One of the best intact railroad pole lines left in the states about 10 years ago was along the old CB&Q Railroad between Aurora and Mendota, Illinois. Most of the pole line had five or six crossarms with mostly six along highway 34 between Somonauk and Plano. It was so neat driving along highway 34 seeing the six crossarm pole line right next to the highway. It was like going back in time 75 years. This pole line was taken down in sections with the last of it about 10 years ago.

Some of the best insulators that I picked along this line were many various CD 145 beehives. Some of my finds were N.E.G.M.CO. in shades of aqua and green, with one very nice yellow green one; H.G.CO. in jade green milk; many variety of "Crown Embossed Brookfields" (CREB's) including some in nice teal green; Hawleys; and one CD 151 CREB.

Scanned from a 35mm negative using a Pentax PZ-10 camera, Pentax FA 28-80mm f/3.5-4.7 lens.

July 29, 2000 Mendota, Illinois