New York Central commuter trains to Englwood, Chesterton

Here's an interesting schedule for New York Central suburban trains from Chicago to Englewood, Gary, and Chesterton. There don't seem to be many trains offered. What became of this service? When did it come off?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ottomatic77/4941315251/

Otto, I don't think this service last too long after the timetable dated in 1954. I will try to check sometime later on. I have
at least one timetable in my collection showing this operation as well.
Noel Weaver

My November, 1956 Official Guide still lists three E/B and two W/B trains a day serving Chesterton, IN for commuters.

That was the remnant of a once extensive service that served 3 functions:
A. Double-daily all stops locals to Toledo;
B. Regular commute into Chicago; and
C. Commute service timed for the shift changes at the steel mills.

By November, 1962 the Official Guide showed 3 eastbound trains and 2 westbound trains stopping at Chesterton, Indiana.
One of the eastbound trains stopped only on signal to discharge passengers and the others in both directions were apparently
rush hour locals westbound in the morning and eastbound in the afternoon. The eastbounds ran from Elkhart to Chicago while the westbounds ran one train from Elkhart and the other from Toledo. The remaining train was the eastbound
Chicagoan which stopped on signal to discharge passengers and probably was provided for commuters who either had to
work late or decided to have a late dinner in Chicago before returning home.
The April, 1956 guide also shows trains stopping at Chesterton but even then they did not originate nor terminate there.
From what I can find Chesterton, Ind. ceased to be a stop sometime between 1963 and 1965.
I have a commuter timetable for this territory dated May 1. 1944 (form 219) but right now I am unable to locate it. Like
other things, it will turn up sometime when I am looking for something else.\
Noel Weaver

Talk about while looking for something else--I was looking through the chronology on the PRRT&HS website (for something else) and found a reference to the NYC Chicago-Elkhart service ending on March 31, 1964.

From the Western Division Emp. TT of 9/27/53:

#708 - Dp. 7:10AM - all stops to Elkhart

#741 - Dp. 6AM - All stops to La Salle St. Stn.


#758/754 @ 6:30AM, #744 @ 4:40PM, #716 @ 5:30PM La Salle St. to Chesterton
#762 @ 10:15PM La Salle St. to Gary
#764 @ 12:25AM, #756 @ 8:20AM Whiting to Chesterton

#753 @ 6:25AM, #761/767 @ 10:30PM, #763 @ 11:45PM Chesterton to La Salle St.
#757/759 @ 2PM Chesterton to Whiting
#773 @ 4:35PM Gary to La Salle St.

Local stations were Englewood - Park Manor - 71st St. - South Chicago - East Side - Robertsdale - Whiting - Mahoning - Indiana Harbor - Buffington - Pine - Curtis - Kirk Yard - Gary - Millers - Ogden Dunes - Dune Park - Porter - Chesterton

All except #708 & #741 were gone by the 4-29-56 timetable.

shlustig wrote:From the Western Division Emp. TT of 9/27/53:

#708 - Dp. 7:10AM - all stops to Elkhart

#741 - Dp. 6AM - All stops to La Salle St. Stn.


#758/754 @ 6:30AM, #744 @ 4:40PM, #716 @ 5:30PM La Salle St. to Chesterton
#762 @ 10:15PM La Salle St. to Gary
#764 @ 12:25AM, #756 @ 8:20AM Whiting to Chesterton

#753 @ 6:25AM, #761/767 @ 10:30PM, #763 @ 11:45PM Chesterton to La Salle St.
#757/759 @ 2PM Chesterton to Whiting
#773 @ 4:35PM Gary to La Salle St.

Local stations were Englewood - Park Manor - 71st St. - South Chicago - East Side - Robertsdale - Whiting - Mahoning - Indiana Harbor - Buffington - Pine - Curtis - Kirk Yard - Gary - Millers - Ogden Dunes - Dune Park - Porter - Chesterton

All except #708 & #741 were gone by the 4-29-56 timetable.

Thank you for this, I guess I should have know that at least some of this service would not appear in the Official Guides of
the period. I am still hunting for the one local timetable that I have covering this operation, at least my inventory shows
one in my collection.
Noel Weaver

Thanks everyone for the information. I'm hoping to write an article in the future reviewing New York Central suburban services...

-otto-