We are pleased to have acclaimed traction video producer Harvey Laner return as tonight’s speaker. Tonight’s program is called “Midwest Traction Review”. This program is a synthesis of rare video clips showcasing the operations of streetcar and interurban operations throughout the American Midwest, primarily from the 1930s to the 1950s, including a visit to the Iowa Traction as recent as 1998. The movie clips that make up this program are from Harvey’s vast collection amassed from the collections of numerous railfans from the late 1990s to the present.
The program highlights 25 electric traction operations spanning from Ohio to Iowa, including those serving large cities, suburban and rural regions including:
- Cedar Rapids and Iowa City
- Charles City Western
- Cincinnati Street Railway
- Cincinnati, Newport & Covington
- Cleveland Interurban Railroad
- Cleveland Railway Company
- Cleveland RTA
- Cleveland Union Terminal Railroad
- Columbus, Delaware & Marion
- Des Moines and Central Iowa
- Des Moines Railway Company
- Detroit Department of Street Railways
- Gary Railways
- Hutchison & Northern
- Indiana Railroad
- Indiana Service Corp. (Fort Wayne)
- Indianapolis Railways
- Iowa Traction
- Kansas City, Kaw Valley & Western
- Lake Shore Electric Railway
- Marion (Indiana) Railways
- Mason City & Clear Lake
- Shaker Heights Rapid Transit
- Southern Iowa Utilities
- Waterloo, Cedar Falls and Northern
Harvey grew up in Chicago, where he was able to ride the North Shore, South
Shore, and Aurora and Elgin, along with Chicago’s trolleys and els. In 1953
his family moved to Los Angeles and his Southern California railfanning
adventure began. In mid-1954, Harvey joined the Southern California Division
of the Electric Railroaders Association (SC/ERA). He was also one of the
14 founding members
of the Orange Empire Traction Company in Perris, California, today’s
Southern California Railway Museum
.
