The one man is George Krambles, and his half-century transit career becomes a personal excursion through the history of electric railroading, from the twilight of the Indiana RR, through his rise to become Executive Director of the Chicago Transit Authority.
Remarkable historic footage covers all the important developments: the subway, the elevateds, the streetcars, the interurbans, the formation of the Authority, and especially the Skokie Swift. After he retired from the CTA, Krambles began a second career as a consultant, and we see scenes from several of these projects as well. One Man's Trolleys consists mostly of archival footage, with especially good coverage of Chicago's rapid transit, from the wooden gate cars to the newest from Morrison-Knudsen.
The balance of the show is a well-paced blend of modern video from the Illinois Railway Museum and the CTA's new Midway line, as well as interviews with Krambles's industry colleagues, and some historic stills. Bill Warrick (of Midwest Traction Classics fame) produced the show; Krambles hosts and narrates. Mostly color.
Order code OMT, 54 minutes.....$29.95
Chicago had a fascinating and little-known electric railroad under the Loop district: The Chicago Tunnel Company.
If you want to learn more about the Illinois Railway Museum, featured prominently in One Man's Trolleys, check out their web site.
There are more Chicago-area links on our page for Take a Ride on the North Shore Line.