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Phychopathic Hospital Car


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On 4/29/2020 at 2:09 PM, sht6131 said:

Operated on CSL tracks between Dunning and Cook County Hospital. Anybody know where it was kept and maintained during off service hours. I

t probably had to be cleaned somewhere.

Cook County Car 1 was based at Kedzie and served three state owned mental health facilities during its life.

It was also used over the Chicago & Interurban Traction line to Kankakee Mental Health Facility for nine years until the line closed in April 1927, and for six years to the Elgin Mental Health Facility via Chicago & Joliet Electric Railway to Joliet, Aurora, Plainfield & Joliet Railroad to Aurora and Aurora, Elgin & Fox River Electric Railway to South Elgin until the Aurora, Plainfield & Joliet Railroad closed in August 1924

More info about Cook County No. 1 from:http://forgottenchicago.com/forum/5/10734/10916/re__dunning_insane_asylum

One of the more interesting facets of Chicago State Hospital was Cook County Car No. 1. From 1918 to 1939, this 60,000-pound interurban type car made weekly trips, carrying mentally ill patients from the Cook County Hospital to Dunning Hospital. For many patients this was their last journey, as many would be warehoused at this hospital for the remainder of their lives.

Once inside Cook County Car No. 1, one would find sleeping berths, leather reclining chairs and small cabinets. The car had separate sections for the male and female patients. The female patients were closest to the motorman. Usually the crew consisted of two attendants, a nurse, and a physician. Unruly or agitated patients were strapped to the beds. Patients who were infirm were removed by wheel chairs and stretchers upon reaching Dunning Hospital. When the car’s work was finished, it would return to the old Kedzie station at Kedzie and Van Buren via Irving Park Road to Milwaukee Avenue (Six Corners), to California Avenue to Chicago Avenue, west on Chicago to Kedzie, and then subsequently, to the Kedzie depot.

Two Irish lads regularly piloted the hospital trolley from its inception of service in 1918, to its last run on 18th May 1939. They were motorman Danial O’Brien and conductor Patrick Gibbons. Since it was of no value to the Surface lines, Cook County Car No. 1 was scrapped in late 1939. Starting in 1940, a $17,000 gas bus brought patients from the Cook County Hospital to Chicago State Hospital.

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30 minutes ago, busfan2847 said:

Cook County Car 1 was based at Kedzie and served three state owned mental health facilities during its life.

It was also used over the Chicago & Interurban Traction line to Kankakee Mental Health Facility for nine years until the line closed in April 1927, and for six years to the Elgin Mental Health Facility via Chicago & Joliet Electric Railway to Joliet, Aurora, Plainfield & Joliet Railroad to Aurora and Aurora, Elgin & Fox River Electric Railway to South Elgin until the Aurora, Plainfield & Joliet Railroad closed in August 1924

More info about Cook County No. 1 from:http://forgottenchicago.com/forum/5/10734/10916/re__dunning_insane_asylum

One of the more interesting facets of Chicago State Hospital was Cook County Car No. 1. From 1918 to 1939, this 60,000-pound interurban type car made weekly trips, carrying mentally ill patients from the Cook County Hospital to Dunning Hospital. For many patients this was their last journey, as many would be warehoused at this hospital for the remainder of their lives.

Once inside Cook County Car No. 1, one would find sleeping berths, leather reclining chairs and small cabinets. The car had separate sections for the male and female patients. The female patients were closest to the motorman. Usually the crew consisted of two attendants, a nurse, and a physician. Unruly or agitated patients were strapped to the beds. Patients who were infirm were removed by wheel chairs and stretchers upon reaching Dunning Hospital. When the car’s work was finished, it would return to the old Kedzie station at Kedzie and Van Buren via Irving Park Road to Milwaukee Avenue (Six Corners), to California Avenue to Chicago Avenue, west on Chicago to Kedzie, and then subsequently, to the Kedzie depot.

Two Irish lads regularly piloted the hospital trolley from its inception of service in 1918, to its last run on 18th May 1939. They were motorman Danial O’Brien and conductor Patrick Gibbons. Since it was of no value to the Surface lines, Cook County Car No. 1 was scrapped in late 1939. Starting in 1940, a $17,000 gas bus brought patients from the Cook County Hospital to Chicago State Hospital.

Very interesting. Thanks Busfan2847

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