Chicago Aurora and Elgin Railroad

Chicago Aurora and Elgin Railroad
Map of the Chicago Aurora and Elgin Railroad from a 1936 public timetable folder
Overview
HeadquartersWheaton, Illinois
LocaleChicago, Illinois and western suburbs
Dates of operation1902–1959
Technical
Track gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Route map

× = stations not served by CA&E
Aurora
Elgin
Illinois Avenue
National Street
Aurora Avenue
Collingbourne
Church Road
Renwick
Poss Road
Clintonville
Batavia
St. Charles Road
Glenwood Park
Wayne
Hart Road
Smith Road
Radant Road
St. Andrews
Wagner Road
Prince Crossing
State Road
Geneva Road
Bilter Road
St. Charles
CA&E Batavia branch
UpperRight arrow
Geneva
Batavia Junction
Good Templar Park
Diehl Road
Kirk Road
Ferry Road
Kautz Road
Williams Road
Kress Road
Warrenville
West Chicago
East Warrenville
High Lake
Gary Road
Fannette
Weisbrook Road
Winfield Road
Plamondon
UpperLeft arrow
CA&E Geneva branch
Chicago Golf Club
Geneva Junction
Emory
Jewell Road
Chicago Avenue
Wesley Street
CA&E Aurora branch
UpperLeft arrow
UpperRight arrow
CA&E Elgin branch
Wheaton
College Avenue
Glen Ellyn
Taylor Avenue
Glen Oak
Green Valley
Lombard
Stewart Avenue
Westmore
Ardmore Avenue
Villa Park
Spring Road
York Street–Elmhurst
Poplar Avenue
Stratford Hills
Mount Carmel
Berkeley
Oak Ridge
Wolf Road
Harrison Street
Garden Home
CA&E Mount Carmel branch
UpperLeft arrow
Left arrow
Bellwood
×
25th Avenue
×
17th Avenue
×
11th Avenue
×
5th Avenue
×
Hannah
×
Harlem
×
Home
Oak Park
×
Gunderson
×
Lombard
×
Austin
×
Central
Laramie
×
Cicero
×
Kilbourn
×
Tripp
×
Pulaski
×
Garfield Park
×
St. Louis
Kedzie
×
Sacramento
×
California
×
Western
×
Hoyne
×
Ogden
Left arrow
Right arrow
Marshfield
×
Laflin
×
Racine
×
Halsted
Canal
Wells Street Terminal

The Chicago Aurora and Elgin Railroad (CA&E), known colloquially as the "Roarin' Elgin" or the "Great Third Rail", was an interurban railroad that operated passenger and freight service on its line between Chicago and Aurora, Batavia, Geneva, St. Charles, and Elgin, Illinois. The railroad also operated a small branch to Mt. Carmel Cemetery in Hillside and owned a branch line to Westchester.

Wounded by the increased use of automobiles after World War II, the CA&E abruptly ended passenger service in 1957. Freight service was suspended in 1959, and the railroad was officially abandoned in 1961. Most of the right-of-way has since been converted to the Illinois Prairie Path rail trail.