Never knew there was so much history in the path that rode multiple times. The photographs that you have added, the artifacts, the animations where you showed the virtual platforms were in the past is just amazing! This is gold ! I will have a brand new perspective when I take my my bike out in few weeks. Thank you so much!
Thank you for watching and for the nice words, Avinash! Very much appreciated! Like you, we walked and rode the IPP for years, only having vague knowledge of it being a former trackway. When we started to notice and find some of the artifacts along the pathway, including the bridges and signal bases, etc, then we started to better visualize what the pathway was all about 100 years ago - and it made us want to learn more. It's interesting how many artifacts are still out there - some of them hiding in plain sight - others tucked away in the brush along the path.
Hi Brian and Joyce, the least favorite part for me of the Batavia spur is the most dangerous part. The IPP Batavia spur crossing at Rt. 56 Butterfield Road. I've spoken to the Kane County Board about this dangerous crossing to no avail for any safety improvements. There is no center island to wait for oncoming traffic to clear and there is not even a flashing signal (not that I would trust everyone to stop for flashing yellow lights). With oncoming traffic in both directions at posted 50mph crossing here during later afternoons takes patience. Kane County must improve the safety of this crossing!
Hi Chris, thanks for watching and commenting! Agreed, the Butterfield Crossing, Illinois Route 56, is one of the more dangerous crossings along the IPP. Hopefully, one day there will be a bridge or tunnel that can take cyclists and pedestrians back and forth across this very busy road.
Brian, Joyce, I've ridden all miles of the Prairie Path and Fox River Trail for years and never understood the rich history of the CAE railway. I never realized that so many artifacts still exist. Thank you once again for your time researching and putting together these videos. I've watched several and look forwarding to the remaining ones.
Thanks so much for watching and for your support, Ken. It means a great deal to us, especially coming from you, a longtime IPP user and IPP lead. We are very glad that many are going on this same journey - and doing some exploring for themselves, as there is indeed a great deal of history all along the IPP.
When I was in high school back in 1974 or 75, a friend and I hiked the Batavia branch. This was before the branch was developed into a trail. I remember jumping a few fences but the most daring part was sprinting across the toll road.
7:01 One of the wooden poles that held the overhead wire still stands at right (sticking out of the trees) When I went there last the braket was still in place. 12:03 Theres a wooden pole with a small lamp on it to the right, next to the path. It was part of the Glenwood Park stop. 16:00 The charcoal and wood platforms is still somewhat there, you can still find charcoal and wood beams in the ground here.
Thank you for documenting the Batavia Spur of the Chicago, Aurora & Elgin Railroad in this video! I enjoy all the history and vintage photos that you add to the video and narrative.
Wow what great info! I live right down Hart road and knew the bike trail ran on an old inter urban right of way but never realized there were so many stations along that spur! Thank you so much for the time and effort that went into the making of this video! Nice job!
I’ve been learning about The Aurora n’ Elgin for a few years now, as I had family that worked on the railroad. You guys had a lotta great info in this video!! Can’t wait to watch some of the others!
Thanks for the support, Joseph! And I'm sure that there is much that you could teach us about the CA&E line as well. We'll be posting at least a few more CA&E videos in the coming weeks.
@@BeHistoric hahaha! I’m sure there is, though there is plenty covered in this video I never knew before. Next time you guys take the trail, keep an eye out for these remnants: at 7:00 on your right hand side, there is a post sticking out of some trees. That is from an overhead trolley wire post that kept the wire in place. Sadly, I believe the piece the held the wire in place was removed or fell due to storm damage. At 12:05 when you guys left the Funway Parking Lot, a lamp from the Original Glenwood Park Station stands in the forest on your right hand side. Hard to spot sometimes with vegetation, however it’s visible if you really look. Finally, at 28:04, there was a post for what would have been a signal box (I think) on your left hand side. I don’t know much about that one. Can’t wait to see some more CA&E Videos!
Thanks for these additional artifacts, Joseph! We did look for that trolley wire post around 7:00 but alas couldn't find it. Perhaps on another day. We had hoped that people would point out some of the artifacts that we missed - and so your comments are most gratifying. We'll definitely be looking for these on our next trip on the Batavia line. We really enjoyed that branch. :-)
Herman Bilter was my great grandfather. As you stated, he owned the farm and land adjacent to the line and was the person for whom the road and station stop were eponymously named. One small correction: his name was actually Henry Herman Bilter, although he only used his middle name (Herman). The gravestone and associated records in East Side Cemetery in Batavia are actually incorrect. Herman and Lizzie bought the farm circa 1880 and provided the land for Bilter Rd. to allow easier access to their farm, as well as providing land for the CA&E right of way. Their four offspring, my grandfather and great uncles, were frequent patrons of the RR, via the Eola Jct. stop which was a short walk from the farm. My great uncle took over operation of the farm but lost it in the great depression. The house and barn are no longer extant. One of my great uncles was also a ticket agent and conductor on the Elgin branch, from its inception. We explored the entire former CA&E in 1995. So it was with extraordinary interest that I have watched your entire series on the CA&E. Well done Brian and Joyce! Thank you for this series!
Thank you for the additional information and the correction regarding the Bilter stop. That is most helpful. And thanks for sharing your family experiences regarding the railway. It is surprising how often gravestones are incorrect. In our most previous video we visited the grave of Henry Bambery in Aurora - and found that the family name was spelled Bambery on the west side - and Banbery on the east side. Your family has a deep connection to the CA&E railway, going back to the earliest days of the railway - and that's fascinating to hear. Each of these station/stops has a unique story to tell - and your information adds greatly to the overall picture. Glad that you enjoyed our videos! Thanks too for watching and for the support! We very much appreciate it!
ok so i found out some new info regarding bridges around the old power house location .. on the north side is the Mahoney Creek Bridge once a large water system now with all the building almost not even known anymore and on the south side by the road and CBQ bridge is the Batavia Creek bridge .. also about 100 foot West is another CA&E Batvia creek bridge it was the line connecting with the CBQ line
The STATE ROAD crossing was at such an oblique angle that it left a very long gap in the third rail. Thus this crossing had a short stretch of trolley wire over it so that if a one car train somehow got stuck in the gap, the conductor could simply put a trolley pole on the wire, to et enough power to reach the third rail on the other side of the crossing. At or before the end of the trolley wire, the conductor would have to pull the trolley pole back down and latch it under the built in hook on the roof of the car. Note an additional 'thrill' for passengers on the line was that the lights in the car as well as the headlight (at night) would go out as the car coasted across the gap in the third rail. This happened at every road crossing!
Thanks for commenting and for watching the video! Thank you for the additional information regarding powering the trains across State Road. Yes, we had read about that as well. Your personal experiences add much to the story. Thanks again!
BATAVIA JCT. station was NOT built for the local farmers of Eola Road, as there was nothing but a rude trail through the weeds between a stairway from the high level platform and the Eola Road crossing. Understandably, the trail wan NOT TOO CLOSE to the 600 volt DC third rail that powered the trains! At the time that I was able to ride the branch, a wooden car ran back and forth between the JCT. and downtown Batavia only during rush hours, carefully timed to connect with trains to/from Chicago.
Thanks for watching and the comments. I don't believe that we stated that the junction was built for the local farmers. It was the branching off point for the main line from Aurora to Batavia - and in its early days was primarily used for rail access to the Powerhouse. Thank you for the additional information.
Sounds reasonable. By politics, we assume that you mean (at least in great part), the many subsidies that went and still go to the US petroleum industry, making automotive transport a more viable option. In most of the world, where there are no such subsidies, trains continue to hold their own. Automotive transport is a wonderful thing - so too is trolley and train transport. Both have their place and utility. It's a shame that we allowed one to all but kill off the other. Thanks for watching and for the comment!
Never knew there was so much history in the path that rode multiple times. The photographs that you have added, the artifacts, the animations where you showed the virtual platforms were in the past is just amazing! This is gold ! I will have a brand new perspective when I take my my bike out in few weeks. Thank you so much!
Thank you for watching and for the nice words, Avinash! Very much appreciated! Like you, we walked and rode the IPP for years, only having vague knowledge of it being a former trackway. When we started to notice and find some of the artifacts along the pathway, including the bridges and signal bases, etc, then we started to better visualize what the pathway was all about 100 years ago - and it made us want to learn more. It's interesting how many artifacts are still out there - some of them hiding in plain sight - others tucked away in the brush along the path.
Hi Brian and Joyce, the least favorite part for me of the Batavia spur is the most dangerous part. The IPP Batavia spur crossing at Rt. 56 Butterfield Road. I've spoken to the Kane County Board about this dangerous crossing to no avail for any safety improvements. There is no center island to wait for oncoming traffic to clear and there is not even a flashing signal (not that I would trust everyone to stop for flashing yellow lights). With oncoming traffic in both directions at posted 50mph crossing here during later afternoons takes patience. Kane County must improve the safety of this crossing!
Hi Chris, thanks for watching and commenting! Agreed, the Butterfield Crossing, Illinois Route 56, is one of the more dangerous crossings along the IPP. Hopefully, one day there will be a bridge or tunnel that can take cyclists and pedestrians back and forth across this very busy road.
Brian, Joyce, I've ridden all miles of the Prairie Path and Fox River Trail for years and never understood the rich history of the CAE railway. I never realized that so many artifacts still exist. Thank you once again for your time researching and putting together these videos. I've watched several and look forwarding to the remaining ones.
Thanks so much for watching and for your support, Ken. It means a great deal to us, especially coming from you, a longtime IPP user and IPP lead. We are very glad that many are going on this same journey - and doing some exploring for themselves, as there is indeed a great deal of history all along the IPP.
When I was in high school back in 1974 or 75, a friend and I hiked the Batavia branch. This was before the branch was developed into a trail. I remember jumping a few fences but the most daring part was sprinting across the toll road.
Thanks for watching the video! Glad that it brought back some memories, particularly the toll road sprint! :-)
One of the things I learned are the numerous station platforms used for milk distribution. The photo at 18:45 is outstanding.
Newspapers, mail and express packages also were there until trucks got it.
Thanks for the video. Next time I ride it, will have a better appreciation for it.
Thank you. We're glad you enjoyed the video!
7:01
One of the wooden poles that held the overhead wire still stands at right
(sticking out of the trees)
When I went there last the braket was still in place.
12:03 Theres a wooden pole with a small lamp on it to the right, next to the path. It was part of the Glenwood Park stop.
16:00
The charcoal and wood platforms is still somewhat there, you can still find charcoal and wood beams in the ground here.
Thanks for watching and for the observation regarding the additional artifact. We'll check that out in the coming months.
Thank you for documenting the Batavia Spur of the Chicago, Aurora & Elgin Railroad in this video! I enjoy all the history and vintage photos that you add to the video and narrative.
Thanks for watching and for the support! It makes us glad that you are enjoying these videos!
Wow what great info! I live right down Hart road and knew the bike trail ran on an old inter urban right of way but never realized there were so many stations along that spur! Thank you so much for the time and effort that went into the making of this video! Nice job!
R Koby, thank you for your positive response to our video. We're glad you enjoyed it!
I’ve been learning about The Aurora n’ Elgin for a few years now, as I had family that worked on the railroad. You guys had a lotta great info in this video!! Can’t wait to watch some of the others!
Thanks for the support, Joseph! And I'm sure that there is much that you could teach us about the CA&E line as well. We'll be posting at least a few more CA&E videos in the coming weeks.
@@BeHistoric hahaha! I’m sure there is, though there is plenty covered in this video I never knew before. Next time you guys take the trail, keep an eye out for these remnants: at 7:00 on your right hand side, there is a post sticking out of some trees. That is from an overhead trolley wire post that kept the wire in place. Sadly, I believe the piece the held the wire in place was removed or fell due to storm damage. At 12:05 when you guys left the Funway Parking Lot, a lamp from the Original Glenwood Park Station stands in the forest on your right hand side. Hard to spot sometimes with vegetation, however it’s visible if you really look. Finally, at 28:04, there was a post for what would have been a signal box (I think) on your left hand side. I don’t know much about that one. Can’t wait to see some more CA&E Videos!
Thanks for these additional artifacts, Joseph! We did look for that trolley wire post around 7:00 but alas couldn't find it. Perhaps on another day. We had hoped that people would point out some of the artifacts that we missed - and so your comments are most gratifying. We'll definitely be looking for these on our next trip on the Batavia line. We really enjoyed that branch. :-)
@@josephtacosyt When I went there last, the braket that held the wire was still there.
Herman Bilter was my great grandfather. As you stated, he owned the farm and land adjacent to the line and was the person for whom the road and station stop were eponymously named. One small correction: his name was actually Henry Herman Bilter, although he only used his middle name (Herman). The gravestone and associated records in East Side Cemetery in Batavia are actually incorrect. Herman and Lizzie bought the farm circa 1880 and provided the land for Bilter Rd. to allow easier access to their farm, as well as providing land for the CA&E right of way. Their four offspring, my grandfather and great uncles, were frequent patrons of the RR, via the Eola Jct. stop which was a short walk from the farm. My great uncle took over operation of the farm but lost it in the great depression. The house and barn are no longer extant. One of my great uncles was also a ticket agent and conductor on the Elgin branch, from its inception. We explored the entire former CA&E in 1995. So it was with extraordinary interest that I have watched your entire series on the CA&E. Well done Brian and Joyce! Thank you for this series!
Thank you for the additional information and the correction regarding the Bilter stop. That is most helpful. And thanks for sharing your family experiences regarding the railway. It is surprising how often gravestones are incorrect. In our most previous video we visited the grave of Henry Bambery in Aurora - and found that the family name was spelled Bambery on the west side - and Banbery on the east side. Your family has a deep connection to the CA&E railway, going back to the earliest days of the railway - and that's fascinating to hear. Each of these station/stops has a unique story to tell - and your information adds greatly to the overall picture. Glad that you enjoyed our videos!
Thanks too for watching and for the support! We very much appreciate it!
ok so i found out some new info regarding bridges around the old power house location .. on the north side is the Mahoney Creek Bridge once a large water system now with all the building almost not even known anymore and on the south side by the road and CBQ bridge is the Batavia Creek bridge .. also about 100 foot West is another CA&E Batvia creek bridge it was the line connecting with the CBQ line
That's interesting! We will need to examine this area further based on your information. Thanks for the comment and the information!
The STATE ROAD crossing was at such an oblique angle that it left a very long gap in the third rail. Thus this crossing had a short stretch of trolley wire over it so that if a one car train somehow got stuck in the gap, the conductor could simply put a trolley pole on the wire, to et enough power to reach the third rail on the other side of the crossing. At or before the end of the trolley wire, the conductor would have to pull the trolley pole back down and latch it under the built in hook on the roof of the car. Note an additional 'thrill' for passengers on the line was that the lights in the car as well as the headlight (at night) would go out as the car coasted across the gap in the third rail. This happened at every road crossing!
Thanks for commenting and for watching the video! Thank you for the additional information regarding powering the trains across State Road. Yes, we had read about that as well. Your personal experiences add much to the story. Thanks again!
BATAVIA JCT. station was NOT built for the local farmers of Eola Road, as there was nothing but a rude trail through the weeds between a stairway from the high level platform and the Eola Road crossing. Understandably, the trail wan NOT TOO CLOSE to the 600 volt DC third rail that powered the trains!
At the time that I was able to ride the branch, a wooden car ran back and forth between the JCT. and downtown Batavia only during rush hours, carefully timed to connect with trains to/from Chicago.
Thanks for watching and the comments. I don't believe that we stated that the junction was built for the local farmers. It was the branching off point for the main line from Aurora to Batavia - and in its early days was primarily used for rail access to the Powerhouse. Thank you for the additional information.
What killed off the streetcars and interurbans was a combination of the three P's: Private transportation (automobiles), paved roads and politics.
Sounds reasonable. By politics, we assume that you mean (at least in great part), the many subsidies that went and still go to the US petroleum industry, making automotive transport a more viable option. In most of the world, where there are no such subsidies, trains continue to hold their own. Automotive transport is a wonderful thing - so too is trolley and train transport. Both have their place and utility. It's a shame that we allowed one to all but kill off the other. Thanks for watching and for the comment!
Milk, mail. packages and newspapers before trucks got it.
Thanks for watching and for the comments.