Passenger Trains > Michiana Monday - Fooling Mother Nature at Beverly Shores

It's an ordinary Thursday, January 8 of this New Year of 2026. But no snow, ice or cold. The first break in a long period of cold and snow that began Thanksgiving Day weekend. Cool enough for a jacket, misty and drizzly, but relatively pleasant for the date. A good day for a break from the post-holiday blues and cabin fever, and to get trackside.

And it's like a scene from a movie as a westbound single-level South Shore train for Chicago makes a flag stop at the iconic Beverly Shores, Ind. station in the misty drizzle near dusk. Just a few commuters board, headed into the city for the evening shift in Loop offices, sans the heavy coats, boots and gloves of the season. But to paraphrase the old TV ad, one should not fool Mother Nature by enjoying such a day in early January. Old Man Winter was sure to return. And did, with a vengeance. But for now, a moment to enjoy in early January.

MC

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About 30 minutes later light rain mixed with snow has begun as an eastbound bi-level train for Michigan City stops to let off a handful of passengers, including some with suitcases. Like other commuter lines, the South Shore functions as a connection for outer rim communities of Chicagoland in Northwest Indiana to long-distance services by Amtrak and airlines at Chicago.  The train is on the new south track of the recently completed double-tracking of the South Shore to Michigan City, Indiana.

That evening the weather turned to pouring rain, itself unusual for early January. Followed by a cold front. And then it was back to winter.

Finally, an image of the iconic Beverly Shores station, one of the last two of the Insull interurban network Spanish Revival-style stations in the Chicago area. The other is the former Briergate station in Highland Park, Illinois. Beverly Shores is however the only one still in regular passenger rail service.

MC



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/02/26 04:55 by ironmtn.

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Nicely done, Mark.  The region has some of the prettiest small stations in the country and that one is my favorite.

-John

Thanks for the great pictures with mood/atmosphere.  Gerry

Great photos.  I've thought about trying to do shots there in twilight, but it always seems like Im trying to make another 100 miles on I90 before bedtime.  

These photos are marvelous!

Thanks for taking them and sharing them here!

Posted from iPhone

Awesome shots!