FULL TRAINS. The Sunday doubleheader used to be a promotional offering for baseball. Two games for the price of one, regularly. Not any more. A doubleheader is a necessary evil when a game gets rained out, or in some locations, snowed out, and often in a day-night format that allows security to clear everyone out of the stadium and collect a second set of tickets.

Such was the case on Sunday, with the Cardinals and Cubs tightening the Central Division race. Nine cars on the 8.25 from Elburn, pretty well filled by the time the train left Elmhurst. There are a lot of Cardinal boosters riding that line.

My destination was Milwaukee. Five cars on the 10.20 Hiawatha, also with all seats taken, and more than a few Dodger fans headed for Miller Park.

My destination was the circus parade.


The sidewalk-chalking is a new ritual the kids have come up with. This article explains what they were up to.


The Sea Shell Tableau Wagon (now apparently the F. J. Taylor Bandwagon) used to be blue. I have an unbuilt model of it, and this gives me new options for painting it.

The Bastille Day food and art festival was also in progress, a few blocks away.


Downtown walking distances are short enough that I was able to view the parade, stroll over to Cathedral Square, and purchase one for the road at the Milwaukee Ale House before train time. The trains I rode back were not as full, although the train crews were expecting large loads and inebriated passengers on the later ones.