July 24, 2024:

 

            I got up and got dressed. I went to the lobby for breakfast. After breakfast I finished packing. I then checked out of my hotel. I knew I had to once again take two meandering bus routes to get to where the streetcars were. I had problems finding a bus stop and almost missed the bus but I got on. I rode to the school where I transferred to the other bus to take me to the streetcars. Last year, I transferred to route #3. This time, I got on the route #5 because it came first. The bus soon departed. Like the #3, it meandered around. The route #5 approached the streetcars from the North. The route #5 approached the streetcars from the south which is how I approached the streetcars when I first visited Kenosha in 2000.

 

            Back then my Mom and I were driving into Kenosha and weren’t 100% sure where to go. I knew the Kenosha line went by the Metra station. When we came upon an intersection where we could only go left or right, I said left. My mom went left not 100%. However a few blocks later we saw PCC #4610 trundle across the street which made us know we were going the right way.

 

            The night before we went to Kenosha, my mom was also the impression that Kenosha had a larger streetcar system and wondered what else ran. She seemed confused when I mentioned they only have the Toronto PCCs and usually run on car at a time until I drew an oval and said it was the Kenosha streetcar network.

 

            The bus soon got to the terminal in front of the streetcar barn and I got off. I waited by the streetcar stop but nothing was coming. I photographed some buses.

 

 

 

            I walked to get a look at the barn. I saw the door to one track was open and car #4617 was inside powered up. That was a good sign. I took a picture and other things I could see.

 

 

            At one point, I met Joe LaMothe, the supervisor of the Kenosha streetcars. It was he who I failed to meet with in November and had been in contact with prior to this trip to arrange that 4617 be the car that runs on this day. We chatted a bit and I told him of my PCC quest and how I visited all 19 cars and that #4610 is the first car I’ve officially ridden in two different countries.

 

            Joe mentioned he had been in contact with the McKinney Avenue Transit Authority in Dallas as they had been having problems with PCC #4614. I’m glad I got to ride it in 2020 before the world shut down on my Dallas Make-Up Trip.

 

            PCC #4617 backed out of the car barn. I photographed it.

 

 

            Joe mentioned I could buy a pass that allows unlimited rides on the PCC for $3.50. It is valid only for the streetcars and not the buses. I decided to do that. I walked over to the stop and photographed PCC #4617 when it pulled up.

 

 

            I saw that 4617 needed a little paint on the front doors but other then that, it looked good. I got on and bought a pass. I saw that the car still had its original TTC seat cushions instead of the ones on the other ex Toronto PCCs. However two double seats had been removed for a wheelchair area and a wheelchair lift was installed in the car since I rode it in 2012.

 

            The car departed and I took some photos during the ride.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

            I got off at the car barn. I got off and photographed #4617.

 

 

            I then went to the car barn and took some photos from the door.

 

 

            I saw Joe and asked if I could go inside and take some pictures. Joe said I could. I went inside and photographed former SEPTA PCCs 2120 and 2185 stored off track.

 

 

            There are only two tracks in the car barn that can each hold three cars. There are eight PCCs in Kenosha’s fleet so two are stored off track. There is a third door but no tracks. I asked Joe if it would be easier to install a third track. Joe said he brought that up and it would allow #2185 to be used. However the big factor is money.

 

            I took some more photos of the original five PCCs Kenosha got.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Click here to see more photos of Kenosha’s streetcars:       Kenosha's Streetcars

 

 

            We went into the office. I took a photo.

 

 

            I saw an exhibit on PCC #4617’s trip from East Troy to being painted into San Francisco colours.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

            I took some more photos.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

            I photographed a chair made up to look like PCC #4606.

 

 

 

 

            I took a few more photos.

 

 

 

 

            I was talking with Joe. He told me of a place called “Frank’s Diner” which was apparently made in a vintage railroad car. I took some photos of buses including the Coach Canada bus that goes from Kenosha to Milwaukee that stops in front of the car barn.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

            When PCC #4617 went to East Troy, museum members had installed a pole at the front of the car as the line doesn’t have any turning loops. When the car first came to Kenosha, the front pole was removed. After the car was repainted into San Francisco colours, the people in Kenosha mounted a pole on the front like what they do in San Francisco. However I’ve been told 4617’s front pole is just for decoration. It wasn’t used when the car backed out of the car barn.

 

            I then went out in search of the diner. After several minutes I found it. I photographed it before I went inside.

 

 

 

            I had lunch. Once I was done, I took some more photos.

 

 

 

 

            I then left the diner. I walked back to the streetcar line. I photographed a vintage sign on a building and PCC #4617 when it came.

 

 

 

 

            I rode #4617 to the Metra station. I got off and photographed the car and filmed it pulling away.

 

 

 

            I went to the Metra station and checked the schedule. I saw there was an earlier Metra than what I intended to take. I then made my way back to the streetcar stop. I photographed #4617 when it came.

 

 

            I rode to the car barn. I got off and photographed the car.

 

 

            I crossed the street and waited for the next time #4617 returned. When it came, I photographed it.

 

 

 

 

Click to see a gallery of Kenosha’s PCCs:  

 

 

            The next time the car came around I photographed it and got on.

 

 

            I rode the car to the stop where the dinosaur museum is. I got off and photographed the car.

 

 

            I filmed the car pulling away. I walked over to a gas station a few blocks away and bought some Pepsi as I was thirsty. I then made my way back to the streetcar stop. While I waited, I saw a Union Pacific coal train with distributed power on the rear.

 

            PCC #4617 showed up and I photographed it before I got on.

 

 

            I took some pictures from the streetcar.

 

 

 

 

            I took some pictures of the passing track though right now only one of the lines is being used by the streetcars.

 

 

            I took some more photos.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

            Kenosha has thought about expanding their streetcar line. If the planed extensions were to be built, the line would look like a four leaf clover. They would still most likely use a single car though.

 

            I rode to the Metra station. I filmed the car pulling away and took one more photo.

 

 

            I went into the station and took the elevator up to the platform. While waiting, I phoned my friend Karl. I ended up leaving a message.

 

            Soon, the Metra train arrived. I photographed it.

 

 

 

            The Metra train pulled ahead to switch tracks back to Chicago. While waiting, I photographed PCC #4617 when it passed by the station.

 

 

 

 

            The Metra train pulled into the station. I photographed it before I boarded the cab car.

 

 

            From the cab car, I attempted to photograph PCC #4617 for the last time. The Metra train departed on time. The train crossed back into Illinois and made multiple stops. At Waukegan, I saw a transfer caboose painted in Missouri Pacific colours. The train made multiple stops.

 

            I got off at Peterson/Ridge station which according to Karl is a new station. I got off and photographed the train.

 

 

 

 

            I filmed the train pulling away. I then caught a bus on route #84 to Lincoln Avenue where my hotel I was staying at in Chicago was. I checked in and went to my room. I went online and got in contact with Karl. We agreed to try to meet tomorrow morning. I went out to a nearby McDonald’s for dinner. After dinner, I went to a CVS and bought some milk and some food for breakfast tomorrow as I would be getting up early. I went back to my room and set the alarm on my phone for 6:30 and called it a night.

 

Click to read about the next couple days in Chicago:          Chicago part 1