon Samuel Insull in 1916. Unlike the typical slow-moving streetcars of the era, the North Shore Line was designed for speed and luxury, eventually connecting the downtown “Loop” of Chicago to the heart of Milwaukee. It gained fame for its high-speed operation on the Skokie Valley Route and its innovative “Electroliners”—streamlined, articulated trainsets that debuted in 1941, equipped with air conditioning and full dining service.

Despite its technical prowess and a reputation for being the “fastest interurban in the world,” the railroad faced numerous challenges after World War II. The rapid rise of the private automobile and the construction of the Edens Expressway and the Tri-State Tollway directly aligned with its tracks, leading to a decline in its passenger base. Additionally, the North Shore lacked the substantial freight revenue that sustained its sister line, the Chicago South Shore & South Bend. After years of financial losses and a bitter labor strike in the late 1940s, the North Shore Line officially ceased operations on January 21, 1963.

Today, sections of its right-of-way have been transformed into popular biking trails, while its iconic Electroliner sets are preserved at railway museums, serving as high-speed relics of a bygone era of electric transit.