1901

December 2nd - The Chicago & Indiana Air Line Railway is incorporated.

1903

September - C&IALR begins street car service between East Chicago and Indiana Harbor. (3.4 mi route)

1904

Corporate name changed to Chicago, Lake Shore & South Bend Railway. Plans made for a railway that will run between Chicago and South Bend, part of a huge network of streetcar and electric railway companies stretching between Chicago and New York.

CLS&SB Design Features Planned like a Steam Line - for wide cars, not wrapped around courthouses. 75 MPH Route - 66' or wider Right-of-Way - 17'6" Overhead Clearance 2% Maximum grade (one location) - Generally 0.2% grade 3º curves outside of cities (one 6º curve) 70# rails on 8' ties, 24" centers 80# rail in city streets Single Track - with frequent passing sidings Three Major Stations South Bend - Main Street (Wye at Colfax, Yard on LaSalle on east bank of St Joe) Michigan City - 11th Street Gary - Broadway (with car floor level platforms) AC Power System Railway operated power plant in Michigan City Calumet (East Chicago) Substation - 31 mi west Terre Coupe (New Carlisle) Substation - 22 mi east Single Phase AC Power - 700v in cities (fed by 8 additional substations), 6600v elsewhere.

1906

Construction begins.

1907

June 8th - Special run from South Bend to Hudson Lake, then by other rail to Chicago to show South Bend officials and press the progress on the railway works.

1908

June 30th - First train from Michigan City to South Bend departs at 10:30am and arrives at 1:35pm with some difficulty - return trip takes 1hr 15min. (1998 trip is 45min.)

July 1st - Revenue service between South Bend and Michigan City begins at 6:00am. Trains run every two hours and cost 65¢ one way, $1 round trip.

September 8th - Regular service between South Bend and Hammond - 10 trains daily each way.

[Chicago, South Bend, & Northern Indiana Railway also begins service this year. They serve a route connecting Michigan City, LaPorte, Hudson Lake, South Bend, Elkhart and Goshen. Part of their route (South Bend Bendix to Hudson Lake) paralleled CLS&SB, running just north of the line.]

1909

April 4th - Through trains to Pullman, IL over track built by Illinois Central and leased to CLS&SB - Hammond to Kensington section built by IC owned Kensington & Eastern Railroad.

April 12th - An accident at Clark injures 47 when a train fails to wait for a meet.

June 19th - An accident at Shadyside kills 12 and injures 52 when another train fails to wait for a meet at Wilson.

October - Management turned over to Warren Bicknell Company of Cleveland.

1910

Late October - Double track of Gary to Hammond section completed. 54 daily trains.

1911

December - Double track of Hammond to Kensington section completed.

Kensington Interlocking built allowing direct connection to IC passenger lines.

1912

June 2nd - Through running of coaches between Gary and IC Chicago. 7 trains each direction with steam engines taking the cars to Randolph Street Station. 31mi Gary to Randolph St takes 1hr 15min including 5 min to attach/detach engine. (1998 trip is 56min.)

1913

Semiphore signaling system completed.

South Bend to Michigan City - 34mi, 57min with three stops and power changes!

1916

August 1st - Carload freight service begins.

1918

47 trains daily.

1922

35 trains daily.

1923

Samuel Insull starts NIPSCO and Commonweath Edison - Electric companies.

1924

Samuel Insull sends Britton Budd to survey Northern Indiana electric railways, including the CLS&SB and the CSB&NI.

Cleveland Trust Company forecloses on their loan and takes possession.

1925

February 28th - CLS&SB enters receivership.

June 23rd - Chicago South Shore & South Bend Railroad incorporated (a Samuel Insull company).

June 29th - CSS&SB buys CLS&SB for $6,474,843.

October - Entire line rebuilt. 100# rail on K&E segment.

New South Bend Station at LaSalle and Michigan.

Preliminary work on changeover to DC power. Eight new substations built at Hammond, Gary, Ogden Dunes, Tremont, Michigan City, Tee Lake, New Carlisle, and South Bend. Five were 1500kw capacity, three were 750kw. (1998 power supplied by nine 2000kw subtations and one 4000kw substation.)
1.5 million passengers.

1926

July 13th - South Bend to Michigan City changed to DC power. Michigan City to Gary changed over one week later.

July 28th - Entire line on DC power - 1500v to match electrification of IC line.

Service ends on the local line between East Chicago and Indiana Harbor.

August 29th - First through electric train from South Bend to Chicago! CSS&SB running 56 trains daily including 21 limited trains.

1927

February 20th - Dining and Parlor Car service started. Three Diners and two Parlor car trips each way per day. Total of 70 trains including 40 limited.

May 21st - Gala opening for Michigan City 11th St Station and bus garage.

Spring - South Bend to Chicago takes 2hr 30min, or 2hr 10min for limiteds. (1998 trip is 2hr 20min.)

30 miles of track have been upgraded to 100# rail over two years.

New Union Switch & Signal Company color light block signal system installed.

Wilson Siding lengthened to 2.5 miles, 3300ft of double track added east of Gary's station.

Tamarak Siding at 4200ft and others have 60mph spring switches installed.

1928

South Bend Station enlarged to more than three times former size.

New freight stations completed on LaSalle Ave in South Bend and in Hegewisch.

81 trains daily - Hourly service South Bend to Chicago, 30min service Gary to Chicago.

3.25 million passengers.

1929

3.2 million passengers.

1930

South Bend to Chicago in 1hr 58min on fastest train.

1931

2.2 million passengers.

New South Bend freight terminal completed on 16 acres a mile west of downtown, removing freight trains from city streets and starting a new industrial park.

1932

1.5 million passengers, but 80 trains daily including 11 Dining/Parlor car trips.

Spring - Dining and Parlor Car service halted.

1933

South Bend to Chicago in 1hr 50min. (1998 trip is 2hr 20min, and avoids street running in South Bend and East Chicago.)

September 30th - CSS&SB enters bankrupcy.

1934

[May 30th - CSB&NI, now called 'Northern Indiana Railway' ceases business as an interurban. Trolly car routes in South Bend/Mishawaka replaced by buses.]

1939

August - Jay Samuel Hartt elected president of the railroad. He served 21 years.

1941

2.25 million passengers.

1942

CSS&SB begins to length cars, increasing capacity (24 to 30 seats more) and reducing cost per passenger mile.

1945

6 million passengers.

1946

CSS&SB begins to install air conditioning and lengthened "picture" windows.

Late 40's

Complete system-wide VHF radio installation installed.

1951

So far 36 cars lengthened, 18 cars fully modernized.

1954

Construction begins on East Chicago bypass, including a new substation at Parrish Ave. 115# welded rail, maximum curvature 2.5º, for 60mph trains. The new route connects to the old at Cline Ave and Columbia Ave.

1955

4.44 million passengers.

1956

September 16th - East Chicago bypass route (5mi) removes trains from street running on Chicago Street in East Chicago. (Originally planned for completion in 1928 - construction completed with the aid of the Indiana Toll Road Commission.)

Indiana Toll Road completed.

1961

William P. Coliton takes over as president of CSS&SB, serving until 1966.

Midwest Steel opens.

1962

Bailly Generating plant constructed.

Dan Ryan Expressway in Chicago completed.

1964

Bethlehem Steel opens Burns Harbor plant.

1965

3.135 million passengers. 85% of the business is Gary to Chicago.

1966

James McCahey, Jr. takes over as president of CSS&SB.

State of Indiana begins building deep water harbor "Port of Indiana".

1967

January 3 - Chesapeake & Ohio purchases CSS&SB.

The South Shore has 64 passenger cars.

1970

South Bend Station moved to western edge of city, abandoning street running. The only remaining street running is in Michigan City.

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(Based on NICTD's site, personal experience, and other sources.)

1977

Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District (NICTD) established by the Indiana General Assembly for the purpose of recieving government money to own new passenger cars and support services as well as manage and market the service. (NICTD)

1.5 million passengers. (NICTD)

1979

Federal grants awarded to NICTD for new cars and for the upgrade of track and the power system. (NICTD)

1982

November - First new passenger train enters revenue service. (NICTD)

1983

Fall - New passenger cars completely replace the orange and maroon South Shore standard. (NICTD)

The South Shore has 44 passenger cars, all motor units. 10 are owned by METRA, who also own and operate the former IC Electric Line in Chicago.

1985

Gary Metro Center replaces Broadway Street Station. (NICTD) The new station has a raised railbed, but low loading platforms.

Randolph Street Station in Chicago completely rebuilt. (NICTD)

Dune Park Station complex built. (NICTD)

1989

3.5 million passengers. (NICTD)

Diesel double decker train set leased from METRA to handle overflow (kept until 1993). (NICTD)

CSS&SB bankrupt. NICTD works with Anacostia and Pacific railroad to purchase CSS&SB's assets. The freight railroad retains the name CSS&SB while NICTD now owns the passenger railroad assets. (NICTD)

1990

NICTD purchases the main line track. (NICTD)

ADA inspired changes begun at 'key' stations. (NICTD)

1991

January - I see my first South Shore train, a single car unit being pushed by a South Shore diesel through a light dusting of snow at Lydick. (Some things are meant to be seen and not photographed.) Evidently there were some problems on the line as the South Shore does not normally use diesel power.

1992

June - New Station building and additional parking added at Hegewisch. (NICTD)

November - South Bend Station moved to Michiana Regional Transportation Center (Airport). (NICTD)

Several flag stops are closed, including New Carlisle, Rolling Prarie, Lalumiere, Willard St, Kemil Road, and Dune Acres.

42 trains daily, 20 on weekends.

1993

Additional passenger cars added, 4 motor units and 10 trailers, plus 3 cars to replace motor units damaged in accidents. A total of 54 cars. Note that new cars do not have the CSS&SB name on them.

1995

Station re-construction begins in Hammond. Plans set for improvements at other stations (Miller, Dune Park, Ogden Dunes, and East Chicago). (NICTD)

1996

Conversion to all-weld rail (begun in the 1960's) is completed. (NICTD)

1997

The gauntlet bridge west of Gary has another bridge built next to it, providing complete double track service from Gary to Chicago.

1998

Hammond and Ogden Dunes station upgrade completed with high level platforms.

New shelter and parking at Miller.

Signalling system upgraded.

Mayor James Perron of Elkhart suggests South Shore be extended to Elkhart.

1999

Government to provide money for up to 10 new passenger cars. 8 new cars will be delivered in June 2000.

Power is fed from 10 substations, Hegewisch (1980's), Hammond (Columbia - 1926), East Chicago (Carroll - 1956), Gary (Madison - 1926), Ogden Dunes (Wickliffe - 1926), Tremont (Furnessville - 1926), Michigan City (Eastport - 1926), Tee Lake (1926), New Carlisle (1926), and South Bend (Grandview - 1926).