“THE RED CABOOSE TRAIL”
Welcome to The Red Caboose Trail,
one of many local Scouting hiking & biking routes across these United
States. Hiking, biking, and learning
along each of these trails qualifies the Scout for that trail’s patch as well
as accumulates miles toward the Scout hiking strips.
The information that follows enables a scout to learn
as they go. In the case of The Red
Caboose Trail, hikers learn about history and remaining features of the rail
road that preceded the trail, environment and habitat of the area, the history
of the continually growing Illinois Prairie Path (IPP), of which the Red
Caboose Trail is now one small part.
The Red Caboose Trail follows the Elign Branch of the IPP for ten miles
from Wheaton to Pratt’s Wayne Woods County Forest Preserve.
To earn The Red Caboose
Trail Patch:
1. Bike\hike
the entire trail.
2. Identify
three different birds on the trail and study one to find out what it likes to
eat (don’t say bird seed J ).
3. Use the
information below to find out something about the trail you never knew.
4. Sing the
Little Red Caboose Song at the end of your hike.
Points of Interest on the Red Caboose Trail:
1.
Intersection of S. Carlton and W. Liberty roads, near downtown
Wheaton. This is the intersection of the
Main Route, Elign Branch, and Aurora Branch of the IPP. It is also the zero mile marker for the
Elgin Branch of the IPP. The Elgin
Branch of the Chicago, Aurora and Elgin Railway, “The Great Third Rail” runs
from Wheaton to Elgin. It opened on May
26, 1903. The commuter train parking lot here makes a convenient location to
start your hike. Note: Check in advance
with the Wheaton Police Department for parking availability and cost.
If you wish to camp overnight as part of your
bike/hike you might consider the cabin at Herrick Lake Forest Preserve. Herrick Lake is located about 4 miles south
of the starting point, just off the Aurora Branch of the IPP. Reserve early, just a few cabins for groups.
2. Start by
going up and over the railroad overpass. While you’re on top of the bridge, pause for a view of downtown
Wheaton. Wheaton is the County Seat for
DuPage County and home to a variety of attractions such as the Wheaton History
Center (including the HO model railroad display in the Lower Level), Cosley Zoo
and old train station, Wheaton College, DuPage County Historical Museum and the
Billy Graham Center.
The prairie land that was to become Wheaton was
settled in the 1830’s by the Babcocks, Butterfields, Wilsons, Browns,
Chadwicks, Wheatons, and Garys. It was
primarily the efforts of Erastus Gary and the brothers Warren L. and Jesse C.
Wheaton, two teachers and a carpenter, which led to the establishment of a
community; they had the vision and the land!
Realizing the importance of the railroad for future growth, they offered
three miles of free right‑of‑way to the Galena and Chicago Union
Railroad. When the first trains arrived in 1849, railroad officials hung the
sign, "Wheaton Depot," thereby naming the new town.
3. Less than
a mile from the starting point, Lincoln Marsh is a 130-acre area acquired by
the Wheaton Park District between 1979 and 1991. Part of the Winfield Creek Watershed, it serves as natural
habitat for wildlife and waterfowl, aids in flood control through flood water
storage and water quality improvement, and is one of the last few natural areas
in urban DuPage County. The Lincoln Marsh Natural Area Overlook was created as
the Eagle Scout project of Jay Hofner, BSA Troop 374. It was dedicated November
11, 1993. Note: The trails that branch
off the IPP into the marsh may only be used by hikers, no bikes allowed.
4.Jewel Road.
When the Elgin Branch of the IPP opened in 1967, this was the starting
point of the Red Caboose Trail. Jewel
Road was also the location of a train station along the C, A & E
Railroad. In Summer 2000, you can see
evidence of the rails still embedded under Jewel Road. Depending on the extent of asphalt patching,
the tracks can sometimes be see protruding from the sides of the road way or as
cracks running across the road to mark the rails underneath.
5. Geneva
Junction ‘Pleasant Hill” Station: Moved in 1950, the location of the station
platform was on the south side of the trail.
The C.A.&E. also maintained a passing siding on the north side of the
trail, extending to the northwest.
6. Geneva
Branch of the C.A.&E.: Opened in
September, 1909 to service West Chicago and Geneva and provide a direct
connection from Wheaton to the Fox Valley Branch along the west side of the Fox
River. The Branch originally turned off
the trail at about mile marker two on the trail. After a subdivision was built at this point, access to the Geneva
Branch was routed north across Geneva Road and then South on the west side of the
subdivision to rejoin the historic route.
The original route can be seen on some older IPP maps and USGS maps.
7. Geneva
road station: Midway between and Geneva junction we pass into Winfield
township, which was first settled in 1832.
8. Gravel pit: heart of Timber Ridge Forest Preserve
is the home of large resident population of Canadian geese, which return each
spring to nest on the islands and enjoy the water.
9. Branching
off to the north and right is a path leading to Klein Creek Farm.
Kline Creek Farm, sitting within the 1200‑acre
Timber Ridge Forest Preserve in Winfield, is a "living history" farm
depicting farm life as it was on this site and hundreds of others like it in
1890s DuPage County. Its purpose is to explore what life was like here a
century ago. The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County has combined
original structures, authentic re‑creations, livestock and authentic
activities into a realistic 1890s DuPage County working farm.
Kline Creek Farm began as a log cabin homestead in
the early 1830s. Casper Klein settled the farm in 1834. The white farmhouse was built in 1889. It
continued as a working family farm through the 1960s, when it was purchased by
the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County. The Farm first opened to the
public in 1984 for special events, and opened for daily, year‑round
operation in July of 1989. The Farm has
restrooms and can be a pleasant stop on your hike.
10. Timber
Ridge Forest Preserve: A large stand of virgin woods and reclaimed pasture
land, which is now home to many native species of birds, animals and prairie
plants. Deer are often seen along this stretch of trail between the gravel pit
and the river crossing. Mile marker 3
is in this section.
11. West
Branch of the DuPage River: Shortly before reaching the bridge we again crossed
a township boundary this time into Wayne Township which was first settled in
1834. The marsh area to the north of the bridge contains a varied population of
water foul muskrats and, on occasion, even beaver. Mile marker four is near this point.
12. Prince Crossing (Ingelton) Station: The brick structure on the west side of the
road was a C.A.&E. substation which converted electric current to the
proper voltage for the use of the Railroad.
A storage siding was also located here to the northwest of the
building. This is the most significant
remaining structure on this portion of the IPP.
13. C.A.&.E. and C.N.&.W crossing. This was once an intersection of the Chicago
Great Western R.R. and the C.A.&.E.
The “Great Western” was built in 1866 and merged with the Chicago and
North Western in 1968. The CN.&W was formed 1864 and traces it’s beginnings
to the Galena and Chicago Union which
began local operations in 1848. Just
past this point is mile marker five.
14. Lakewood station: Remains (asphalt platform and
wood posts) of the passenger platforms can be seen on southwest side of the
trail. The station building stood just to the west side of the trail. Passing
siding was also located here as well as an elevated unloading trestle for
construction materials. The sidings
were located on the north side of the trail and extended northwest toward Route
59. Mile marker six is about one-half
mile ahead.
15. St. Andrews (Schramer Road) station: in the early
days the lake located to the north along the highway now part of St. Andrews
County Club was a source of soft water to early pioneers in the area. The Route 59 overpass provides a nice view
of the area.
16 C.A.&.E. and E. J.&.E Grand Crossing is
just past mile marker eight. The Elgin
Joliet and Eastern R.R. was built in 1867 the C.A.&.E. crossed tracks on a
trestle here. Today, the earthworks for
the trestle lift the trail and provide a challenging set of bumps for the
mountain biker. Steps make it easier
for the hiker.
17. From the
northwestern trestle earthwork on the trail, look down and view the marsh
area. This was once a C.A.&.E. and
E.J.&.E. interchange track. The
interchange was between the grade crossing and Army Trail Road. It allowed the interchange of freight cars
between the two railroads this permitted both railroads to provide service to
towns and companies that were not on their own right of way.
19. Wayne
substation the C.A.&.E. maintained a substation just to the north of the
interchange yard which provided
electricity not only for the railroad but also for the town of Wayne. In 1903, the C.A.& E. contracted to
supply electric power for street lights in the village and in 1924 the homes in
Wayne received power from the railroad.
In 1928, the public service company established it’s own facilities here
to supply the town with electricity.
Today a power station still exists in the area.
20. Wayne: The Village of was named in the honor of
revolutionary war hero general “Mad Anthony” Wayne although the town was
originally known as Wayne station. This
was done in order to prevent confusion with the nearby Wayne center. Wayne was first settled in 1834 by John
Laughlin. His home still stands west of
town. The village of Wayne was first served by the Galena and the Chicago Union
R.R. in 1850. By the turn of the
century, Wayne was received passenger and freight service by three different
railroads. The Chicago and Northwestern
(on the Chicago and Galena Union tracks) on the west side of town and the
Chicago, Aurora & Elgin and Elgin,
Joliet & Eastern on the east.
Army Trail Road derived its name from the use of an
old “Indian” trail by the troops of Col. Abraham Eustis, dispatched in 1832 to deal with Chief Black Hawk and his
followers who were causing unrest in the Rock River Valley area. One of the weary foot soldiers who trod this
trail and camped one night on the banks of the West Branch of the DuPage River
(the location was later named Wayne center) was destined become
famous in his own right ... farmer,
student, storekeeper, flatboat pilot,
soldier, lawyer, legislator, statesmen and finally president of these United
States of America ... Abraham Lincoln.
And congratulations to you!
You’ve made it to mile marker nine.
21. West Wayne Siding: the C.A.&.E. maintained
passing siding and scale track for weighing
cars here on the north side of the trail extending northwest from Powis
Road.
22. Turn off point: the Red Caboose trail leaves the
Illinois Prairie Path here to enter Pratt's Wayne woods forest preserve whew!
If you are going to the youth campground or picnic areas, you have less than a
mile to go. Or stay on the IPP and head
for mile marker ten.
23. Pratt’s
Wayne Woods Forest Preserve: The
preserve is comprised of reclaimed farm and pasture lands, and also was
formerly the property of Morton Sand and Gravel Company. The lakes are former gravel pits that were
laboriously reclaimed by the Palm family for use as a sportsman's hunting and
fishing lodge. The Palms originally
intended to retire here in their park, but the property was purchased by the
State of Illinois. In 1965, the Forest
Preserve District received 169.79 acres from the state. The preserve was again enlarged with a purchase
of 250 acres from George Pratt in 1974.
The preserve is named in honor of George Pratt, former Forest Preserve
Commissioner, and the Pratt family, who are long time area residents.
Pratt's Wayne Woods is the largest forest preserve in
DuPage County. Located in the county's northwest corner, the preserve's 3,300
acres combine with Illinois Department of Natural Resource land adjacent on the
north to form a continuous 4,000 acre stretch of land. The savannas, marshes,
meadows and wetlands of Pratt's Wayne Woods offer a myriad of nature‑loving
opportunities and recreational excursions. The preserve's Brewster Creek area
is the site of a major wetland restoration program.
Pratt's Wayne Woods is located on the outwash plain
of the West Chicago Moraine. Made up largely of wetlands, this landscape
combines calcium‑rich water with wet sandy soil to support unique
varieties of plant life more commonly seen near Lake Michigan. The savanna,
with its widely spaced black, bur and white oaks, is dotted with spreading
dogbane, pale‑leaved sunflower and smooth yellow violet wildflowers.
Pratt's Wayne's numerous wetlands provide a lush
environment for waterfowl including Canada geese, egrets, great blue heron,
wood ducks and the state‑endangered sandhill crane. Beaver, coyote, fox,
white‑tailed deer, red‑tailed hawks, screech owls and numerous
other mammals and birds also inhabit the preserve's wild acres. In the marsh
areas of Brewster Creek, Norton Creek and Fern Meadows, explorers can view
great Angelica, marsh marigolds, shooting star and dune ladies' tresses among
the more common spotted Joe Pye weed, wild strawberry, black‑eyed Susan
and tussock sedge. As you move through
the trails, look out for a turtle sunning itself.
As you ride past the marsh, you’ll reach mile marker
10. You made it! You can turn back to Wheaton to complete a twenty-mile
loop or head on for many more miles of IPP paths to explore. Straight ahead lie the beautiful trails
along the Fox River!
History of the Red Caboose
Trail
It Started with A
Train: Why the Chicago Aurora &
Elgin?"
Imagine a time before expressways; a time before
suburban mass transit. A time when those who were not local shopkeepers or
their employees had to travel into the "big city" to work -- no
exceptions. A time when the suburbs were quiet, peaceful places to live and the
city was still the center of the world whether it be business, education, or
entertainment.
Now imagine a clean, fast, economical, and dependable
trolley system to move those suburbanites between the their middle‑class
homes and the city, and back again. A system which thought of their passengers
first, and strove to provide better service than the heavy rail system which
paralleled the trolleys’ right‑of‑way for most of its’ path and
typically succeeded.
What you are imagining is the Chicago, Aurora &
Elgin Railroad.
Organized in 1899 as the Aurora, Wheaton &
Chicago, (then changed to the Aurora, Elgin & Chicago 18 months later), the
corporation began to lay an electric rail line utilizing a 600 volt third rail
system from 52nd Avenue in Chicago all the way out to Aurora Illinois. After
the lines’ opening on August 25th, 1902, branch lines were quickly built to
Batavia and Elgin over the next nine months. For a few years until March 8th
1905, the AE&C terminated at 52nd Avenue. However, permission was given to
the rail company to operate trains on the Metropolitan West Side Elevated all
the way into the Loop; Chicago’s central business and entertainment center.
Things pretty much ran smoothly for the next two
decades until the WWI when inflation caused the company to become unable to
cover costs and make debt payments, and Western Electric petitioned the court
to place the railroad in receivership.
After the war when things began to sort themselves
out, the AE&C was reorganized as the Chicago, Aurora & Elgin Railroad on
March 16th, 1922. Shortly after, Samuel Insull’s Middle West Utilities took
over operations, but when his empire collapsed in 1932, so did the CA&E. It
was down, but not yet out.
The CA&E staff performed well through WWII, and
the railroad emerged from bankruptcy for the second time in the fourth quarter
of 1946. However, like many interurban lines across the country, the blossoming
use and dependence on the automobile would spell the railroads ultimate death.
In 1952, the creation of the Congress Expressway (now
the Eisenhower, or Rt. 290) into downtown Chicago was approved. The new
expressway may only have forecasted a slow death if planned differently, but
the fact that it would be built in the same place that the Metropolitan West
Side Elevated ran meant an instant blow. The West Side Elevated, which the
CA&E used to get into the loop, would be torn down to make room for the
mighty automobile.
However, the CA&E was not going to go without a
fight. It petitioned to have it’s line terminated at Forest Park, and on
September 20th, 1953 loyal CA&E passengers lost their one‑seat ride
to the loop. They would now have to transfer to the CTA at Forest Park -- a
major inconvenience for many riders.
The line continued to struggle mightily until 1957
when the railroad went before a judge seeking permission to temporarily suspend
passenger operation. This was granted on June 30th, but a group of loyal
passengers fought back and were granted to post a bond by noon on July 3rd in
order to keep the line running.
On June 3rd at 12:10 pm all passenger operations were
suspended when the passenger group could not post a bond. All trains were
called into the Wheaton yards, and regularly scheduled passenger traffic would
never run over the line again. Hundreds (if not thousands) of commuters got on
the CTA and rode out to Forest Park at the end of the day, only to find no
CA&E trains awaiting them to transfer to. Near riots broke out when these
commuters discovered there was no ride to take them back home.
The CA&E fiddled with freight operations for the
next 18 months or so, but these operations were never a moneymaker, and on July
10th, 1961 total abandonment of the line was approved. Cars were scrapped or
sent off to museums, stations sold, and the right‑of‑way fell into
disrepair.
"Passenger Operations" resumed in 1966(?)
when the CA&E right‑of‑way became part of the Illinois Prairie
Path system. Today, you can walk, jog, or bike down the old right‑of‑way
and get a sense of what was once a great interurban railway. The rails and
signals are all gone, but you can still see some of the old stations and power
substations along the way. Although none no longer serve as rail stops, the
evidence of their past use is still very much visible.
"That’s why the Chicago, Aurora & Elgin.”
CAE stops from Wheaton
heading northwest to Elgin...
Wheaton
Wesley Street
Jewell Road
Geneva Junction
Geneva Road
Prince Crossing
St. Andrews
Smith Road
Wayne
St. Charles Road
Clintonville
Renwick
Collingbourne
National Street
Elgin
Rails to Trails
On September 30, 1963 the Chicago Tribune printed a
letter to the editor written by Mrs. May Theilgaard Watts, a distinguished
naturalist, teacher, and author. In her letter Mrs. Watts outlined a proposal
to convert the abandoned Chicago, Aurora and Elgin right‑of‑way
into a trail through the western suburbs of Chicago. The letter inspired a
small but dedicated group of trail advocates who decided to make the idea a
reality.
May Theilgaard Watts at the Indiana Dunes State Park
in October, 1957. Mrs. Watts was 70 years old in 1963 when she wrote the letter
in the editor of the Chicago Tribune that started the rails‑to‑trails
movement in the United States.
Over the next several years, the group gave hundreds
of illustrated talks, led numerous field trips and generated extensive media
coverage for the PATH. They also diligently sought and received the necessary
cooperation from utility companies, civic leaders, and state, county and local
officials.
In 1965 Mrs. Watts' group formally established The
Illinois Prairie Path (The IPP corporation), an Illinois not‑for‑profit
corporation. A year later, after DuPage County acquired twenty‑one miles
of the right‑of‑way, The IPP corporation leased that portion from
the county and began developing and managing it as a recreation trail.
DuPage County also leased portions of the right‑of‑way
to several villages for parking, but to insure the PATH's vital continuity
those leases reserved a strip not less than ten feet wide for the PATH.
The first Illinois Prairie Path logo sign was
installed on the west side of Rte. 59 in Oak Meadows in 1967 before the Path
was surfaced.
For the next twenty years The IPP corporation and its
volunteers developed the ILLlNOIS PRAIRIE PATH in DuPage County for the benefit
of area citizens.
Boy Scouts from the DuPage County area also have a
history of active involvement in the Illinois Prairie Path. The following excerpt from “ILLINOIS PRAIRIE
PATH, Trials and Triumphs” tells the story:
Presented By: Samual S. and
Elizabeth R. Holmes
Delivered at the Mill Race
Inn, Geneva, Illinois on April 12, 1979
I'm happy to tell you that
one permanently successful project was accomplished by the DuPage Council of
Boy Scouts. They christened the 13‑mile stretch between Wheaton and Wayne
"The Red Caboose Trail" and they award patches to Scouts who complete
certain mileage requirements. (Hold up picture in April 1979 Geneva Republican
of Boy Scouts being given awards.) They mounted oil drum. trash barrels at
intervals along the way and painted then with the Path logo. We were proud to
learn that within two years, more than 3,000 Scouts had earned their Red
Caboose patch.
Those
trash barrels were badly needed.
Be Nice When Biking!
Biking Etiquette
_ Be
aware of wildlife both on and off the trail. Remember, you are a visitor in
their habitat. With proper care, the next trail user will also be able to enjoy
viewing wildlife.
_ Please
stay on the right-hand side of the trail, except when passing on the left from
behind. Bikes should pass only on the left. A polite call of "PASSING ON
YOUR LEFT" can help to warn others of your approach from behind.
_ Always
ride single file, especially when passing others on the left.
_ Always
ride under control and watch your speed, especially aound curves.
_ Be
aware of changing trail conditions.
_
_End of the Trail
Wrap-Up Your Hike or Bike
on the Red Caboose Trail with this Scout Song:
LITTLE RED CABOOSE
Little red caboose
Chug, chug, chug
Little red caboose Chug, chug, chug
Little red caboose
behind the train
Whaa, whaa,
whaa
Chuggin' on down the track
Smokestack on its
back
Little red caboose
behind the train
Whaa, whaa,
whaa.
The intention of this song
is to create
the effect of a train
approaching and
departing. Sing softly at
first, building
to a peak, then softly
again.
From the Camp Hinds
Songbook
Pinetree Council, BSA
Thank You!
This material was compiled
by the work of many Boy Scouts in years past as well as from:
* Illinois Prairie Path
Association www.ipp.org/ipp‑museum.html
(lots of nice pictures)
* Chicago, Aurora, &
Elgin Rail Road Historical Society http://midwest.railfan.net
(more pictures to help prepare for your bike/hike)
* DuPage County Forest
Preserve District www.dupageforest.com
(including maps)
* Wheaton Park District www.wheatonparkdistrict.com
* For information on Scout
badge programs offered by the Wheaton Park District, go to www.wheatonparkdistrict.com/recreation/scout_badges.html
Updated, biked (three
times) and compiled by Scout Glenn Barnier (and dad), Troop 8, Three Fires
Council, Naperville, IL Summer 2000