BusTalk

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All:

Here you will find much information, photos, and rosters regarding the 1926 Cardinal's train, that carried Catholic dignataries from New York to Chicago.

This unique train utilized both electric and steam power, and, hard as it is to imagine today, carried an all-Catholic crew.

Note, also, the specially-decorated CNS&M interurban train.

This was a magnificent train with a most interesting story.....

"NYO"

https://www.themetrains.com/cardinals-train-main.htm

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Photo galleries......

https://www.themetrains.com/cardinals-train-galleries.htm

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The "Cardinal's Train" has also been replicated in both tinplate and scale model form......

https://www.themetrains.com/cardinals-train-memorabilia.htm

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Timeline......

https://www.themetrains.com/cardinals-train-timeline.htm

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"When 800,000 Prayed At Mundelein"

Many rare and fascinating old photos of this spectacular event are found here; be sure to note the photo showing a CNS&M special.....

https://usml.edu/xxviii-international-eucharistic-congress-when-800000-people-prayed-at-mundelein/

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"A TRANSPORTATION MIRACLE"........

https://www.transportation.northwestern.edu/docs/2016/carlson-flyer.pdf

Truly mind-boggling to read of the tremendous, massive amount of manpower and rides provided by the CSL, CRT, and the Insull lines, for the 1926 Eucharistic Convention at Chicago......

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Also of interest:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/28th_International_Eucharistic_Congress

During the events held within Chicago, just think of the many thousands who jammed CSL streetcars and CRT El trains to attend.....

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Mention must also be made of CRT El car #2756, which, at the 1926 Eucharistic Convention, was used to provide emergency medical care at Mundelein.

Here, the car was parked on one of the special sidings built for the Convention (utilizing third rail)

Interestingly, this handsome wooden electric car was originally built as a funeral car (primarily for use on the CA&E), equipped with a casket compartment, stained glass windows, and ice-water coolers.

In 1926, #2756 was converted into a medical car; in this capacity, equipped with the latest medical equipment (including telephones) it served the CRT/CTA/CA&E/CNS&M until 1952.....

"NYO"

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Scroll down the page to view a few rare photos (as well as a map) showing the funeral cars used on the "L" in Chicago; the last such service ran in 1934.......

https://chicagoandcookcountycemeteries.com/2017/08/22/funeral-trains-serving-the-cemeteries/

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See also.....

www.greatthirdrail.org/stations/mt_carmel/mtcarmel.html

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Throughout the years, many decades ago, it was not at all uncommon for street railway companies to offer trolley hearse services.

Chicago had the distinction of being the only city utilizing elevateds that ever provided such services (New York, oddly enough, never utilized funeral cars on the street railways, nor the elevated lines)

However, in Brooklyn, many once rode the streetcars (also the els/subways) out to a cemetery to pay their respects.

Many church organizations once chartered streetcars, interurbans, and rapid-transit trains for Sunday School picnics, feast day celebrations, and other such outings.

Given that the mundane, comonplace electric railways of so long ago were so thoroughly ingrained into the daily lives of so many millions, back in the day, it is not at all unusual that such services were once provided.....

"NYO"

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As I had mentioned earlier, streetcar hearses were commonplace in many US cities at the turn of the 20th Century; this somber photo was taken in Everett, Washington, about 1920.............

http://www.newdavesrailpix.com/odds/wa/htm/elp01.htm

(courtesy: davesrailpix)

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Here's a photo gallery highlighting the handsomely restored trolley funeral car, "DESCANSO".........

https://www.pbase.com/franklan/descanso_trolley_funeral_car

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See also:

www.pacificrailroadsociety.org/PRS_Descanso_Funeral_Car.html

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...........when streetcar funeral car services ended on various systems, the funeral cars themselves were either completely refurbished, repainted, and renumbered, and then re-entered service as a conventional revenue car.

Or, on the other hand, the cars were either converted into work cars, or, had their trucks and electrical gear removed, and then used as tool sheds, etc.........

"NYO"