Ken and list:   The NSL was thrifty about spending and did have a
bankroll from WW 2 income.  Although they did give up the Shore Line
Rorte, the C&NW was running their own suburban service so duplication
was not practical.                     
Henry Bykirk and I had many conversations out at East Troy as he was a
regular, dependable motorman every Saturday in season.                                  

In Milwaukee, the City Engineer (name?)  was the planner who, wanted  to
put the NSL in the median of the new freeway from the southside into
downtown.  When he retired, he gave me his files on this subject.                                                    

Anyway, passenger traffic was waning and the multiple car trains on the
north end, dwindled to only one car, partly filled, other than the
rush-hour.  The Susquahanna investment group, bought into the NSL and,
gaining control, drained the bankroll, investing in other ventures or
simply distributing the excess among its stockholders.  


Evidence of intent to continue operations by the NSL, is found in the
Highwood Shops as the 715 was the last car to get a GOH late in 1962.
The NSL  had a surplus of rolling stock to draw from so, intention of
total abandonment, was not evident.                                                    

None the less, the squeese was on as the Milwaukee Division revenues
dipped and patronage dropped.  We must remember that the NSL was still
operating effiecntly in northern Illinois... deopping and adding a car
at Edison Court.  So, in all likelyhood, operations in Illinois were
still profitable and should never have been abandoned.                                               

The CTA picked up the slack and began operations from Howard to
Dempster.  Actually, it was necessary as their Shops were up there but,
they could have continued fruther north to Edison Court and Mundelein.                                         

The hang-up on the Milwaukee Northern, was its street running from the
Fiebrantz Car Station to downtown. Not to mention that patronage was
waning, anyway.  The longrange plans were to put the service onto the
MILW line that came downtown known as the Beer Line.  That would have
brought the service into 3rd street, at Juneau.                                                    

Today, yes... but now on the former C&NW prow from the lakefront, north,
connecting with the Lakeshore line in Glendale, or..... attaining the
original MN line by connecting with the MILW, also in Glendale... two
possibilities.                      

Don



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