Looking at the digitized Hammond, IN newspapers, they seem to refer to all Vanderbilt controlled lines commuter service into and out of Chicago as "lake Shore" even though some of it operated over the Harbor Belt and Nickel Plate. The paper talked of "loop service" (and they did not mean the elevated loop in Chicago) that went out as far as Gary. Can any of you supply details of this commutation program? Are there public or employee timetables that show these runs (they are not in any Official Guide I've seen) and how was the power and rolling stock apportioned? While LaSalle was the main terminal, were there other fragmented operations? WJPowers
It is pretty hard to find any information about commuter service out of Chicago. The Canada Southern website has pdf files of NYC system employee timetables. The April 30, 1939 Western Division TT for one, shows several locals between Chicago and Chesterton, IN, eastbound in the morning, westbound in the evening. http://www.canadasouthern.com/caso/home.htm
The attached picture is from the book Commuter Railroads by Patrick Dorin.