page_title: Chicago Aurora and Elgin Railroad
section_title: Preservation
hierarchical_section_title: Chicago Aurora and Elgin Railroad / Preservation
caption_attribution_description: English: Chicago Aurora and Elgin interurban cars in operation in 2003. Photo by Frank Hicks
context_page_description: The Chicago Aurora and Elgin Railroad, known colloquially as the "Roarin' Elgin" or the "Great Third Rail", was an interurban railroad that operated passenger and freight service on its line between Chicago and Aurora, Batavia, Geneva, St. Charles, and Elgin, Illinois. The railroad also operated a small branch to Mt. Carmel Cemetery in Hillside and owned a branch line to Westchester.
  Wounded by the increased use of automobiles after World War II, the CA&E abruptly ended passenger service in 1957. Freight service was suspended in 1959, and the railroad was officially abandoned in 1961. Most of the right-of-way has since been converted to the Illinois Prairie Path rail trail.
context_section_description: Besides the right-of-way, most of which has been retained as the Illinois Prairie Path, there are two depots, two combination depot/substations, and 19 pieces of rolling stock from the CA&E that still exist.
  Clintonville substation in South Elgin, Illinois is currently the home of the Valley Model Railroad.
  Prince Crossing substation in West Chicago, Illinois is currently the home of the  Salt Creek Model Railroad.
  Villa Avenue depot in Villa Park, Illinois is the home to the Villa Park Historical Society.
  Ardmore depot in Villa Park is the home to the Villa Park Chamber of Commerce.
  Traction Terminal Building in Aurora.
  Illinois Railway Museum in Union, Illinois owns cars 36, 308, 309, 319, 321, 409, 431, 451 and 460.
  Fox River Trolley Museum in South Elgin, Illinois owns cars 11, 20, 316, 317 and 458.
  Rockhill Trolley Museum in Rockhill Furnace, Pennsylvania owns car 315.
  Midwest Electric Railway in Mount Pleasant, Iowa owns car 320.
  Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport, Maine owns car 434.
  Connecticut Trolley Museum in East Windsor, Connecticut owns car 303.
  Electric City Trolley Museum in Scranton, Pennsylvania owns car 453.
caption: Car 308 in operation at the Illinois Railway Museum
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