C&JE: Chicago & Joliet Electric Railway

BRHS posted
A southbound Chicago & Joliet Electric Railway Company interurban car passes through downtown Lockport as it travels from the southwest side of Chicago to downtown Joliet back in 1915.

ChicagoRailfan

C&JE was the Chicago & Joliet Electric interurban. I originally researched it when I tried to determine if the Asian Carp barrier and power line ran along an abandoned interurban right-of-way.

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But the only interurban route I could find in the Lemont area was the C&JE, which was south of the Sanitary and Ship Canal. The Asian Carp barrier is north of the canal.

Bill Molony mentioned in a comment that today's New Avenue uses the C&JE RoW.

Their car barn, substation and yard was in Bedford Park, IL.

Like many other electric interurban railways, the C&JE built a park to create ridership on the weekends. Several companies would hold their annual company picnic at this park. The park still exists in Lockport, IL; but I skipped the playground areas and focused on the Dellwood Dam that they had built to create a recreational lake.

BRHS posted two photos with the comment: "This is a map of the Chicago & Joliet Electric Railway Company, along with the service it provided back in 1915."

Dennis DeBruler Dellwood Park in Lockport is a remnant of the amusement park that C&JE built to generate weekend traffic. Building an amusement park was a common practice for interurban companies. Companies such as the EJ&E would hold annual picnics for their employees at the park. The dam still stands, but rectangular holes have been cut in it so that there is no longer a lake in the park.
http://www.lockporthistory.org/dellwoodpark/dellwoodpark.htm

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Bill Molony commented on one of his postings
Here's a map of the C&JE between Chicago and Joliet.
Bill Molony posted again
The Chicago & Joliet Electric Railway Company provided electric interurban train service between Chicago and Joliet, beginning on September 25, 1901 and ending on November 16, 1933.
Bill Molony posted
John Eagan: Many of their distinctive electric towers can still be found along the right of way. Others were appropriated by Material Service and used as “mobile” towers in the Thornton Quarry that could be moved as quarrying operations progressed.
Steve Rippeteau: During the time I worked as trainman/conductor on the ATSF IL Div. (1965-2007) there was an old building just south of Joliet Union Station on the west side, near 4th Ave. that looked like a freight house and/or car barn. It had the faded painted lettering of “Chicago & Joliet Electric”. I might have snapped a photo of it some 40 years ago? But it is buried in 1,000s of slides. Bill Molony now that you have shown interest in this obscure interurban line I’ll have to watch for that snap shot.
So the C&JE must have had a street level station at JUS then ran parallel and between the ATSF and C&A north and NE to Archer? I always wondered where it ran until later I came across info that showed a connection to what became the CTA at Cicero Ave., but never knew it ran all the way downtown Chicago. Amazing! Thanks for sharing!
Roman Keating: You can still see the West [Arm] of the South Fork of the Chicago River on this map! That was used as the Chicago Portage route!! Rail history and explorer history on one map!
Bill McCourt: Hey Bill, thanks for sharing this important map. The CJ&E has been a long overlooked/forgotten last link to connect the CO&P to its final destination of Chicago, albeit a link to the subway train to the loop at the 69th Street and Archer terminus. I have enjoyed your pamphlet on this line.
Phil Waleski: Any idea of the approximate year of the map?
Mike Osuchowski: Phil Waleski Probably before 1924. The branch from Spring Valley to Ladd iwas abandoned n 1924. Since Ladd is still listed as a destination the map must be before 1924. Additionally, the CO&P did not reach Joliet until 1912.....So between 1912 and 1924.
Bill McCourt: This was the last link from Princeton to Chicago of the CO&P.
Sean Muno shared
Peter Zimmermann: Operations from Lockport to Chicago ended on November 16th, 1933. Rest of the line into Joliet and the Joliet city trackage was abandoned on August 31st, 1934.
BRHS posted

Brian Morgan commented on BHRS post
Outbound along Archer Avenue heading towards Joliet.
Jeff Lewis: Whose track is on the left side of the image?
Brian A Morgan: Jeff Lewis. This is before Archer Avenue was widened to four lanes. Both tracks are C.J.&.E. the view of the Mc Guire Cummins car is the Southbound track to Joliet. The other is the Northbound to Chicago. The Chicago and Joliet operated on both sides of Archer Avenue.

Bill Molony posted

Ken Rehor commented on Bill's posting
 I drew this over the Google Maps aerial view based on several descriptions I found online.

Bill Molony posted
The Chicago & Joliet Electric Railway did not actually run into downtown Chicago. Instead, they shared a depot with the Chicago Surface Lines on the southwest corner of Archer Avenue and Cicero Avenue.
Through passengers traveling between Joliet and points in Chicago had to change cars at this location.
From the Blackhawk collection.
Steve Rippeteau: Bill Molony does anyone know when the C&JE ended this service? I recall the CTA bus turn around for the Archer line on this corner. There was a restaurant near this stop where we used to eat on our layovers in Chicago. This answers one of my questions in your previous post with the full C&JE map. Thanks!
Bill Molony: The Lyons branch closed on November 9th, 1932. The Argo-Lockport segment halted on September 30th, 1933 (due to Archer Avenue construction work). The Argo local cars halted on January 17th, 1934, and the last section finally quit in Joliet on July 31, 1934.
Steven Holding: There was a produce stand in the depot and people would ride out the Surface Line to shop the produce being brought in from the Ill Valley via CO&P and the C&JE.

Brian Berthold posted two images with the comment: "Chicago where the Chicago Joliet Electric and the Chicago Street car system met on Archer Ave."

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Here is a photo of a car on the turnaround.

Bill Molony posted

Chicago & Joliet Electric Railway Company car #242 was one of four (240-243) lightweight interurban cars built by the Cummins Car & Coach Company of Paris, Illinois in 1927.

These four cars remained in service until 1933, when the C&JE discontinued service between Chicago and Joliet.

Photographer and location unknown - circa 1930.

From the Blackhawk collection.

Steven Holding: Ran a pool operation with CO&P with these cars and the St. Louis 60' to Starved Rock in Limited Service from Archer Ave Terminal

Don Wagoner: Was not aware of Paris having this manufacturing facility. What did it become. Midwest Truck Bed was in Paris

Joel Stirek: Don Wagoner yes it was where Midwest truck bed was located today it's Milk Specialties Global.