First & Fastest
The Shore Line Interurban Historical Society invites you to explore First & Fastest, the premier quarterly publication on urban, suburban, interurban and regional intercity passenger service. They also have special Dispatch publications. All members receive four issues of First & Fastest each year and discounts on Dispatch publications. First & Fastest web site
Below are some of Dick Neumiller's photos from the Bon French collection that have been used in the First & Fastest.
First & Fastest Winter 2025
The Rock Island engineer is looking for the highball from his conductor at Englewood Station before heading towards the Quad Cities with a conditional stop in Joliet IL.
On August 17,1955, Dick was in the cab of E7 638 0n a westbound train approaching Englewood. The steel frame behind the station is one of the natural gas holders that were located around Chicago. There is an expanding tank inside of the frame that moves up and down depending on the amount of natural gas the tank is holding. The holder appears to have little, if there is any gas in storage.
FP7 409 is leading train 501, Peoria Rocket, into Englewood on November 15, 1959. The bridge in the background is located at 59th Street. In 2025 the Chicago Transit Authority Green Line Englewood Branch continues to use this bridge.
On the same day, the Des Moines Rocket has departed Englewood on its final lap into LaSalle Street Station.
It is 10:45 a.m. on October 27, 1961, when an E8A leading train 4, the Golden State, crossed the Pennsylvania Railroad as it arrives at Englewood.
Rock Island Suburban service was a rolling museum with a variety of locomotives and coaches. Alco-built RS 3 492 leads a three- car train of "Al Capone" coaches on November 15, 1959. These coaches were built in the 1920s when Al Capone ruled the gangsters in Chicago.
On October 27, 1961, at 10:45 a.m. Aerotrain 2 is stopped at Englewood as the inbound suburban train 278.
On the same day the westbound New York Central New England State Limited and the Rock Island eastbound Peoria Rocket are stopped at Englewood. NYC 4052, 4040 and 4091 and Rock Island FP7 403 and a second unit are powering their respective trains.
NYC E8A 4057 leading an E7B and an E7Aare the motive power for the eastbound New England States Limited on November 15, 1959.
The Nickel Plate Alco-built PA-1 passenger locomotives were known as the Blue Birds. On November 15, 1959, PA-1s 181-180 lead the eastbound New Yorker.
On the same day Dick witnessed the departure of Pennsy's Manhattan Limited. Locomotive 5890 was in the lead followed by an E7B and 5790.
Also on that day Dick witnessed The Union arriving at Englewood from Cincinnati.
On October 27, 1961, an extremely late westbound Broadway Limited was discharging passengers at Englewood. This was Pennsy's all first class limited-stop overnight train between Chicago and New York City.
First & Fastest Autumn 2025
This westbound troop train is just east of Kewanee Illinois, alongside U.S. Route 34 in May 1953.
This eastbound freight train with locomotive 5631 has departed Galesburg Yard and is waiting at control point Bishop for passing trains that are on the middle track.
The first of three eastbound passenger trains is the Kansas City Zephyr.
The second of three eastbound passenger trains is the Coloradan.
The third of three eastbound passenger trains is the Nebraska Zephyr.
With the passenger trains well ahead, 5631 has received the signal to proceed and has started to move,
Looking East you can see where the third track ends between the two signal bridges.
In May 1953, the three-unit set of F-3 9961 ABC was leading train number 17, a twelve car California Zephyr, just east of Kewanee Illinois.
First & Fastest Winter 2024
On October 21, 1962, the northbound Panama Limited is roaring through Matteson, Illinois around eighty mph.
The northbound Panama Limited near Matteson, Illinois will soon start slowing for a stop at Homewood Illinois.
Train 1, The City of New Orleans stops at Effingham Illinois. Below we see a close-up and the rear of the train as it leaves for a crew change at Centralia Illinois.
Additional photos of the IC and many other trains are in the First &Fastest magazine, for information please use the link below to view their web page.
The Shore Line Interurban Historical Society invites you to explore First & Fastest, the premier quarterly publication on urban, suburban, interurban and regional intercity passenger service. They also have special Dispatch publications. All members receive four issues of First & Fastest each year and discounts on Dispatch publications. First & Fastest web site
Join us in the “Greatest Hobby” as a member of the TLMRC.
Update 12/19/25