Nostalgia & History > Midweek Menu - North Shore

The Chicago Milwaukee & North Shore - the North Shore is probably the most notable interurban the U.S. had. For my purposes, it was the last interurban to have dining car service. While there were several notable operations, the North Shore, Lehigh Valley Transit and Illinois Terminal were probably the most elaborate.

The North Shore had dining car service going back long before the Electroliners arrived. Car 415 still exists today and is undergoing restoration at the Seashore Trolley Museum with the goal of someday serving food on board once again. Once the Electroliners were in service their tavern-lounge cars provided ideal service for the 90 minute run. Even compared to the "steam" roads, the space provided on the North Shore to prepare food was microscopic.

Photo 1: One of the heavyweight dining cars
Photo 2: Publicity photo of the Tavern-Lounge section of the Electroliner
Photo 3: Postcard promoting the Tavern-Lounge service. Note the "nursery rhyme" animal theme that was carried out on the car.

---

---

---

Thanks for posting this. For railfans, one of the most appealing features of the North Shore Line's Electroliners were the forward-facing seats on the left side of the ends of the bi-directional train. These seats gave the equivalent of a fireman's view on a streamlined diesel or cab-forward steamer.

Image 1: Breakfast menu from the Electroliner - Note the "Special Blend" coffee. The North Shore had several signature food and beverage items.
Images 2 & 3: The standard Electroliner lunch and dinner menu. Another signature item was the "Electroburger" which had a proprietary blend that made it extraordinary - especially at that time. I have been told that Shake Shack's "Shackburger" is very similar in flavor.

---

---

---

Photo 1: The Electroliner had its own china pattern, produced by Syracuse China
Photo 2: In the earlier years Hall China produced an Electroliner teapot. There was also a more round, green version produced for the heavyweight cars.

Tim

---

---

Coasters and napkins. Where did the zoo theme come from?

Ed

---

---