Fox River Trolley
Museum Tour & Breakfast
By John Emmering
Photos by Dawn Zulas
The Sunday morning breakfast crowd at Mr. A’s Restaurant in Roselle was
surprised as several early Ford V-8’s filled the parking lot on the morning of
May 15th.
About twenty members of our Northern Illinois Regional Group joined
together for breakfast on that beautiful spring day anticipating the enjoyable
activity that hosts George and Dawn Zulas had planned.
Members delighted in breakfast at Mr. A’s, one of Roselle’s newest eateries and conversed about their cars and plans for the upcoming summer months. After breakfast the group spilled out into the parking lot and fired up their V-8’s for the trip to South Elgin and the Fox River Trolley Museum. George Zulas led the pack in his 1940 Ford Standard Tudor followed by John Emmering’s 1949 Ford Custom Fordor, Stan Stack’s 1953 Ford Customline Tudor, Tom Buscaglia’s 1951 Ford Custom Tudor, Tom O’Donnell’s 1953 Lincoln Sport Coupe and John Slobodnik’s 1954 Crestline Fordor.
After a pleasing drive down Lake Street the convoy headed south on Route 31 and
onto the grounds of the Fox River Trolley Museum.
Dan Pudelek and his family met the group having arrived earlier in his
1956 Ford Fairlane Town Sedan.
As we entered the grounds we were immediately informed that old trolley car #715
of the North Shore Line was about to depart.
Our participants then hurried to the station to purchase their tickets
for the trolley ride. With all
aboard, Trolley 715 proceed down the tracks on a nostalgic journey.
Our conductor and museum guide explained that the trolley car was built
in 1926 by the Cincinnati Car Company and ran on the North Shore Line between
Chicago and Milwaukee until 1963.
The trolley ride stopped at a picnic area on the Fox River where Frank and
Phyllis Madrigali boarded. After a
short pause we headed back to the museum station and had an opportunity to view
several old Trolley and Elevated commuter cars and other displays.
The event gave the group a chance to meet our new members Michael and Grace
Mohawk as this was their first club activity.
Michael said he was anxious to get his 1950 Ford back on the road.
All involved had an enjoyable day and much appreciation was expressed to
George and Dawn for their efforts that made the event a success.
Attendees to the activity were our hosts George & Dawn Zulas with son Tom and
his girlfriend Denise, Tom Buscaglia, John & Robin Emmering, Charlie Kaiser,
Frank and Phyllis Madrigali, Michael & Grace Mohawk, Tom O’Donnell, Dan & Diane
Pudelek with family members John, Katherine, Jack, and Isabelle, John Scheve,
John & Barbara Slobodnik, and Stan & Jo Anne Stack.
