AEFR 5, South Elgin, Ilinois
Freight Under Wire. Aurora, Elgin & Fox River Electric #5 (45T, GE, 1946) is one of 2 pieces of equipment at the Fox River Trolley Museum that is original to the line itself. This engine lived on the line from 1946 until the last customer stopped receiving freight service in 1973. After working at the nearby Chicago Sand & Gravel Company, it was donated to the museum and returned in 2001. On Saturday, August 27, 2022, AEFR 5 was coupled up to Wilson refrigerator car WCLX 2016 and Illinois Central Caboose 9648 for an unusual consist as passengers were invited to ride in both the engine and caboose. The train is seen at "Woodcliff" in South Elgin, Illinois, between the Switch Stand Path and the Fox River. While the museum has a pair of active diesel engines, the majority of its fleet operates on the electric power provided by the very much live overhead wire.